The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

How Jane Jacobs Challenged 'Olympian' Planners

Jane Jacobs had no college degree in architecture or urban planning. How did she defiantly challenge influential figures such as urban-renewal "czar" Robert Moses?

April 28 - The Los Angeles Times

Four Californias? An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

A columnist who has advocated for the division of California into several states takes the idea a step further, examining potential political and demographic conditions as he divides California into fourths.

April 28 - The Lookout

Has Maryland's Growth Management Law Exacerbated Sprawl?

Researchers study the effectiveness of growth management laws in the Smart Growth pioneer state.

April 28 - The Baltimore Sun

Jane Jacobs' Blocks

Her focus on the literal building blocks of cities inspired countless leaders in the field, many of whom are mentioned here.

April 28 - The New York Times

Put Your Gas Where Your Mouth Is?

Plenty of senators are criticizing America's addiction to oil and the need for greater fuel efficiency, yet what are they driving?

April 28 - The Washington Post


U.S Breaks All Records For Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In 2004, U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases increased by 1.7 percent -- the largest rate of increase ever recorded for any country.

April 28 - Environment News Service

Jane Jacobs' Legacies

Urban historian Christopher Klemek discusses the significance of Jane Jacobs' writings and activism.

April 28 - The Chronicle of Higher Education


Jane Jacobs: Urban Theorist and Community Activist

Renowned urban theorist Jane Jacobs was also an energetic community activist. (Includes links to obituaries published by several news sources.)

April 27 - The Los Angeles Times

BLOG POST

Imagine a 3D Google Earth World

Chris' last posting is big news!<br /> <br /> Imagine a google earth world where millions of enthusiastic users build replicas of their homes and the stores/ buildings in their neighborhood and then they become veiwable by anybody else. Wiki style, people can work collaboratively to improve and constantly update buildings. What would normally cost billions of dollars for 3D design company to make available then become part of a 3D vitual town/yellow pages. And it would be built for free and rapidly.<br /> <br /> Like <a href="http://secondlife.com/whatis/">Second Life</a>

April 27 - Ken Snyder

Who Pays the Property Tax?

<p>A critical aspect of the property tax, but one that is rarely addressed in public debate, is its 'economic incidence,' or who actually bears the burden of the tax, as opposed to its statutory incidence, or who literally pays the tax.</p>

April 27 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

BLOG POST

(Google) Sketchup Now Free

<img src="http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/download?mid=f2991e0c12644c9ff87d99a411d2b1c5&rtyp=t" alt="USC Tower / 3-D Warehouse - Google SketchUp" align="right" /><a href="http://www.publish.com/">Publish</a> is <a href="http://www.publish.com/article2/0,1895,1954625,00.asp">reporting</a> that Google has released a free version of the popular 3-D drawing program, SketchUp, <a href="http://www.planetizen.com/tech/archives/2004/07/09/111/">reviewed so well</a> on TechTalk earlier by Ken (Snyder).

April 27 - Chris Steins

The Modern Urban Wasteland

Slate publishes a series of articles on human waste, descending to the depths of London's massive and mysterious sewer system and visiting a restored 1865 sewage works, a "sewage school", and the polluted Thames.

April 27 - Slate

The Key Principles For Effective Planning

The Victoria Transport Policy Institute, a Canadian land use and transportation think tank, offers a review of planning principles and practices.

April 27 - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

Housing Market Swings In Miami

Housing prices have begun to fall as condo supply continues to grow in Miami.

April 27 - The Miami Herald

$10 Vehicle Registration Fee Proposed For Bay Area

East Bay Assemblyman Johan Klehs has written a bill calling for new Bay Area vehicle registration fees, in the form of two $5 fees: one for local transportation needs and the other for a regional air and water quality mitigation project.

April 27 - The Contra Costa Times

Eight Months Later, Little Progress In New Orleans

Eight months after hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is still struggling with devastated infrastructure, overburdened and understaffed hospitals, and a denuded public housing stock.

April 27 - Common Dreams

Learning About Agriculture Through Farm Water Run-off Testing

Farmers in Ventura County, California, can now split the cost of testing run-off, and recent tests reveal positive surprises.

April 27 - The Los Angeles Times

New Lofts Far From 'Run-Of-The-Mill'

Live-work space succeeds in an Easthampton (Western Massachusetts) mill, with plans for a high-tech gay and lesbian retirement community in a second mill nearby.

April 27 - The New York Times

Miami-Dade County Pays To 'Exercise' Unused Train System

As delays continue in the construction of Miami International Airport's new American Airlines terminal, Miami-Dade County is forced to pay $54,000 a month to maintain a people mover train system in Japan.

April 27 - The Miami Herald

Critics Warn Federal Plan Endangers National Monuments Land

Bureau of Land Management plan would permit more mining, grazin, and recreation use in the Arizona Strip -- home of two national monuments.

April 26 - The Los Angeles Times

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New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.