The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Sharon Zukin's new book takes a different look at the urbanity championed in Jane Jacobs' seminal book "The Death and Life of Great American Cities", arguing that gentrification is tearing up the authenticity of places.

February 23 - The New York Times

As architects and planners seek to create sustainable buildings and cities, some scientists suggest looking at the intricate home-building of insects.

February 23 - New Scientist

This post from <em>Wired</em>'s <em>Autopia</em> blog looks at the history and potential of an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS).

February 23 - Wired

The American Enterprise Institute looks closely at how migration patterns have changed state-by-state through the last couple of years of recession.

February 23 - The American Enterprise Institute

With heavily polluted waters and eroding shorelines, the Great Lakes are undergoing a rapid deterioration in health. The Environmental Protection Agency has unveiled a 5-year plan to restore the lakes.

February 23 - Los Angeles Times

Washington, D.C.'s transit system is in hot water, facing several safety investigations, a decline in ridership, and historic budget deficits.

February 22 - The Washington Post

Construction unions are reporting that 30% of their members are still unemployed or between jobs. Public projects are raising hopes, but as one carpenter's union spokesperson puts it, "The private sector is dead."

February 22 - Time

The short-term focus of the first year's worth of stimulus package spending could be creating long-term problem's for America's already troubled infrastructure, according to this review from the <em>Chicago Tribune</em>'s Blair Kamin.

February 22 - Chicago Tribune

The major cities in South Africa are busy building new bus rapid transit systems to improve the way their residents get around. But in Johannesburg, the new system is having a rocky start.

February 22 - The New York Times

Efforts to desegregate schools in the 1970s weakened neighborhood ties. Now, a return to school assignments based on where children live could make communities stronger.

February 22 - Crosscut.com

A gunfire detection tool used by the city of Palo Alto will be used in the investigation into a plane crash that killed three local auto executives.

February 22 - San Francisco Chronicle

BLOG POST

<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small">Most North American cities offer only basic public transit service, with limited coverage and frequency, modest speeds, unattractive waiting areas, poor land use integration, and few amenities. Such service is used primarily by people who lack alternatives. In such communities, riders tend to abandon public transit as soon as feasible.</span> </p>

February 22 - Todd Litman

This post from <em>The Overhead Wire</em> looks at the impact of parking lot sprawl in American downtowns -- and finds a striking resemblance between those downtowns and bomb-ravaged cities from World War Two.

February 22 - The Overhead Wire

The economic recession is pushing many municipalities towards declaring bankruptcy.

February 22 - The Wall Street Journal

Metropolitan officials in the Sun Corridor of Arizona are increasingly working together to form a self-organized super-region, according to this analysis.

February 22 - The New Republic

FEATURE

February 22 - Richard A. Marcantonio

Aquaponics offer urbanites a new way to farm sustainably in space- and resource-poor areas.

February 22 - The New York Times

In Anchorage, Alaska, planners are rolling out a substantial new version of their zoning code, which includes some design requirements like no blank walls. Business owners are up in arms over the proposed changes.

February 21 - Anchorage Daily News

The Victoria Transport Policy Institute has released this report to guide municipalities to transition from 'free' parking (though author Todd Litman is quick to point out that it is never free) to charging for parking directly.

February 21 - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

The Jordan Downs public housing complex in Watts, California is a perfect example of the failed projects of built mid-century. A new proposal would tear down the towers in favor of a mix of building styles connecting to the surrounding area.

February 21 - The Architect's Newspaper