The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Randal O'Toole vs. the Livable Communities Act
O'Toole asks why, if there is such a demand for high-density, mixed-use housing, that the government needs to subsidize it?
Cairo Opens Design Competition for Its New Pedestrian Center
Cairo is revising its downtown area into a "pedestrian friendly plaza." Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif will expand the successful 'daytime pedestrian zones,' and has launched an international design competition to produce a master plan.
Too Many Traffic Lights
Architect Arrol Gellner says that traffic engineers use traffic lights far too often when a simple stop sign works better and is much less expensive.
Could Local Food Mean the Return of Urban Slaughterhouses?
Patrick Martins, CEO of a sustainable meat company, says that Americans should embrace slaughterhouses in their cities.
Supreme Court Decides Against Private Property Owners
The Supreme Court ruled for state power and against landowners in a landmark decision that will allow a beach-widening project to go forward without compensation.
The Nine Cities With the Best Hope of Becoming Carbon-Neutral
Popular Science gives a brief intro to nine cities that are setting the bar for the reduction of carbon emissions. The best U.S. site? The fortuitously-named Greensburg, Kansas.
Underground Berkeley Bike Station Surfaces
...and expands almost nine-fold to be the nation's second largest. While not as proximate to the BART gates as the existing ten-year-old, 400 sq. ft station, it will be only be half a block away.
A Paolo Soleri Structure In Danger
Urban designer Paolo Soleri - best known for his utopian experiment Arcosanti - also designed an open air theater for the Santa Fe Indian School. The campus wants to demolish it, but preservationists are up in arms.
The Sorry State Of Indian Rail
The sorry state of India's government-owned railways, both rail and freight, are hampering India's progress. Unlike China's authoritarian approach, politics in the world's largest democracy appears to be a major obstacle to modernization.
BP Disaster Endangering Coastal Cultures
The Gulf Coast is home to diverse ethnic and racial communities that have already endured decades of pollution from chemical and petroleum industries. The BP leak may be the "nail in the coffin" for many of these communities, writes Jordan Flaherty.
Sustainably Retrofitting a Mid-Century Skyscraper
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) were brought on board to bring a 1958 SOM skyscraper up to LEED standards. Architects found that the original plans, which weren't implemented, looked pretty good by today's standards.
Struggles with Urban Farming
A ring road that has been on the books for decades is being revived in Urbana, Illinois - and would run right through a popular urban farm.
The Most Agressive Mayoral Transit Advocacy in America
Jarret Walker writes on Mayor Villaraigosa's 30/10 plan and why Los Angeles is a "smart long term bet" as a sustainable city.
Build America Bonds May Be Bad Deal for Cities
Build America Bonds, part of the economic stimulus package that are intended to help cash-strapped cities building roads and schools, have been found to cost cities and taxpayers more over the long-term.
Cisneros: Not the Government's Fault
Former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros says the housing crisis is the fault of brought unscrupulous business people, not the government.
As Developing Countries Urbanize, Food Booms
A new study shows that agricultural output in the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China will be three times as great as those in the developed world. Increasing urbanization is seen as one of the drivers of this growth
India's Transportation Infrastructure Not Keeping Up
Aging and under-maintained rail and transportation infrastructure in India could severely stifle the country's development, according to some critics.
Mega Development or Mega Disappointment?
CityCenter in Las Vegas is the most expensive development in U.S. history. As it settles into it surrounds, will the project attain visionary status, or will it be just another casino?
Visualizing New Orleans' Shifting Population
A new infographic from <em>GOOD</em> tracks population shifts in New Orleans, giving a visual representation of the changes underway in the troubled city.
BLOG POST
Parking Garages Are So Last Century
<p> The parking “epidemic” in Hoboken is so bad that no parking garage conceivable by man can contain our demand. So this week, Hoboken ventures where no city has gone before; we are <a href="http://www.hobokennj.org/news/hoboken-and-hertz-launch-first-city-wide-car-sharing-service-in-america/">rolling out</a> the nation’s first city-wide on-street car-sharing program as a public-private partnership between Hoboken and Connect by Hertz. </p> <p> <img src="/files/u20603/Corner_Car_5_Minute_Walk_Map.jpg" width="503" height="539" /> <img src="/files/u20603/cornercars_sign.jpg" width="415" height="531" /> </p>
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
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.
