The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Building Industry Blames Onerous Regulations For Housing Shortage
In the second of two reports, the California Building Industry Association asserts that "red tape and regulations", primarily the California Environmental Quality Act, prevent builders from meeting housing demand and boosting the state's economy.
Mountain House, A New City, Builds Up
Eventually, 44,000 residents will call Mountain House home. Currently, about 4,000 people live in the much-fretted-over planned development.
Comparing A Manhattan Landmark With L.A.'s Grand Avenue Project
The Frank Gehry-designed Grand Avenue project in downtown Los Angeles looks to a well-known Manhattan urban landmark for inspiration. Will it work?
The Next Ten U.S. Cities To Become Tech Hubs
With the cost of living so high, Silicon Valley, CA has become a victim of its own success. eWeek weighs in on the debate over which cities have the right ingredients to become the next tech hubs.
Approaching A Half Century Of The Interstate Highway System
On June 29, the U.S. interstate highway system celebrates its 50-year anniversary. Conceived as a 41, 000 network of fast, intersection-free, transcontinental highways, it has changed the American landscape in far more ways than just transportation.
Penn Plans River Revitalization
The university is gearing up to develop a 40-acre plot of land next to the Schuylkill River with green space, housing, retail, and office spaces, with the aim of creating a lively city core, uniting Center City and West Philadelphia.
Will Ann Arbor Get Commuter Rail?
Mayor John Hieftje is in full support and leading the charge for the development of a commuter rail system in the greater Ann Arbor area.
World Urban Forum Comes To Vancouver
The U.N.'s biennial forum on planning issues covers clean air and water, sanitation, pollution, safety, housing, poverty, alternative transportation and energy sources, and the increasing inequity between developing and developed countries.
Melting Permafrost Could Make Global Warming Worse
A new study finds that melting permafrost in Siberia could make global warming significantly worse by releasing up to 500 billion tons of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere, almost as much as the 700 billion tons currently in the atmosphere.
Is It The Beginning Of The End For McMansions?
McMansions are proving too big for many homeowners, who are now looking for smaller homes and overwhelming the housing market.
Vietnam's WTO Bid Will Bring Corporate Market
As the small South Asian country prepares to enter the World Trade Organization, economists predict a drastic change of pace in the locally-driven economy as corporate retail is bound to take over.
Book Review: The Battle Over Sprawl and the Future of America
A new book, "This Land", by former Boston Globe journalist Anthony Flint represents a "A calm voice in the cross fire over sprawl", writes urban affairs columnist John King.
Massachusetts Policy Spurs Transit Oriented Development
With the help of the Romney administration, transit oriented development is taking off in eastern Massachusetts.
Bush To Establish Largest Protected Ocean Area
President George Bush plans to establish the world's largest protected ocean site, an act which will preserve a sensitive coral reef ecosystem on islands and atolls near Hawaii.
Top L.A. Building Official Brought To Court In Orange County
A controversial home remodel has generated a difficult situation for Andrew Adelman, general manager of the L.A. Department of Building and Safety, who approved a project later found by a judge to violate the city's own zoning laws.
Housing Scarce and Expensive For Summer D.C. Interns
Even though universities in D.C. help by renting out empty dorm rooms, the tight market for rental housing in and near downtown D.C. impacts summer interns, who sometimes pay over $1,000 per month for the most modest of housing accomodations.
Abolish Outdated Zoning Codes To Save On Fuel
Most municipalities strictly prohibit mixed-use development. Changing these laws to encourage compact development would reduce the nation's dependence on gas, writes Anthony Flint.
China Wants to Keep 'Kingdom of Bicycles' Status
More Chinese are buying cars, but the government urges them to keep on cycling.
5,000 Public Housing Units To Be Razed In New Orleans
Despite criticism from low-income tenants, federal housing officials report that some 5,000 public housing units in Katrina-torn New Orleans will be razed and replaced with mixed-income housing.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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