The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Reintroducing Industry to the City
Industrial uses have long been banished to the edges -- but recently savvy cities are seeing the value of making them walkable again.
Public Libraries are Natural Town Squares
Cities from Fayetville, AR to Pendleton, OR are taking advantage of their public libraries as places to get input on important strategic initiatives.
Cut Here, Army Corps of Engineers
A dam near Ojai, California built in 1947 attracts almost unanimous disapproval. Getting the dam demolished though is a long and frustrating process, one an unknown graffiti artist commented on this week.
4th Best City to Buy a House and Find a Job: Detroit?
Homes in Detroit are certainly cheap, but are there jobs? Data from jobs site SimplyHired and real estate search engine Trulia says yes.
Revitalizing an Industrial Mill Site as an Industrial Mill
The Faribault Woolen Mill in Faribault, Minnesota was opened in 1865, and closed in 2009. Two brothers intend to reuse the site for its original use, using an historic preservation credit to help fund the business.
The Dutch Touch
Leah Shahum returns to San Francisco from a 7-month sabbatical in Amsterdam with a new perspective on making cities bike-friendly the Dutch way.
Will New York's Next High Line Be Underground?
Three urbanist entrepreneurs are trying to transform an old underground trolley terminal into green space.
Untippable, Enclosed, Electric Motorcycle in the Works
Segway meets Vespa: car designer Daniel Kim is developing a scooter-sized vehicle that is fully-enclosed and fully-electric, with a range of 150 miles.
L.A. Suing Billboard Magnate Over Supergraphics
Michael McNeilly of SkyTag covered building sides across Los Angeles with multi-story advertisements, disregarding laws prohibiting them. The city is suing SkyTag for millions in penalties.
Controversial Bridge & Tunnel Toll Increases Take Effect
Over the vociferous objections of AAA, cash tolls on all Port Authority of NY & NJ bridges and tunnels jumped $4 on Sept. 18 to $12. However, discounts for electronic toll collection, low emission vehicles, and off-peak travel are considerable.
The Rise and Fall of the Cul-de-Sac
In the 1930s, The Federal Housing Authority embraced the trend towards cul-de-sacs, decrying the standard street grid as monotonous and unsafe. Norman Garrick and Wesley Marshall have proven otherwise.
Historic Preservation Group Throws Wrench in U.K.'s Streamlining
The U.K. government is determined to "simplify and speed up" the planning process at all levels, but the National Trust is staking ground against the measures, saying they would result in "Los Angeles-style" development patterns.
Density in the Backyard
Vancouver is working to incorporate more density in traditional single-family neighborhoods by allowing additional dwellings in the backyard, adjacent to alleys.
Three Controversial Bills To Reform CEQA
The CA Environmental Quality Act: you either love it or hate it. The 1970 law either protects the environment or stifles smart growth, depending upon your perspective. Three bills lie on Gov. Jerry Brown's desk that address different aspects of it.
Another Look at Bicycle Advocacy
Blue argues that bicycle advocates need to consider the economic perspective of all individuals that use bicycles as transportation. Not all who bicycle do it by choice, says Blue.
Cemeteries: A Great Place to Play Frisbee?
Aaron Hanauer and Colleen Ayers explain that the "rural cemeteries", a form that began in the early 19th century, used to be a popular place for family outings. With land in cities at a premium, could they be so again?
Time's Almost Up for New York's Parking Meters
On Monday, Manhattan's last traditional parking meters will be uprooted and replaced by a sleek, solar-powered machine. This article contains a brief look back at the joys and pains of the meter as well as a glimpse forward.
Have We Reached "Peak Male"?
Elizabeth Farrelly poses that as we get more connected via the internet and social networking, the female traits of connectivity and relationship-building are ascendant and may mean a new feminine paradigm for city-building.
How Urban Design Influences Behavior
"There has been a long-standing thread of recognition that the way people live their lives is directly linked to the designed environments in which they live," writes Dan Lockton, reflecting back on his research.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
