The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

BLOG POST

While the middle class sought the refuge in the suburbs in the 1960s and 1970s, it turns out that the crime they were fleeing had nothing to do with density, race, or even blight. Mother Jones magazine suggest that it was all because of lead.

April 13 - Josh Stephens

The quality of L.A.'s public structures falls far below its remarkable private residences. Greg Goldin argues why we should see the beauty in its greatest creations: its infrastructure and evolving collection of noisy storefronts.

April 13 - Zocalo Public Square

Although it was initiated long before his current term in office, Governor Jerry Brown has hitched his legacy to moving along California's high-speed rail project. He recently ventured to China in search of funding.

April 13 - Los Angeles Times

Inga Saffron tells the frustrating tale of how the owner of a lucrative billboard can derail an apartment tower planned for Philly's Old City neighborhood that planners have enthusiastically endorsed.

April 13 - philly.com

An impending lift of the ban on women cyclists could generate investment in much-needed biking infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.

April 13 - Next City

A courtesy phone call from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission to the owners of a luxury-car showroom designed by Frank Lloyd Wright was seemingly all it took to persuade them to demolish the historic interior.

April 13 - Crain's New York Business

Camille Standen interviews the reason why Victoria Station may be the subway station with the most positive vibrations in the world. Jamaican-born train conductor Carl Downer assists passengers with their travels and brightening their day.

April 12 - Vice

The votes are in and Tulsa has defeated Milwaukee in Streetsblog's inaugural tournament to recognize the worst parking crater in America. Fear not, though, Tulsans, some solutions have already been proposed to help address your dubious distinction.

April 12 - DC.Streetsblog

For the first time since the system was opened in 1976, Washington D.C.'s iconic subway stations are getting a substantial redesign. Preservationists and historians are questioning the appropriateness of the changes.

April 12 - The Washington Post

With the coming release of Chicago's new Complete Streets Design Guidelines, the city is undertaking a "seismic policy shift" in how it evaluates all transportation projects: by making pedestrians the primary mode for consideration.

April 12 - The Atlantic Cities

Environmentalists scored a major victory in federal court in their battle against fracking in California when a judge ruled that the BLM violated NEPA by not requiring an environmental review prior to auctioning rights for drilling in Monterey Co.

April 12 - The Monterey County Herald

Vehicles driven by Russia's abundant supplies of natural gas put hybrids to shame with their mileage per gallon. Gazprom is betting that it can expand the market for such vehicles beyond the country's lower-income and rural drivers.

April 12 - The New York Times

A study commissioned by the city of New York makes a compelling case for extending the city's subway system beyond the five boroughs.

April 12 - Capital

Smart Growth America has recognized the best of the 130 complete streets policies approved last year across the United States; and the one passed by Indianapolis has received the highest ranking.

April 12 - DC.Streetsblog

Although urban living has been making a comeback throughout the United States, "sprawl still dominates new construction in emerging metro regions in certain parts of the country," says Kaid Benfield. He looks at the areas where sprawl still rules.

April 12 - NRDC Switchboard

Developed by industrial designers Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin, the Hovding is an "invisible bicycle helmet" that may be the key to unlocking anxiety over mandatory helmet laws.

April 12 - Upworthy

BLOG POST

Some argue that if something is not directly contributing to our public coffers, why protect it? Perhaps it’s worth broadening our understanding of the services – and tax implications – provided by parks.

April 11 - Steven Snell

Yes, L.A.'s first foray into congestion pricing has improved travel times for those utilizing the high occupancy/toll lanes, but congestion has gotten worse in all other lanes, to the surprise of planners.

April 11 - Los Angeles Times

Just 12 years after it opened to critical acclaim, the American Folk Art Museum will be demolished by MoMA, its new owner. The irony of it being razed by an institution committed to preserving important pieces of modern design isn't lost on many.

April 11 - The New York Times

Graphs and maps can be compelling means to illustrate the dire threat to our cities of rising seas caused by climate change. But for blunt impact, a series of photo illustrations by artist Nickolay Lamm are hard to beat.

April 11 - Daily Mail