The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Invasion of the Granny Pods
The Rev. Kenneth Dupin of Virginia wanted to find a way to keep elderly folks independent and near their families while providing the care they need. So he invented the MEDCottage, and is working with cities to change zoning to allow it.
Defending the "Great Good Place"
Public libraries are being relied on more than ever to assist Americans struggling with the economic crisis, even as they themselves are under threat, writes Neal Peirce.
Opposition to Mosque Proposals Mounting
Across the U.S., proposals for new mosques (such as for one in Murfreesboro, Tennessee) are meeting with hostile opposition, leading to worries over an ugly shift in public perception of Muslims.
De-Paving and Improving Urban Permeability
A new test program to de-pave the city of Baltimore is turning the soil formerly covered by city school playgrounds. The project is aimed at reducing runoff.
Detroit's Big Plan
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing has officially announced the city's new 18-month policymaking process aimed at creating what his administration is calling the Detroit Strategic Framework Plan.
The 60-Mile Traffic Jam
A major route in China has been slammed with a major traffic jam, spanning more than 60 miles and lasting for more than a week.
Turning Cities into Software
Many have called for "urban operating systems" to streamline how cities work, but few ideas have really taken hold. One small start-up, however, is making strides in developing that concept.
L.A. To Test Variable Parking Prices
Los Angeles is planning to undertake a year-long experiment in demand-based pricing on parking in its downtown. The dynamic parking system will be put in place next summer.
Cyclists and Elderly Also At Risk on New York City's Streets
New York City's broad study of years of traffic and crash data have given new insight to the city's transportation safety problems. Cyclists and the elderly are especially vulnerable, according to the report.
Downtown Rebirth Through Two-Way Streets
The city of Richmond, Virginia, is hoping to undo years of downtown driving confusion and congestion by converting its web of one-way streets into two-way streets.
Inside a Growing Chinese Megacity
Through the example of the booming megacity of Chongqing, this article explores how urban growth is occurring in China, and what it means to plan a rapidly growing city.
A New Ethic for Urban Reinvention
In a unique collaboration, an American lawyer and a Venezuelan architect merge thinking on holistic design, planning and regulation
Cities Must Realign Priorities Toward Job Creation
Aaron Renn argues that when it comes to thinking on large cities, "too many people remain stuck in the 90s." Now that the recession has civic finances in a vice grip, we ought to focus not on condos or bike shares, but straightforward job creation.
Historic Kansas City Plaza Threatened by Development
A recipient of AICP National Planning Landmark Award, Country Club Plaza is part of Kansas City's historic shopping district. A developer is proposing to replace two historic buildings on the Plaza with contemporary designs.
Transit Planner Speaks Out Against Slashing Bus Service
A Portland transit planner from the days when buses were the primary means of getting around says the system is headed in the wrong direction and service is declining.
Don't Worship Jane Jacobs: Think Like Her
Bill Barnes of the National League of Cities argues that we don't need acolytes of Jane Jacobs; we need people who will think as hard and as well as she did about "the kind of problem a city is."
Gallup Charts "Well-Being" And Commute Times
And the result is fairly obvious - longer the commute, lower the reading. Well-being is a measurement of both physical and mental health, including ailments such as back pain and anxiety. No mention of modal type (e.g, driving, biking, transit).
Is American Ingenuity Dead When it Comes to Transportation?
Chikodi Chima looks at the innovative ideas coming out of China like the famous road-straddling bus announced earlier this month, and asks, has America lost it's edge?
BLOG POST
Changing Travel Demands: Implications for Planning
<p> <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt">The graph below shows the most recent USDOT vehicle-travel d</span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt">ata covering the last 25 years. Although vehicle-miles of travel (VMT) grew steadily during most of the Twentieth Century, in recent years the growth rate stopped and even declined a little. It is now about 10% below where it would have been had past trends continued.</span> </p> <p> <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt"><img src="http://www.vtpi.org/images/VMTtrends.jpg" alt="US VMT Trends" title="US VMT Trends" width="656" height="359" /></span> </p>
BLOG POST
Do You Have Innovative Smart Growth Projects That Need Funding?
<!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal"><!--StartFragment--></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana" class="Apple-style-span">As the post-recession economy continues to plod along, those in the non-profit sector continue to face stiff funding competition. Organizations furthering the smart growth/new urbanism cause may find this to be particularly frustrating, as re-working how and where America builds has never been so important. <span> </span></span></p>
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
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.
