The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
How New York Failed Its Neediest After Sandy
In an expose that many have been clamoring for since the days immediately following Sandy when stories of people stranded in NYC's public housing came to light, the Times explores how NYCHA and the city were unprepared for the storm's aftermath.

A Novel Approach for Eliminating Surface Parking Lots
In Minneapolis, and cities across the country, surface parking lots are an enduring blight on urban landscapes; their presence often incentivized by existing tax structures. Could a new approach to property taxation maximize the productivity of land?

FEATURE
Top 10 Books - 2013
Planetizen is pleased to release its eleventh annual list of the ten best books in urban planning, design and development published in 2012.
Climate Talks End With Agreement and Bewilderment
Annual United Nations climate change negotiations concluded in Doha over the weekend with an agreement to extend the "increasingly ineffective" Kyoto Protocol a few years, while pushing off a more ambitious replacement agreement.
Parking App Heads to the Suburbs
Does your town have sensors embedded in the pavement of parking stalls that signal when one becomes available? D.C. and N.Y.C. do - and now Streetline's parking app will allow motorists in San Mateo, pop. 97K and San Carlos, pop. 28K to find parking.
San Diego's Transit Future Looking Brighter
With two transit-friendly figures elected to the highest posts in San Diego's government and transit advocates having scored a major court victory in upending the region's transportation plan, the city's transit future is looking bright.
Art Leads a Miami Neighborhood's Comeback
After a decade of establishing itself on the global art calendar, the "once-forlorn slab of Miami called Wynwood" is now a year-round must-see destination.
After Long Road, Bike-Share Gets Boost in Philly
The bike-share bandwagon is getting awfully full! On Friday came news that Mayor Nutter will ask Philadelphia's city council for $3 million to help fund a city-wide bike-share program that could hit the streets by early 2014.
Mapping the Leaders of Public Interest Design
For its inaugural list of the "Public Interest Design 100," PublicInterestDesign.org and research partner the University of Minnesota College of Design have identified the key figures leading the convergence of design and service.
BLOG POST
Do Environmentalists Feed The Fire of Climate Change Denial?
Despite the extreme weather events of the past year, most Americans are still not persuaded that climate change is primarily the result of human activity. Why not?
Re-Connecting Housing and Health for a Better Future
Elizabeth Burton reminds us of the close connection between housing and health, and proposes better ways to gauge how housing may affect the health and well-being of residents.
China's Cities Hold the Key to the World's Future
In a globalized world, China's economic, environmental and urban development has implications for us all, posits Henry M. Paulson Jr. The problems the country faces, and any potential solutions, revolve around its approach to urbanization.
Appreciation for a Modern Master
Paul Goldberger offers a remembrance of the "last lion" of Modernism - Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer - who passed away earlier this week at the age of 104.
Massive Engineering Projects Transform Seattle's Waterfront
The formerly industrial shoreline of Puget Sound will soon undergo $4.5 billion worth of engineering projects that will complete Seattle's waterfront transformation, reports Kirk Johnson.
Traditional Cities and Towns: Incubators of Incompetent Children
With tongue firmly in cheek, Scott Doyon asks urban dwellers, "Are your enviable surroundings crippling the children?"

NYC Bike-Share Gets Delayed Again
On Friday, New York City announced yet another postponement for the launch of its long-awaited bike-share program. While faulty software was reportedly the cause for the initial delay, Superstorm Sandy can be blamed for the most recent problems.
Preeminent Climate Scientist Blasts Cap & Trade
Dr. James Hansen was awarded the prestigious Stephen H. Schneider climate award at the Commonwealth Club in S.F. on Dec. 4 and chose to trash CA's landmark cap-and-trade program, preferring a 'simple, clean carbon tax'. Gov. Brown was attending.
Rentals Drive Return of Residential Development
Across the country, even in metro areas more accustomed to single-family sprawl, multi-family housing is driving the residential construction recovery, report Shaila Dewan and Nelson D. Schwartz.

Detroit's Unreal Estate
On Places, Andrew Herscher of the University of Michigan challenges the usual view of Detroit's decline.
Don't Mess With CEQA in San Francisco!
Although the landmark but now controversial environmental law, the CA Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is state law, it is implemented by the 'lead agency' of a project which can be a city. S.F. Supervisor Scott Wiener hopes to reform that process.
Pagination
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.