The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

What Is Permaculture?

According to one advocate, a doctrine individuals can practice in all walks of life, making a tangible difference in promoting sustainability at a local level.

January 24 - The Austin Chronicle

NYC Loses Affordable SROs Due To Illegal Conversions

Illegal conversion of single room occupancy ('efficiency') apartments in NYC threaten one of the few remaining sources of private, affordable housing in the City. Housing advocates attempt to stem the tide, but it's rough going.

January 24 - The New York Times

L.A. Planning Passes Torch from Winogrond to Goldberg

While L.A. searched for a new planning director to help implement Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's vision of a new L.A., one based on smart growth and higher densities, longtime area planner Mark Winogrond did more than keep the seat warm as City Planning director.

January 24 - The Planning Report

Could Smart Growth Tip the Next Presidential Election?

Strategists take note as Virginia's new governor tackles sprawl.

January 24 - Elm Street Writers Group

Master of His Own Eminent Domain?

A citizens' group, angered over the Supreme Court's recent controversial eminent domain decision, is seeking to use the new law to evict Supreme Court Justice David Souter from his own home.

January 24 - Common Dreams


Big Brother Eyeing America's Cities?

Local police departments are increasingly relying on federally-funded surveillance camera networks to pick up where local citizens and underfunded police left off -- keeping their 'eyes on the street'.

January 23 - The Washington Post

UN Releases Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

"The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment", commissioned by the UN and released January 19, spelled out a grim future for humanity and the earth -- but it also showed how this future can be avoided.

January 23 - The Los Angeles Times


Sierra Club Wins Farmland Preservation Fee

Successful litigation by a Sierra Club chapter in California's Central Valley results in $17.5 million to purchase conservation easements in San Joaquin County, as well as the establishment of a farmland preservation fee in the City of Stockton.

January 23 - The Stockton Record

'Dream Team' To Shape Katrina Rebuilding

Peter Calthorpe and Andres Duany are among those involved in shaping the rebuilding efforts after hurricane Katrina.

January 23 - Associated Press

Atlanta Puts a Moratorium on 'McMansions' in Historic Neighborhoods

To arrest the trend of historic tear-downs with incompatable 'mega-mansions' built in their place, the City of Atlanta has placed a temporary halt to the practice.

January 23 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Student Ghetto Losing Ground To Family Conversion Trend

Philadelphia's University City neighborhood is seeing existing housing stock moving full circle; having gone from single family to multi-apartment student rentals, it's being reborn as quality family housing.

January 23 - The Daily Pennsylvanian

Forget The Controversy -- New Orleans Recovery Is Model City Planning

Neal Peirce argues that despite negative reports in the press, the Katrina rebuilding process is shaping up to be a superlative planning effort, a unique opportunity to rid New Orleans of corruption and involve more citizens.

January 23 - National Academy of Public Administration

Building Timeless Places

Hank Dittmar, Director of the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, a nonprofit organization founded by Sir Charles, The Prince of Wales, discusses the balance of tradition and innovation in urban design.

January 23 - David Gest

Atlanta's Ready For Its Close-up

Meier, Piano, Calatrava, oh my! A host of starchitects have descended on Hotlanta, spicing up downtown's skyline.

January 23 - Creative Loafing Atlanta

Gambling Away A Community's Future?

Philadelphia's Civic Coalition on Slots hopes not, seeking to force future casinos in the neighborhood to pay for millions of dollars worth of community improvements.

January 23 - Philadelphia Weekly

Ex-EPA Chiefs Warn Bush About Global Warming

Former chiefs of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -- five Republicans and one Democrat -- criticise the Bush administration's response to global warming.

January 22 - The Guardian Unlimited

Duany Predicts Growing Demand For New Urbanism Experts

New Urbanism pioneer Andres Duany says the movement could change affordable housing and predict growing demand for experts.

January 22 - Orlando Business Journal

Solving Sydney's Transporation Crisis

Light rail may be the answer to the transportation crisis in Sydney, Australia, argues chief executive of City of Sydney council, Peter Seamer.

January 22 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Making The City Safe For Bikes

Alec Appelbaum urges New York City to develop a "bike-safe" network.

January 22 - MetropolisMag.com

Coltsville Reloaded

The Connecticut home of the gun manufacturing giant has been dead for decades, but Colt Gateway, a tax-increment financing project, could give it new life.

January 22 - Hartford Advocate

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.