The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
'War on Gardens' Spreads Like Weeds Across North America
Sarah Laskow notes the latest battlefronts in the growing 'war on gardens' being perpetrated by cities across North America.
China's Housing Tries to Go Green, but Fails
A so-called "eco-friendly" apartment complex complete with solar panels that derives more than 90% of its energy needs from coal? China struggles to take sustainable development seriously.
New Study Shows the Suburbs at the Cutting Edge of Racial Diversity in America
Diverse suburban neighborhoods now outnumber their central city counterparts two to one. How will increasing (or decreasing) diversity change America's suburban stereotype?
How NOT to Do Bus Rapid Transit
As Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) gains popularity, Annie Weinstock describes new standards for BRT, taking a lesson from some failing systems.
Friday Funny: The Cure for Our Purrlitical Problems
Sarah Laskow noted a significant milestone this week, the 15th anniversary of Stubbs the cat's election as mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska.
Slow Your Applause Urbanists, Exurbs Are Growing Fastest
New analysis from the Urban Institute and researchers at the U.S. Census Bureau shows that, despite the housing bust and economic recession, exurban growth in recent years has been significantly higher than in more densely populated areas.
Coney Island's Facelift Manages to Keep the Wrinkles
A city led effort to revitalize Coney Island's famous boardwalk and amusements, started amid much angst from longtime business owners, has managed to achieve a delicate balance somewhere between Disney and seedy, writes Joseph Berger.
What Do Architects Do?
If you have a hard time answering that question you're not alone, at least according to the ‘shocking’ and ‘depressing’ results of a new survey conducted in the UK, reports Max Thompson.
China Could Revolutionize Development Funding in the U.S.
The Bayview Hunters Point/Candlestick Point project in San Francisco looks like it'll be significantly funded by an unlikely source: the China Development Bank. Bruce Katz and Robert Puentes believe that this deal could change U.S.-China relations.
Where Americans Can Retire 'Like Kings'
Lisa Stark identifies the top ten U.S. cities were retirees can live on less than $100 per day.
CA High Speed Rail Bill is Now Law
In signing ceremonies in both Los Angeles's Union Station and San Francisco's Transbay Terminal (under construction), Gov. Jerry Brown appropriated $4.7 billion in Prop. 1A, 2008 bond funds that will be matched with $3.2 billion in federal HSR funds.
Is Creative Class Urbanism This Generation's Urban Renewal?
The 10th anniversary and updating of Richard Florida's "Rise of the Creative Class" has brought about a re-evaluation of "creative class" urbanism. Will Doig surveys a series of popular essays that question Florida's highly influential arguments.
Is Suburban Sprawl Worsening America's Historic Drought?
As the U.S. experiences its worst drought in over half a century, Kaid Benfield questions the connection with the country's suburban growth patterns over that same period.
An End to the Days of "Drill First, Ask Questions Later"?
An Indian court pulls the plug -- sort of -- on unregulated groundwater exploitation.
Gotham's Mirror Reflects American Views of the City
On the eve of the premiere of the most highly anticipated blockbuster of the summer - "The Dark Night Rises" - Adam Rogers probes the "deeply dysfunctional love story" between Batman and Gotham.
Chicago Crowdsources a Superior Transit App
Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan discusses the launch of Designing Chicago, an "unusual" Kickstarter campaign intended to utilize the brains and wallets of the city's residents to create an app covering the city’s various systems of public transportation.
SF Subway Work Begins, Despite Uncertain Funding and Local Opposition
With construction beginning, Michael Cabanatuan reports on the unresolved problems dogging San Francisco's $1.6 billion Central Subway project.
California Cities Go Ballistic Over Latest Redevelopment Law
In its attempt to clean up the mess left by the dismantling of the state's redevelopment agencies, the California legislature is holding cities hostage with a 'draconian' penalty for failing to relinquish funds to the state.
Will Toronto Choose to Trash its Pioneering Waterfront Master Plan?
An award-winning master plan for Toronto's Lower Don Lands, completed only five years ago by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, may be gutted if the Ford administration has its way, reports Alex Ulam.
Tech Start-Ups Move to the Beach
Jefferson Graham describes how an influx of tech start-ups are turning Los Angeles into "Silicon Beach" - the newest hot spot for entrepreneurs with an entertainment, celebrity or mobile edge.
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.
