The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Assessing Disney's Impact on Urban Planning
Rachel James speaks with historian Jennifer Gray about the impact that Disney's "particular brand of nostalgic, comforting architecture and urbanism" has had on the way people experience the city and professionals plan for it.
Where are America's Most Expensive Zip Codes?
There's been a change at the top of <em>Forbes</em>' annual list of America's most expensive zip codes, writes Morgan Brennan. For the first time ever, a neighborhood in New York City tops the list.
Is There a Place for Design and Beauty in Planning Documents?
As cities strive to improve the "design" and "beauty" of their buildings, how can such attributes be mandated by planning documents if their mere mention is verboten, asks Karrie Jacobs.
BLOG POST
Designing Public Spaces That Serve Users, Rather Than Egos
<p> These are heady times for public space advocates. At long last the promotion of streets, sidewalks, parks and playgrounds has become part of the eminent design and development dialogue, and with it hopefully the recognition of the needs and rights of the user. </p> <p> This certainly is the situation in California where the approval of parklets, and other smaller scaled, vest pocket, public projects are being hotly pursued, and in other cities where the noble if not naive Occupy movement raised the profile and purpose of public space. </p>
Debate Roundup: Why No Urban Issues?
"Another debate, another lack of urban topics," bemoans Matt Bevilacqua, reporting on last night's presidential town hall debate. Once again, issues of relevance to planners (climate change, transportation, housing, etc.) got nary a mention.
Parklets for the Suburbs?
Sustainable real estate developer, A-P Hurd asks some fundamental questions about the on-street parking in her Seattle neighborhood and concludes that residents should be able to do more than park cars with the spots in front of their homes.
Norwegian Architects Honored for Defying Architectural Norms
Young architectural firm, TYIN Tegnestue, proves that good design can be affordable, and that architecture can be used to help solve some of the world's existing social ills, rather than exacerbating them, writes Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan.
Cincinnati Experiences a Renaissance Based on Preservation
Associate professor of design Karen Monzel Hughes, in moving from Cincinnati's much-acclaimed Mariemont to the once-struggling Over-the-Rhine, discovers that rebuilding and preserving are both critical facets of preservation.
Will Chicago Back Congestion-Pricing Plans?
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) has put forth an ambitious congestion-pricing plan for new highway lanes planned on six major roadways across the Chicago metro area in the hopes of building political and public support.
An Informal Model of Waste Management Blossoms in Bangalore
Without the wealth for recycling, Indian cities like Bangalore rely on informal traders to collect and sell recyclable materials. Could this tech hub provide a model of trash disposal for cities in the developing and developed world alike?
Plans for Baltimore Bike-Share Hit the Brakes
Unable to secure enough local sponsorship to move forward with implementation, bike-sharing company B-Cycle has abandoned plans to build Baltimore's first bike-sharing program, reports Ron Cassie.
Transit-Oriented Town Center in L.A. Plans Auto Dealership as an Anchor
In today's news of the ironic, and weird, an L.A. car dealer is developing a mixed-use "town center" adjacent to a future light rail station that will be anchored by their auto showrooms. The twist - they want to get people out of their cars.
Fuel Industry Incites Fear of CA's Low Carbon Fuel Standard
"You think 50 cents in one week is bad - wait till the state adopts the Low Carbon Fuel Standard", warns one critic, predicting increases three times as much. The regulation was devised by the CA Air Resources Board to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
What History Can Teach Us About Today's Urban Challenges
Historian Daniel London argues that by "excavating a 'usable past'" urbanists can find relevant, cutting edge ideas for solving the seemingly unprecedented challenges of global urbanization.
Surprise Winner of Britain's Top Architecture Prize
This past weekend, the Sainsbury Laboratory, by architects Stanton Williams, beat out favorites such as the Olympic Stadium and the Hepworth Gallery to win the Stirling Prize. Oliver Wainwright discusses why the jury made the right pick.
Animating San Francisco's Turbulent Decade
A joint project by technology company Esri and the city of San Francisco shows the promising confluence of open data and innovative visualization techniques.
Constructing a Homebuilding Revolution - Brick by Brick
Is Clay Chapman the Joel Salatin of homebuilding? At $80/SF for a custom, multi-century, structural masonry and timber frame home, he just might be. Scott Doyon enumerates the similarities, and challenges others to get involved.
Why the Space Shuttle Feels Right at Home Along L.A.'s Grand Boulevards
It wasn't Angelenos' supposed love of the artificial and exaggerated that brought crowds of people to the city's streets to see Endeavour's slow crawl across town, but an appreciation for authentic spectacle and the pleasures of public space.
Plan to Heal Baltimore's Harbor Encounters Opposition from Officials
A local marina owner's plan to build a floating marsh in Baltimore's Inner Harbor to help clean up the city's main tourist attraction is being viewed skeptically by officials, who have raised a number of questions and concerns.
Understanding the Importance of Place to the Creative Class
Richard Florida discusses why "quality of place", rather than job opportunity, is the determining factor in where creative-minded people choose to live.
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
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.
