The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Railing Issues in the UK
The benefits of building a new $52-million HSR that connects London to northern England are plausible but not persuasive, says The Economist.
Will Obama's Support of Advanced Batteries Encourage Sprawl?
The Obama administration has pumped $2.5 billion in stimulus funds into the advanced battery industry, with the goal of creating manufacturing jobs. But will supporting green cars mean supporting sprawl in the long-term?
Playing the 'Hide the Cell Tower' Game
An 84 foot tall cell tower, disguised as a giant pine tree, sparks controversy in Bozeman, Montana.
BLOG POST
Are TODs Really PODs?
<p> For a while now, I've wondered if we have been mislabeling the development around well functioning transit stops as transit-oriented developments (TODs). This may seem odd, because numerous studies have shown that property values can increase by 20% to 40% percent around transit stops, particularly rail stations (although the increases are uneven). </p>
NPR Tours The High Line With Its Founders
The two founders of New York's famous High Line give NPR an exclusive tour of the park and provide the inside scoop on the creation of the park.
Why You See So Many Walgreens, Rite-Aids and Duane Reades
Net lease investors see drugstores as solid, no-nonsense investments, and with an unstable market that's music to an investor's ears.
The Cardinal Rules for Climate Action Plans
Any prospect for the green initiatives to produce desired results requires more than just aggressive reduction targets, according to The Economist. It comes down to scope and suitability, the two factors that vary greatly from city to city.
Shipping Container Housing May Be Hazardous to Your Health
Recycling shipping containers into housing has been growing in popularity, but the materials they are coated with may be cause for alarm.
Connecting Communities Through Food
A student in a social design class opened a halal hotdog stand to encourage broader acceptance of Minneapolis' Somali community, combining Muslim and American traditions in one mustard-filled bun.
Avoiding Plannerese: Keep it Simple
Planners, architects, and urban designers talk the talk and walk the walk, but often in a cone of silence, unheard - or at least not understood -- by those outside the profession, says Scott Doyon.
Obama Axes New Ozone Rules
President Obama has directed EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to drop proposed regulations that would have reduced ozone (smog), handing a victory to Republicans and industry that had opposed them, to the dismay of the environmental community.
All That Glitters in Provincetown, Mass.
With same-sex couples coming out in record-breaking number on the 2010 Census, West Hollywood and San Francisco are dethroned as the meccas of gay cities - at least for those who chose to settle down.
Friday Funny: Captain Planet the Green-Mongering, Megalomaniac Superhero?
Before polar bear there was Captain Planet. This laugh-out-loud video of actor Don Cheadle as the cartoon superhero evokes the old adage: Be careful what you wish for.
"Living Building" Vision Comes to Life
In a bold move to secure its place as the bastion of sustainability, Seattle sets out to build a series of the "greenest commercial building on earth."
Making the Door Zone Safe for Bikers
The door danger zone- where cars and cyclists intersect - is getting a revamp in San Francisco, highlighting how little room there is on the streets for all users.
Walter Reed's Closure Leaves Significant Development Possibilities
Walter Reed is closing and leaving behind close to 70 acres available for redevelopment in D.C. Residents want to know, can the planners get it right?
Don't Fear the Renter
Kevin Klinkenberg looks at the fear of "alternative lifestyles": that is, those who rent.
Melbourne Ranked as Most Livable City
With high scores in five broad categories, Melbourne, Australia received the highest spot in livability rankings from The Economist's research unit.
New Town Takes Worst of Irene, Emerges Unscathed
The town, designed by DPZ Associates, uses traditional building techniques (most of which are completely illegal in US hurricane zones) and fared better in the eye of Hurricane Irene at its strongest point than any other town.
Medical Center's Closure an Opportunity for D.C.
The closure of the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C. presents a big piece of property and a big opportunity for the District.
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.
