The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Transit Planners Introduce Design Guidelines

Transit Agency promotes transit-friendly design standards in rapidly growing L.A. - San Diego suburban area.

August 11 - The Courier-Journal

Well-built Architecture Requires A Sophisticated Construction Industry

For years America's building culture has only been concerned with the bottom line, but foreign architects designing high-profile projects for the North American market demand higher standards.

August 11 - The New York Times

Salt Lake City Redevelopment Project Approved

Capitol Hill project is finally given go-aheadby Historic Landmarks Commission to raze run-down structures for new neighborhood multiple use project.

August 11 - The Salt Lake Tribune

How A New Yorker Grew To Love L.A.

New York native Sam Hall Kaplan sums up his "25 years writing about architecture and urban design in L.A. in a New York minute."

August 11 - Los Angeles Downtown News

New York: Undeterred By Terror Threats

Despite terror threats, New York City keeps building.

August 11 - MetropolisMag.com


Parking Lot Design That Is Kind To Pedestrians

All too often parking is treated as a leftover -- essential, but not worthy of good design. A little thought can make a huge difference, writes columnist Whitney Gould.

August 11 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

It's The Sidewalks, Stupid

An editorial calls on planners to remember pedestrians and focus on the basics.

August 11 - The Columbus Dispatch


Lifestyle Focus: Every Force Evolves A Center

As the suburbs have developed into new exurban modes, there remains nostalgia for the old town-center grid. Lifestyle centers seem to be an expression of that sentiment.

August 11 - REIS

Where's The Beef?

Blair Kamin reviews the new design for a landmark McDonald's in Chicago.

August 10 - The Chicago Tribune

The Problem With Tax Incentives

Phoenix Mayor, Phil Gordon, explains why tax incentives for retailers is a poor public investment strategy.

August 10 - The Arizona Republic

More Single Women Becoming Homeowners

According to the National Association of Realtors, more single women are buying homes.

August 10 - KLTV

L.A. Selects N.Y. Developer For Downtown Centerpiece

The Related Cos. of New York-based has been selected to create the $1.2-billion centerpiece on Grand Ave. in downtown L.A.

August 10 - The Los Angeles Times

The Cost Of Sprawl

Readers interview Gerrit KnaapExecutive Director, National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education and Professor of Urban Studies and Planning, University of Maryland.

August 10 - The Washington Post

The New Environmentalism: Follow The Money

Randy Hayes of the Rainforest Action Network champions the environment by challenging corporations. Welcome to Hayes' 500-year plan.

August 10 - The Los Angeles Times

Smart Growth: A Disconnect Between Planners And People

While planners recommend denser development, people choose the opposite. Is "smart growth" inconsistent with the American Dream?

August 10 - The Washington Post

Providence Nation's Least Sprawling Metro Area

Wendell Cox adjusts the Smart Growth American sprawl index for errors and concludes that Providence is the nation's least sprawling metro area and Colorado Springs sprawls less than Portland.

August 10 - The Public Purpose

TEA Reauthorization Places Public Transit Alternatives At Risk

"In a climate of record level oil prices, a bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee just before Congress recessed for the party conventions would substantially curtail travel options for the public."

August 10 - Transact

When Schools Can't Keep Up With Development

Atlanta is spending $543 million for new school construction -- and still not keeping up with its sprawling subdivisions.

August 10 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

BLOG POST

Open Source In Government

An article in the Los Angeles Times takes a look at how local and national government agencies around the world are increasing adopting Open Source Software (OSS). (See: "<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-linux9aug09,1,1269720.story">Developing Nations See Linux as a Savior From Microsoft's Grip</a>" [Reg. reqd], Los Angeles Time, page A4, Aug 9th, 2004) . According to the article: <br /> <blockquote><br /> "Government-driven movements to shift to free or low-cost software � fed by security, economic and ideological concerns -- threaten to dent Microsoft's ambitions. In fact, government officials the world over, from local authorities in Austria's capital to high-ranking national bureaucrats in India, are increasingly moving from proprietary software such as Microsoft's to open-source products."<br /> </blockquote>

August 9 - Abhijeet Chavan

Rail Considered For Critical NYC Link

Plans for upgrading a critical but aging Hudson River bridge could include a passenger rail link.

August 9 - Times Union

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