The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Urban Farming Great for Refugees
A Catholic charity in Kansas City got a lot of requests from the immigrants they were assisting from Africa and Asia for a place to plant vegetables. The resulting hybrid of community farm/microbusiness is flourishing.
Designing Embassies in an Era of Terror
Embassies are a critical diplomatic tool, but their original emphasis on representing a state has given way to defending the diplomats inside.
Will Social Media Revolutionize the Planning System?
Joe Peach understands "that online technologies and the city are becoming increasingly integrated," and argues that social media should have a democratizing effect on the planning process.
New Urbanist Ideas Can Improve Public Health
"A once radical idea - that health and urbanism are so deeply entwined that investing in the latter may improve the former -- is beginning to find broad adoption," concludes Fast Company. Greg Lindsay charts the realization of this relationship.
BLOG POST
Kentucky's Second Sunday Ciclovia Takes Flight
<!--StartFragment--><p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; font-family: Cambria">Jay McChord is as energetic and passionate a person as you’ll find in America. While many know him as a generational communication consultant, a Lexington, Kentucky City Councilman, or even as a former University of Kentucky “Wildcat” mascot, livable streets advocates should know him as the chief architect of the only statewide ciclovia program in the United States: Kentucky’s <a href="http://www.2ndsundayky.com/Second"></a>(2S) initiative (<span style="font-family: Cambria, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.2ndsundayky.com/index.htm">http://www.2ndsundayky.com/index.htm</a>).</span></span></p>
Friday Funny: Architectural Analysis of Couch Forts
The staff of the BUILDblog review the architectural approach, style and design of kid-constructed couch forts.
America is Over-Retailed
Are there two many stores? Growing evidence says yes, that the retail market is unlikely to spring back and with the shift to internet spending, it's likely that we've already got more retail space than we need.
Minneapolis Launches Public Bicycle Share
Minneapolis follows Denver in launching it's public bicycle sharing program today. The bicycles will provide a fast, convenient and carbon neutral means of getting around and are based on the highly successful Parisian scheme.
City Wants $630,000 to Study Streetcar Plan: Student Does It For $987
Daniel Jacobson, an undergrad at Stanford, developed a thorough study recommending everything the City of Oakland would need to build, run and finance a streetcar through its downtown.
States Fighting For Films
As states elbow each other to lure movie makers to their markets with increasingly attractive tax incentives, some say the competition has gone too far.
Art and Mystery in a Public Space
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has created a magical zen landscape in a plaza at the University of Milan, using stones, fabric, and light.
A Better Solar Panel
Renewable Energy World reports that think tanks are making hug strides in the efficiency of solar panels.
An Ursine Easement
A forest management company in Northern Idaho has set aside a 647-acre grizzly bear habitat. Part of the deal is that the company will not log while the grizzlies are in the house.
Want to Prevent Crime? Apply Women and Children
Peter Vaernet, aka the "Mad Viking", transformed a pocket park known for drugs and violence into a safe, active place by bringing lots of women and children into the park.
Erasing a Sense of Place
PRAIRIEFORM argues that the central problem of modernist architecture is the way the buildings erase the sense of place inherent in the location where they are built.
Parks are "Volatile Places"
Peter Harnik of the Trust for Public Land spoke recently about the challenges facing urban parks, and how they can be catalysts for revitalization and change when done correctly.
Traffic Planning for Rock and Roll
Traffic congestion marred the early year's of the annual music festival Bonnaroo in Tennessee. But now, advanced traffic planning has made the gridlock only a memory.
Do You Want a 9-Story Neighbor?
Misleading flyers are being circulated to drum up opposition to a mixed-use, transit-oriented development in the East Falls Church area of Arlington, VA., says Michael Perkins. His answer to the flyer's question? Yes.
New Book Says Cars Are The Future
A review of the new book, "Two Billion Cars: Driving Towards Sustainability," which argues that cleaner cars are the future of transportation and barely mentions bicycling, walking or transit.
L.A.'s '30/10' Plan Moves Ahead
At first considered a long-shot, the idea being pushed by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to fast-track 30 years worth of transit projects into 10 is gaining support at the highest levels.
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.
