The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

China Cracking Down on Rural Migrants

As millions of rural poor move into Chinese cities, the country's legal residency system is making life difficult for the illegal rural migrants.

August 31 - The New York Times

Inside Philadelphia's New Water Management System

This infographic explains the new green techniques that will revise the way Philadelphia catches and processes stormwater.

August 31 - OnEarth Magazine

Renovation Coming to Long-Troubled Harlem Tenements

Neglected for decades, a group of tenement buildings in New York City are set to be renovated to provide a new source of affordable housing.

August 31 - The New York Observer

Pinpointing the City's Center

Google Maps searches include a pinpoint of what the search engine has determined are the centers of cities. One artist has built sculptures of those pinpoints in their real-life locations.

August 31 - Architizer

New Gas Tax Legislation Proposed For CA MPOs

Unlike a state gas tax, SB 791 calls for regional planning agencies to prepare a measure to go before voters in their jurisdiction that would place a new fee on fuel to improve mobility, called a "regional congestion reduction charge".

August 30 - LA. Streetsblog


Trying to Tackle Mobility Issues in South Africa

New government efforts in South Africa are trying to improve mobility for those who rely on public transportation, walking and biking.

August 30 - This Big City

Organizers Pushing Philly High Line

Community organizers in Philadelphia are leading an effort to convert a disused elevated railway into a park.

August 30 - The Philadelphia Daily News


In SF, You Are the Bike You Ride

Graphic designer Tor Weeks captures the essence of the bicycle culture in San Francisco by classifying the types of bikes by neighborhood.

August 30 - The Huffington Post

Seattle's South Lake Union a Jobs Bonanza

When city leaders proposed redeveloping the South Lake Union area of Seattle, they made big promises for job growth. Just a few years in, their expectations have already been exceeded.

August 30 - The Seattle Times

Minority Youth Lead Shift to Majority

Minorities are becoming the majority in the United States, and the shift is most pronounced in populations under one year of age.

August 30 - The Brookings Institution

Cleveland's Land Bank Fights Blight of Foreclosures

With a high rate of foreclosure, Cleveland instituted a land bank to rein in rampant vacancies. After two years, the program has made some headway.

August 30 - NPR

Dueling Observation Wheels Proposed in Las Vegas

Two separate developments are planning to bring supertall "observation wheels" to Las Vegas in an effort to bring tourists to the city as it struggles through the recession.

August 30 - MSNBC

California Cities Hoping Projects Lure Teams and Development

Cities across California are proposing new stadium projects in hopes of luring football teams and economic growth as a result of their new megadevelopments.

August 30 - The Architect's Newspaper

The Urban Planning of Burning Man

The annual Burning Man festival is underway in Nevada, and this piece from <em>The New York Times</em> looks at the urban plan that undergirds the event.

August 30 - The New York Times

Tea Party Creates Headaches For Planners

Tea Party activists have spoken out at regional planning meetings in California to protest what some consider conspiratorial plans to crush civil liberties under the guise of smart growth.

August 29 - California Planning & Development Report

Florida Businesses Counting on SunRail

Florida Hospital has planned their new facility around the commuter rail project, which they hope will reduce their need for parking for patients and staff.

August 29 - Progressive Railroading

Back In Service! Most NY Rail Lines Resume Operation

While most of the city's 22 subway lines resumed service on a limited schedule on Monday, the region's commuter rail lines didn't fare as well due to fallen trees and flooded tracks affecting some branches of MetroNorth and LIRR.

August 29 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Mouse Utopia, and the Density Scare

John B. Calhoun wrote in the 70s about studies he'd conducted that looked at how mice would react when "overcrowded". Since his utopias often turned ugly, he (and many others) extrapolated the results to humans, giving density a bad name.

August 29 - CABINET

New Homes to Come With Energy-Efficiency Labels

Last year, developer KB Homes began putting an Energy Performance Guide (EPG) label on every home they build. Is this an idea who's time has come?

August 29 - Builder Magazine

Last in the Walkability Ratings

Franklin, Massachusetts tied for last place in WalkScore's ranking of walkability in the state. Taryn Plumb says the city isn't taking the ranking in stride.

August 29 - The Boston Globe

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City of Thousand Oaks

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City of Wisconsin Rapids

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Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.