The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Many of the UK's heartland cities -- Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow -- are thriving again, partyly thanks to a regional focus by the government.

December 21 - The Guardian

The Kyoto Protocol is transforming the energy business across the world -- some areas will profit while others miss out.

December 21 - The Los Angeles Times

Business Week surveys the locations of affordable housing in all regions of the US.

December 21 - MSN Real Estate - BusinessWeek Online

Governments worldwide scramble to catch up with New Urbanism.

December 21 - Michigan Land Use Institute

What are the alternatives for the 7 million daily transit riders? Cabs seem like a good alternative, but cabbies may also stay home if the strike goes on.

December 21 - The Washington Post

Cold New Yorkers think: This is what I pay taxes for? The strike is a sad lesson, both for transit and those who enjoy New York's unique urban lifestyle. It is the lesson of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina, writes Wendell Cox.

December 21 - National Review Online

The Transit Union disputes a daily fine of $1 million for ignoring injunctions barring a strike. The strike causes traffic chaos and estimates of economic damages reach $400 million per day.

December 21 - Chris Steins

Former California governors, Jerry Brown, George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson and Gray Davis team up to propose a better system for handling the environmental impacts of increased trade in Southern California's ports.

December 21 - The Los Angeles Times

Final four members of America's only populated Shaker village, in rural Maine, agree to a preservation plan to protect the enclave from subdivisions.

December 21 - The Christian Science Monitor

The Tsunami Memorial committee selects five designs for the memorial short list.

December 20 - The Nation (Thailand)

A new report compares the features and capabilities of 20 energy performance simulation programs.

December 20 - Simulation Research Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

The acclaimed Boise River Greenbelt will connect parks, downtown, neighborhoods and surrounding cities. Greenbelt advocates plan for exapansion of popular recreation amentities.

December 20 - The Idaho Statesman

In road ecology, transportation engineers and biologists cooperate on projects so fewer animals are struck by cars.

December 20 - The Christian Science Monitor

Law, public perception, and public benefit diverge in the wake of the Kelo decision. John Shirey attempts to explain what Kelo does -- and does not -- mean for redevelopment and its use of eminent domain.

December 20 - The Planning Report

San Joaquin Valley, CA, air quality officials may become the first in the nation to force builders to pay air pollution fees for new development.

December 20 - The Los Angeles Times

Young real estate developers contribute expertise and skills to develop affordable housing for disabled women.

December 20 - The Boston Globe

More than 30,000 New York City transit workers go on strike early Tuesday, shutting down nation's largest public transit system.

December 20 - CNN

In this Idaho college town, they can't build downtown condos for the mature market fast enough.

December 20 - The Idaho Statesman

BLOG POST

Working at <a href="http://www.urbaninsight.com">Urban Insight</a>, I see about 10-20 RFPs for various projects each month. We have to evaluate the cost/benefit of deciding to respond to any one of these RFPs, and so the RFPs are evaluated by us much the way that our proposal would be evaluated by an organization or agency. <br /> <br /> While some RFPs are outstanding, and clearly describe the project, evaluation, and process, others are, well, downright embarrassing, or contain clauses and provisions that leave you scratching your head.

December 20 - Chris Steins

What happens when a developer is approved to build 4,000 homes in the midst of a rural retreat? It's a recurring question in Southern California.

December 20 - The Los Angeles Times