The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The media's inattention to Hurricane Ike has hidden its devastating impacts on infrastructure and the environment, as well as a poor response on the part of the federal government.

October 10 - Brattleboro Reformer

Around Los Angeles' Skid Row, vertical farms have been installed on walls. Its project leaders note that it not only promotes locally grown foods, but it also beautifies areas that "would otherwise just be concrete and steel."

October 10 - Architectural Record

BLOG POST

<p> <span><span style="font-size: small"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">One of Vancouver&#39;s most recent significant planning exercises is noteworthy not simply because of the merits of its process or its resulting planning and design vision, but perhaps more so because of the new model it may represent to North American mall owners.</span></span></span><span><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Trebuchet MS"> </span></span> </p> <p> <span><span style="font-size: small"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS">But I&#39;ll come back to that. </span></span></span><span><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Trebuchet MS"> </span></span> </p>

October 9 - Brent Toderian

Spain's booming construction industry was fuelled by immigrant workers, who were encouraged to come to Spain. The economic crisis has now stalled many of those construction projects.

October 9 - Globe and Mail

Media analysts and economists are confused about presidential candidate John McCain's proposed "Homeownership Resurgence Plan," which would see Washington spend up to $300 billion to become a "lender of last resort."

October 9 - Globe and Mail

Upon gaining the presidency, Senator McCain would make the federal government spend part of its bailout money on bad home mortgages, allowing homeowners to stay put and make payments that reflect their homes' lessened values.

October 9 - Newsweek

A proposal to turn part of a 6,000-hectare copper mine into a landfill has just been given the green light for an environmental assessment. The garbage dump would bury 250,000 metric tons of garbage from 25 local communities annually.

October 9 - The Globe and Mail

BLOG POST

<p> That&#39;s what some guy said to me late last night as I waited for my tacos at a typically busy taco truck. He was talking about our Los Angeles neighborhood, Echo Park, which was recently named by the American Planning Association as one of the &quot;<a href="http://www.planning.org/greatplaces/index.htm" target="_blank" title="APA's Great Neighborhoods List">10 Great Neighborhoods of 2008</a>&quot;. It&#39;s a nice honor for the &#39;hood -- and I think they&#39;re right -- but I&#39;m with that random taco dude: don&#39;t tell my landlord.<br />

October 9 - Nate Berg

A new master-planned development in Whistler blends housing types, keeping in mind its local workers, full-time residents, and seniors. Most notably, however, it provides much needed affordable housing options.

October 9 - The Vancouver Sun

The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Sacramento Bee editorialize on the signing of SB 375, California's new landmark law that is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing vehicle miles traveled through better land use.

October 9 - The New York Times

In the current economic situation, condo developers are finding it increasingly difficult to secure financing.

October 9 - Globe and Mail

The economic crisis is the latest hindrance to stall rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. From issues of boosting homeownership to restoring tourism, the Big Easy's road to recovery is looking bumpier than ever.

October 9 - USA Today

In this article, Deneen Borelli argues that elite environmentalists are blocking access to natural resources that are abundant and in urgent need. As a result, higher costs of stricter energy requirements hit poor black communities the hardest.

October 9 - The Root

As Toronto's heritage buildings fall to disrepair, new condominiums are slated to go up in their stead, prompting outcry from preservationists.

October 9 - Toronto Star

FEATURE

October 9 - Josh Stephens

A third term for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been sold as a method to save Wall Street, but it's really more important to the city's urban planning, according to this piece from <em>The Architect's Newspaper</em>.

October 9 - The Architect's Newspaper

John McCain was one of two dozen senators to vote last week against a bill that included $1.5 billion to fund D.C. transit.

October 8 - Washington Post

John Barber laments cities' tendency to (rightfully) favor environmental consciousness over aestheticism. Low-carbon street lighting is the latest eco-trend to retrofit, and potentially blight, the streets of Toronto.

October 8 - The Globe and Mail

Greg Beato looks at self-expression via the front lawn. In places that lack homeowners associations, he suggests, individualized lawns have great potential to strengthen the surrounding community.

October 8 - Reason Online

By 2020, New Jersey will have tripled its wind energy use.

October 8 - Newsday