The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Richard Florida and The Great Reset
The Urbanophile reviews Richard Florida's new book, defending his populist approach and tackling Florida's central arguments of investing in the grassroots, encouraging "rentership" and the fundamental societal changes coming soon.
Considering "Eneropa"
Rem Koolhaas and his practice have released a vision of Europe 50 years from now, connected by an extensive smart grid and utilizing solar, wind and other green technologies to power the continent.
Mapping for Solar Power - With Lasers
Part of Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC campaign involves taking detailed scans of the city from the sky to determine the suitability if sites for solar power.
The Sustainable Transportation Divide
Grist's David Roberts attended a national conference on the future of transportation at Ohio State in early May and noticed a divide in the concluding discussion on how panelists approached the issue of sustainability in transportation.
From White Flight to "Bright Flight"
The Brookings Institution finds that suburban America has reached a "tipping point" and is now home to more ethnic minorities, seniors, and lower income households.
Asleep at the Wheel of a High-Speed Train
The driver of a high-speed train in Taiwan fell asleep while going 190 miles per hour with hundreds of passengers on board.
Jane Jacobs and the Times Square Bomb
Slate's Fred Kaplan points out that the Times Square bomber was thwarted because of Jacob's famous "eyes on the street."
U.S. Carbon Emissions Drop 7%
In the most significant decrease since 1949, carbon emissions in the U.S. fell 7% in 2009. Sadly, part of the falloff is the result of the economic crisis.
Smart Growth, 10 Years Later
Wisconsin looks back at tens years with a smart growth law in effect, with most critics calling it a success with some room for improvement.
FEATURE
The Infrastructural Benefit of South Africa's World Cup
Next month's World Cup in South Africa will bring a lot of attention to the country, and a lot of opportunity. Though many hope the country will see an economic benefit, the biggest impact is likely to be the creation of urban infrastructure.
Electric Buses Wear Out
Almost one-fifth of the transit rides in Kings County, Washington are on electric trolley buses. Unfortunately, the county hasn't bought a new trolley since 1979, and when these wear out they may not be replaced.
FEATURE
Iron Man 2 and the Future of Energy
The plot of the summer blockbuster Iron Man 2 revolves around a fictional 1974 Expo, with the slogan "Better Living Through Technology." Managing Editor Tim Halbur says the film reflects the misplaced faith in technology and innovation that still drives Americans optimism.
Sidewalk Busted? Fix it Yourself
The city of Los Angeles is considering a plan to stop paying for repairs to broken sidewalks and driveways, shifting the economic burden to property owners.
The Rise of Security Cameras in New York City
The recent bomb scare in New York City's Times Square has brought increased attention to the city's system of security cameras.
Salt Lake City Neighbors Fuming Over Teardown Ban
The Yalecrest neighborhood of Salt Lake City has been designated an historic district, and local property owners are up in arms over what they see as a taking of property rights.
The Curse of the Cul de Sac
A new study found that residents in areas with interconnected streets travel 26% fewer miles by automobile than those in areas with lots of cul-de-sacs.
Mix of Successes and Failures for Pedestrian Malls
New York's Broadway goes pedestrian, while Sacramento's K Street goes back to having car traffic. Are pedestrian plazas a relic of the past, or the wave of the future?
With Tourism Down, Japanese Cities Question Their Attractions
Japan is struggling to lure tourists, which is causing officials there to rethink how they market their cities and what sorts of attractions they should be offering.
Gainesville Tracks Drivers Yielding to Pedestrians
Police in Gainesville, Florida are trying to encourage drivers to be more cautious of pedestrians with a new sign and driver tracking program that tracks how many drivers are yielding to pedestrians.
Looking Back at I.M. Pei's Plan for Oklahoma City
I.M. Pei's 1964 redesign of Oklahoma City involved the destruction of more than 500 buildings. It was abandoned in the 80s. A model now on display reveals the modernist ideal that Pei envisioned and eventually failed to inspire redevelopment.
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.
