The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Are America's Cities Too Loud?
Recent articles on uncomfortably loud environments in New York and Los Angeles raise an interesting question - is noise pollution a necessary part of city living or is it a health hazard that should be addressed?
Rethinking the Factory Town to Meet America's Affordable Housing Needs
Is the return of the factory town the solution to jump-start new housing construction? Myron Curzan and Janet Lowenthal propose a plan for developing housing that caters specifically to workers stuck in between affordable and median housing.
Marching Orders Suggested for Toronto's New Chief Planner
As Toronto's new chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat made the media rounds last week, her deft comments left local urbanists drunk on the possible. As the city's boosters sober up, John Lorinc recommends two chief priorities that must be tackled.
New Report Reveals NYC's Energy Hogs
A new report released last week documents the energy use of New York's largest buildings for the first time ever. It's the first step in tackling the source of two-thirds of the city's greenhouse gas emissions.
What Montreal Has to Teach us About Great Urbanism
Old urbanism holds countless lessons on satisfying livability. Montréal shares some of its insights in this photo blog by Hazel Borys.
Chicago Adding Protected Bike Lanes to Appeal to Young Professionals
Art Golab reports on Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to make Chicago "the bike friendliest city in the country," which the mayor hopes will attract and keep high tech companies and their workers. The best part? The entire city benefits!
High-End Real Estate Makes Wildfires Worse
In Colorado and the West, the most desirable real estate is also the most likely to burn, writes Michael Kodas.
SF Affirms Transit-First Policy, Angering Drivers
Rachel Gordon reports on San Francisco's "aggressive plan to install thousands more parking meters and to expand the hours they operate," which has drivers fuming.
Bringing Market Analysis to the Public Planning Process
In an op-ed for <em>New Geography</em>, Skip Preble argues why communities can benefit from incorporating market analysis and financial modeling techniques into their planning processes.
Home Bible Study + Zoning Codes = Prison
A Phoenix man serves time for holding prayer gatherings in his home, part of what attorney and author John W. Whitehead sees as a larger trend toward zoning out home services.
Manhattan Plans to Expand its Waterfront Renaissance
Not to be outdone by its neighboring boroughs across the East River, Manhattan is hoping to embark on an upgrade to its eastern waterfront. Tyler Silvestro has the details.
BLOG POST
A Tale of Three Lobbies
<p> In the early 1990s, transportation politics at both the state and federal levels was often fairly simple: an all-powerful Road Gang (made up of real estate developers and road contractors) typically got whatever it wanted, rolling over a much weaker pro-transit coalition of environmentalists and urban politicians. </p>
Could a Toll Road Boost Maine's Economy at the Cost of its Identity?
Katharine Seelye writes on the clash between business interests and residents of rural Maine, where a proposed private toll road has revealed a difference in values.
D.C. Police Use Redevelopment to Predict, and Prevent, Crime
Peter Hermann describes the police force's efforts in D.C.'s up-and-coming areas to put a stop to crime and congestion before it even occurs.
The Story Behind a Small Indiana Town's Architectural Treasures
Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, Columbus, Indiana? Susan Stamberg investigates what makes one small Midwestern town a global center for architectural innovation.
James Hansen: Extreme Weather Linked to Climate Change
NASA scientist James Hansen, considered to be the 'godfather of global warming' has co-authored a new report that shows the connection between 'extreme weather events', such as the drought most of the U.S. is now experiencing, and climate change.
Miami Offers Cautionary Tale for Those Enchanted by Transportation Tax Referendums
After Atlanta's failed transportation tax referendum, commentators from across the country lamented the region's missed opportunity. Yonah Freemark looks south to Miami, a cautionary example where lofty goals for expanded transit have come up short.
Does Conservation Development Actually Work?
Emily Wortman-Wunder looks at the effectiveness of conservation development - a popular tool used by planners across the rural West for the purposes of preserving open space.
Is Density Inherently Desirable?
Kaid Benfield wades into the density debate by pointing out that density and sprawl can go hand in hand.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
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.
