The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Architect Peter Calthorpe lays out a forceful argument for the lower costs and higher benefits of constructing high speed rail versus expanded highways to serve the state's growing population and economic development.

January 10 - San Francisco Chronicle

Writing on the topic of Los Angeles Times Architecture Critic Christopher Hawthorne's year-long series exploring the city through its literature, Nate Berg talks to the author about his critical touchstones and common themes.

January 10 - The Atlantic Cities

The Philadelphia Inquirer's architecture critic sets out to find the outer edge of the Philadelphia suburbs, and finds a "zombie subdivision."

January 9 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

A group of high technology firms, led by IBM and Cisco, are plunging into the city management business to offer super-efficient new-generation computerized information and control systems.

January 9 - Citistates Group

Indonesia's economy is growing but the crumbling infrastructure is costing residents.

January 9 - NPR

The Environmental Protection Agency is crowdsourcing a massive photo project to update a 40-year old agency project known as 'Documerica', which includes images of American environmental problems and everyday life.

January 9 - Network World

SF Park is an outstanding success when measured by 'ticket anxiety'; i.e. the new program allows motorists to reduce the likelihood of being ticketed by making payment easier and allowing for longer parking stays, thus avoiding a $55-65 citation.

January 9 - San Francisco Chronicle

FEATURE

January 9 - John I. Gilderbloom

Researchers look at the largely suburban South Bay area of Los Angeles to offer ways to retrofit auto-oriented suburbs for more pedestrian travel.

January 9 - Access

Cities and redevelopment agencies are pushing for legislation that give them a stay of execution. Meanwhile, cities are evaluating which projects will be impacted.

January 9 - California Planning & Development Report

Citigroup is being sued for knowingly overstating ridership and advertising revenue projections for the Las Vegas monorail while soliciting investors for the system.

January 9 - Nevada Journal

Because of the relative motions of Earth and Mars, the pioneering astronauts who touch down on the Red Planet will remain there for a year and a half. For this reason, NASA has already started experimenting with a habitat fit for life on Mars.

January 9 - Txchnologist

A new technology enables pedestrian behavior and flow to be monitored continuously using mobile phone technology. Its use in US and UK shopping centers has consumer rights activists worried.

January 9 - The Guardian

The year 2011 may be remembered by some as the year planners began fielding objections about smart growth from Tea Party supporters. Nathan Norris offers his four-step process for responding.

January 9 - PlaceShakers

Nearly 10 years in the works, a connector between Oakland International Airport and the BART transit system is taking shape.

January 8 - The Contra Costa Times

LEGO bricks can be just as much an architectural medium than a toy, according to this profile of one "LEGO-certified professional" hired to recreate buildings for the company's architecture series.

January 8 - Chicago Tribune

Mapmaker David Imus spent 2 years creating the best 3x4-foot paper wall map you'll ever see.

January 8 - Slate

An innovative tenants-rights organization in Boston combines community activism and financial backing to force banks to sell foreclosed homes back to the previous owners.

January 8 - Shelterforce

Richard Florida examines the "Geography of Health" in American and why some cities are healthier than others.

January 8 - The Atlantic Cities

New York University's 20-year expansion plan could become a dangerous precedent for overbuilding by bypassing the city's open space zoning rules, argues Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

January 8 - The Villager