The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Developers are having to wait longer for project approvals, which may slow the city's recovery from Hurricane Katrina. HUD has denied the city's request to hire more staff using federal money.

August 11 - New Orleans City Business

Local land use regulations help define the character of cities, towns, counties, and entire regions, directly affecting the composition of inhabitants by facilitating or inhibiting rental properties and low-income residents. This comprehensive survey

August 11 - The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program

The recent building spree of high rises in Philadelphia requires more oversight from planners if it is to truly benefit the city, argues one critic.

August 11 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Oil spill threatens Eastern Mediterranean coast and could also affect Cyprus, Turkey, and Greece.

August 11 - Democracy Now

Reason's Annual Privatization Report chronicles and analyzes the most important developments in privatization, outsourcing, and government reform.

August 11 - Reason Foundation

Small organic farms are scattered throughout Cuba that have been providing food for the country ever since the fall of the Soviet empire 20 years ago. The collaboration between the government and local farmers has benefited the whole country.

August 11 - The Independent

Smart growth summit on economic development, land use, community design attracts large audience.

August 11 - The Louisville Eccentric Observer

Based on quality of plans and competitiveness of bidding, billions of dollars in housing contracts were awarded to six companies, some with immediate political ties to the current administration.

August 11 - Yahoo! News

Nationwide, the rise of personal property tax bills has nearly doubled as compared to the level of personal income in the years 2000-2004.

August 11 - The New York Times

To combat housing prices that are increasingly out of reach for low- and middle-income buyers, the state has announced plans to develop 100,000 units of affordable housing over 10 years.

August 10 - The New York Times

Oslo and London lead the pack, while cities in emerging economies in Asia remain some of the best bargains.

August 10 - Yahoo News

Elk Grove, CA has one of the nation's fastest growing and cleanest bus systems, but has experienced a form of "hybrid melt-down" as a result of using the hybrid buses for regional rather than local trips.

August 10 - The Sacramento Bee

Neighborhood planning allows community-based developers to move beyond housing development and become community catalysts.

August 10 - Shelterforce Magazine

Neal Peirce writes about the potential of harnessing tidal energy.

August 10 - Abhijeet Chavan

Extinguished by renovations, regulations, and rust, the old metal fire escape veers towards obsolescence.

August 10 - The Oregonian

A citywide 'lights out' organized by environmentalists as a protest against the city's poor air quality failed to generated enthusiasm from residents or support from officials.

August 10 - CNN.com

Almost everyone complains about the traffic in Los Angeles. The city holds the dubious honor of being the most congested and polluted region in the country. UCLA urban planning professor and blogger Randall Crane grades wide range of solutions.

August 10 - Randall Crane's Urban Planning Research Blog

Mansfield, Connecticut, just doesn't cut it as a "college town," so locals together with the University of Connecticut are creating one.

August 10 - The New York Times

Philadelphia is set to become the largest city in the nation with casinos, but boosters worry that the gaming venues won't fit with the city's recent revitalization.

August 10 - The Next American City

A recent study confirms reveals that long work commutes, be they by car, train, or bus, can significant raise stress levels and impact a person's health.

August 9 - Hindustan Times