The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
People Don't Want Density, Says Duany
In an interview with Builder Magazine, Andrés Duany says that citizen participation in one of the biggest roadblocks to smart growth, because people don't understand the benefits yet.
More Bang For Your Buck From Transit Spending Over Highways
A new study shows that stimulus funds spent on public transportation were a more effective job creator than stimulus funds spent on highways.
So Cal's Infrastructure A Mess, Says New Report
A new report from The Road Information Program, a D.C.-area nonprofit, documents the growing number of highway, bridge and transit systems in need of repair in Southern California and lacking the necessary funding.
The Last Ten Years in Architecture
<em>Treehugger</em>'s Lloyd Alter takes a look back at the last ten years of architecture and finds some progressive trends and positive signs for the future.
Water Standards Out of Touch With Reality
American drinking water meets federal safety standards, but some say it's only because those standards are far too low and don't accurately reflect the potential for contamination.
BLOG POST
My Interview Published in the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's New Forefront Magazine
<p> I apologize for self-promotion but you have to admit that parts of this interview posted here at <a href="http://www.clevelandfed.org/Forefront/2009/12/ff_20091216_07.cfm">http://www.clevelandfed.org/Forefront/2009/12/ff_20091216_07.cfm</a> are funny and mildly thought provoking! This interview focuses on the causes and consequences of "green cities". </p> <p class="interview_q"> Here is an excerpt: </p> <p class="interview_q"> Richter: On your blog, you noted that you can buy 100 homes in Detroit for the price of one in Westwood [where UCLA is located]. Is that a good deal? </p>
Five Advances in City Networks Coming Soon
Adam Christensen of IBM's Smarter Planet blog predicts five ways that cities are going to become smarter by networking their environment.
Civic Engagement Low in Arizona
A new study finds that while Arizona residents like where they live, they have low levels of civic engagement.
Vast Changes Along the Mekong River
Dam and development projects are in the works along the Mekong River, which runs through six Asian countries. Some say the river and the economies that rely on it are being threatened.
Filling in the City
As climate talks start and stop in Copenhagen, Anthony Flint argues for local action by affecting the built environment. He calls for more infill redevelopment, saying "we need more city".
Perpetual Energy From Magnets
Steorn, an Irish company that claimed six years ago to have invented an engine that puts out more energy than it uses, finally presents a model of the technology for the public to see.
Sin Keeps Development Away, Preserves Nature
The former site of the Mustang Ranch turns out to be an important piece of a floodplain restoration project in Nevada, and was inadvertently preserved because of the presence of the famous brothel.
Buffalo's 'Preservation By Neglect'
Buffalo, New York has managed to preserve most of its historic buildings due to a lack of economic drive to replace them. Now that Buffalo is doing better, preservationists are hoping to use those assets for revitalization.
'Urban Planning is Dead in the U.S.,' Says Gehry
In this interview, Frank Gehry defends his record and balks at being called a "starchitect."
Streetcars Return to Vancouver
Vancouver, B.C. will launch its first new streetcar in 65 years next month. TheTransitFan got a sneak preview.
Most Polluted City in the World
The World Bank named Linfen, China the most polluted city in the world a couple of years ago. Since then, the government claims to have made significant strides, but a thick smog still blankets the town.
BLOG POST
Fun With Research: Higher Fuel Prices Increase Economic Productivity
<p> <span style="font-family: Calibri"><span style="font-size: small">Last week I posted a blog, “</span><span style="font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 115%"><a href="/node/42026"><strong>Win-Win Transportation Emission Reduction Strategies: Good News for Copenhagen</strong></a>”</span><span><span style="font-size: small"> which described emission reduction strategies that also help achieve economic and social objectives. I’ve continued doing research on the subject and made some additonal discoveries that I can report on now.</span></span></span> </p>
Street Views as Art
Montreal artist Jon Raufman uses Google Street Views as his raw material, finding images that capture unintentional moments, like a house on fire or a nude bather.
Libeskind Says Downturn is Right Time for Mega Projects
Architect Daniel Libeskind, designer of part of the new Las Vegas megaproject CityCenter, says now is the right time to be building big and bold projects.
Rebound Cities Offer Lessons for Detroit
This piece from <em>The New Republic</em> looks at the "urban disaster" of Detroit and compares it to other cities that have come on tough times in the past. Cities like Belfast and Turin offer examples of how Detroit can come back from the dead.
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.
