The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Carbon Emissions Set New Record, No End in Sight
Two new scientific papers report that global carbon dioxide emissions set a record high in 2011. With no coordinated effort underway to curb them, researchers believe crossing the 2 degree Celsius threshold for the worst impacts may be inevitable.
The Most Expensive Family Housing in the USA
No other place even comes close for values of 4 bedroom, 2 bath single family homes. Five of the six priciest cities in the U.S. are located in Silicon Valley, with median home values ranging from $1.44 million to $1.7 million for #1 ranked Los Altos
Extra, Extra: LA Has a Dense Urban Center
Award-winning research conducted by University of Southern California graduate Samuel Krueger shows that Los Angeles really does have a gooey chocolate - whoops...dense, urban center.
What's the True Cost of America's Tax Incentive Folly?
The Times delves deep into the financial incentives that cities, counties, and states dole out to corporations to lure jobs and economic development to their corner of the country. Just what does the $80 billion spent each year actually buy?
After the Shard, London's Skyline Gets Shafted
"There is no nice way of putting this, but the skyline of London is being screwed," says Guardian architecture critic Rowan Moore. In an approvals process that runs roughshod over the concerns of the public, only developer egos are being served.
Pew Research Reports U.S. Baby Bust
The U.S. birth rate is now at the lowest recorded level ever - or at least since record-keeping began in 1920. Births were increasing but plunged after the 2007 recession. The biggest decrease is among immigrant groups, particularly Mexican women.
D.C. Updates its Zoning Code to the Delight of Some, and Horror of Others
Washington D.C. is embarking on the first update to its zoning code since 1958. In advance of consideration by the city's Zoning Commission next spring, controversy has erupted around - you guessed it - parking!
Stunning Videos Of Public Transit Patterns
Data visualizations show the daily ebb and flow of public transit traffic in world's major cities.
Will Minneapolis Finally Get its Signature Park?
Could the nascent plan for Gateway Park satiate Minneapolitans suffering from downtown park envy?
Learning from Barcelona
Planetizen blogger Brent Toderian returns from a recent trip to Barcelona with six ideas every city should steal from the Catalonian capital.
Why NYC's Most Exciting Architecture Can be Found Hanging on Walls
Planning a trip to NYC over the holidays? In a recent editorial, William Menking argues that “for visitors to New York, the place to look for the most exciting architectural ideas is not the city streets, but the walls of galleries and museums.”
London Looks to Get Its Cycling Revolution Back Into Gear
According to Chris Peck, “Better cycling infrastructure, an enforced road traffic law and a reduction in the space available to motor traffic are all required to get cycling growing again in London.”
MTA Disaster Aid Request: Appropriate or Overreach?
This week, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority made public its request for $5 billion in federal aid to rebuild what was damaged during Superstorm Sandy. But a look at the details reveals an ambitious agenda for improvements.
Charting a 'Two-Speed' World
Derek Thompson discusses the findings of a new study from the Brookings Institution that ranks the world's 300 biggest cities by GDP and job growth over the past year. Put simply, China is growing and Europe is slowing.
Looking for the Good in Global Warming
Sick of reading about all the work that must be done to slow and mitigate the impact of global warming? A growing number of scientists are investigating how to "make climate change work for us."
Micro-Apartments Proposal Passes San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Don't call these modern apartments SROs - they go by 'micro-apartments', and they just received a significant approval, 375 of them, that is. One more step awaits: Mayor Ed Lee must give his blessing, and he appears rather non-committal.
A High Line for the Upper East Side?
Matt Chaban reports on the making of “the Upper East Side’s very own High Line." Current proposals seek not only to "re-pedestrianize" Park Avenue, but also to restore some of its turn of the century glory.
Friday Funny: Zoning Out the Kardashians
Richard Florida uses the Kardashian clan's takeover of the North Miami community of San Souci for a lesson in urban economics and "negative externalities."
Builders Respond to Desire for Multigenerational Homes
The new American household is much like the old multigenerational household that existed before World War II, recent population trends show. And builders are responding by offering "bonus" and "flex" rooms, while circumventing outdated zoning.
Next Battleground in Climate Debate: Repealing State Mandates
While the federal government has dithered on comprehensive programs to limit greenhouse gas emissions, states and cities have led such efforts. Climate change skeptics are now leading efforts to reverse state renewable energy mandates across the US.
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.
