The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
High Line Designer Tapped for 'Presidio Point' Project in San Francisco
The landscape architecture firm behind the High Line in New York City has been awarded another high-profile contract—this time for "Presidio Point," overlooking Crissy Field in San Francisco.
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Five Things You Need to Know About E-Bikes—An Urban Transportation Paradigm Shift
When you have a small electric motor, a battery, and a throttle on your bicycle, it becomes very difficult to make any more excuses. Here's why...
North Dakota to Reduce Volatility of Bakken Crude-By-Rail
Bakken crude is considered more volatile than other types of oil, which presents a safety problem when moved by rail. New regulations approved Tuesday require oil producers to separate flammable and volatile liquids prior to shipment by rail.
Ten Provocative Ideas for Bicycling Architecture
Arch Daily presents the ten major ideas to emerge from a "design provocation" for big ideas to push trip share of bike in New York City closer to, and even beyond, the levels of Copenhagen.
Shared Kitchen Space: Best Culinary Innovation since the Food Truck?
Potentially the biggest culinary innovation since the gourmet food truck, L.A. Prep upholds principles of smart growth while supporting culinary entrepreneurs. Artisanal food producers will move into its 50 kitchens starting in January.
Revealed: $400 Million Mixed-Use Development Adjacent to Cobb County Baseball Stadium
The Atlanta Braves Major league Baseball team made a splash last year by deciding to decamp to suburban Cobb County for a new ballpark. Still to be determined: Can the new ballpark spur development and integrate into the community?
Report Reveals Broken Commitment to Green Building at the World Trade Center
An investigative report by James West finds that the developers of the World Trade Center sacrificed a commitment to green building to retain a key tenant after damages wrought by Superstorm Sandy.
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Secrets of Congestion-Busting Cities
Only nine regions experienced reduced traffic congestion between 1991 and 2011. What do they have in common?
Op-Ed: Urban Design Should Mind the Line Between 'Cute' and 'Safe'
Sarah Goodyear writes a dissenting take on the "cutestification" of urban design—calling for a priority on clean and safe over "fun."
Park Supporters Win Funding Victory on Cincinnati's Waterfront
Ruoxi Yang reports on the progress on Price Landing, "an integral piece of the overall western riverfront vision" for Cincinnati. Supporters of Price Landing plan hope that their proposal will permanently prevent the development of industrial uses.
Philly Burgh Balances Tradition with Revitalization
People seeking small town, authentic character are moving to the burghs along the Schuylkill River. Now the towns are faced with the challenge of blending the old with the new.
Veteran City Leader Offers Strategies for Creating Dynamic Streets and Spaces
Drawing on longtime efforts to promote livability at the neighborhood, city, and regional level, Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Rick Cole recently highlighted lessons learned about "urban revitalization."
Manufactured Housing: Underutilized and Misunderstood
What will it take for manufactured housing, the principal source of unsubsidized, affordable homes in the United States, to reach its potential?
What's Good about Being an Urban Planner?
For urban planners, it’s easy to focus on the negatives of the job. Los Angeles County Planner Clement Lau reminds us of some of the positive trends in planning, especially in Los Angeles.
Is There Ever a Good Time to Increase the Federal Gas Tax?
Oil prices are at a five-year low with gasoline prices averaging $2.67 a gallon, lowest since February 2010. Furthermore, they are expected to drop another 17 cents to $2.50 a gallon in time for Christmas, so why not raise the gas tax by a nickel?
Six Helpful Apps for Urban Designers
Leslie Clagett shares a list of apps for urban designers (helpful to project managers, too) "to streamline design problems, decision making, and materials selection."
Former D.C. Mayor Reminds Cities to Retain a Sense of Place
Anthony Williams, who served two terms as D.C. mayor and is credited with the city's turnaround, spoke about creating great neighborhoods at a panel event held by local media company Elevation DC. Cities, he said, need to retain their sense of place.
The Most Expensive Cities for Short-Term Rentals
A recent study measured average prices (both peak and off-peak) of 60,000 properties in 150 cities. New York City showed a surprising distinction in hotel and Airbnb rates.
The Unique 'Fingerprints' of 131 Cities
An article on big think examines a project to find the unique qualities of urban street grids as an exercise in the potential of Big Data.
Explained: How Protected Bike Lanes Improve Pedestrian Safety
An article in Treehugger explains the public safety benefits of protected bike lanes by appealing to common sense.
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County of Mendocino
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The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
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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.
