The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Manitoba Boosts 'Inland Port' Plan
The government of Manitoba hopes to take advantage of Winnipeg's location near the geographic centre of North America to build an "inland port" to funnel imports through the continent on improved highways and rail links.
How the Light Pickup Became America's Best Seller
Eduardo Porter traces the American preference for light trucks back to a tariff against frozen chicken back in 1961.
Reconsidering the Alley
Los Angeles has 12,309 blocks of alleys, which make the streets pedestrian-friendly but creates a no-man's-land in the back that breeds trash-dumping and crime. Planners see opportunity in those alleys for a green future.
Developers and Activists Battle in Berlin
Activists are fighting to keep the bank of the Spree River accessible as a two multi-billion Euro projects move in.
LA Cops Take Out the Trash
The city of Los Angeles forms a task force of prosecutors, police, and others to combat illegal disposal of trash all over town.
Double Deckers Hit NYC
Double-decker buses haven't been seen on New York streets since the 1970s. MTA is conducting a trial run for a month to see if they might be worth resurrecting.
Reverse Globalization May Bring Manufacturing Back to Mexico
Outsourcing work to China has gotten costlier due to increasing fuel and labor costs. As a result, some American companies are pondering a return to Mexico to manufacture their goods instead.
Carbon Tax Too Little, Too Late
With a federal election now underway in Canada, the focus should be on new, green infrastructure, not a national carbon tax, argues Tom Kent.
Europe's Impending Demographic Disaster
A new report is warning that aging populations and declining birthrates will bring a demographic disaster to most of Europe within a generation.
Little Havana Stadium Moves Forward
Despite controversy over its funding,location and impact, the Florida Marlins are likely to build a new retractable-roof stadium on the former site of the Orange Bowl in the city's Little Havana neighborhood.
Simulating Urbanity
HBO's The Wire has wrapped its last season of urban criticism disguised as a cop show. Dan Hill, who creates simulations of cities in his day job, is fascinated by The Wire's simulation and deconstruction of Baltimore.
Too Many Malls, Too Few Tenants
Large shopping centers across the country have grown in quantity and size for years, but developers say that overbuilding may now be a problem.
Fannie Mae Nationalized...Again
Most of the news coverage concerning the takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has failed to note the history: Until 1968, FNMA had always been nationalized.
Creating the Future in 'Transition Towns'
The "Transition Towns" movement -- a grassroots initiative to develop local energy and economic self-reliance -- is gathering momentum, especially in the UK.
Possible $349 Millon Cut from Affordable Housing in CA
Proposals from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative Republicans to close the state's $15 billion budget deficit would to take away hundreds of millions of dollars from local redevelopment agencies.
BLOG POST
Orientations, Courses, and Riding the Figurative Bike
<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"> This week will be my first full week of classes at MIT; however, I have actually been here for three.<span> </span>I arrived into Cambridge at the end of August to attend the weeklong department orientation, which was as orientations are – full of very important yet-easy-to-forget information.<span> </span>Alone, the pressure of learning nearly 65 names can induce periodic episodes of amnesia.<span> </span> </p>
Are Form-Based Codes 'Green Zoning'?
Albuquerque's new "form-based codes" could offer city planners another model for denser, more pedestrian-friendly growth.
Term Limits Affecting Long-Range City Planning
Elected city officials in dozens of cities want to overturn term limits, saying current ones keep them from being able to tackle long-range projects.
As Ice Melts, New Laws Needed in in the North
This week international legal experts are meeting in Iceland to debate whether or not the world needs new international laws concerning the polar regions in the face of climate change.
White Rooftops Could Slow Climate Change
A new study released Tuesday concludes that if the rooftops of the world's 100 largest cities were painted white it could significantly cool the atmosphere.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
