The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Atlanta's Ambitious BeltLine Takes Shape
Despite recent controversy that claimed the BeltLine Inc’s president, when the 2.25-mile Eastside Trail opens this week, Atlanta's long-awaited Beltline will take its “most significant step forward yet,” reports Bill Torpy.
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Professional Planning Literature: Between Orthodoxy and Contrarianism in Challenging Times
<p class="MsoNormal"> Years ago, when I was researching my thesis concerning city planning thought in the 1940s and 50s, I came across an article from an American planning journal, which stated that "everyone is in favor of fast and efficient freeways" – the epitome of prevailing orthodoxy in an era of Interstate Highway construction. Now, when I share this quote with students, it only elicits derisive laughter.
Do Oil-Exporting Nations Have an Obligation to Mitigate Climate Change?
Norway takes this responsibility seriously. Not only will it double its carbon tax, in existence since 1991, but it will use revenues to invest in renewable energy and food security in the developing world while expanding its own oil exploration.
Cut-Throat Competition to Lure Conventions Pits City Against City
With the convention industry still hobbled by the effects of the recession, and a glut of convention space across America hungering for events, cities are going to extreme lengths to attract the expected injections to their local economies.
Feds Award Nearly $1 Billion to SF's Embattled Central Subway Project
The SF Municipal Transportation Agency's Central Subway project, opposed by transit advocacy group SaveMuni, received a Full Funding Grant Agreement from FTA that dedicates $942.2 million to the Caltrain to Chinatown extension of the 'T' LRT line.
Dynamic Pricing: A More Efficient Way to Allocate Public Goods
SPUR, the San Francisco-based planing think tank, looks at the potential benefits to the public sector of using dynamic, demand-based pricing to manage limited public resources - from parking to electricity.
How Voters in Ohio Could Determine the Future of California's Energy Industry
California has relied more on federal subsidies to develop its growing alternative energy industry than any other state in the country. With Mitt Romney seeking to trim such aid, the upcoming election will determine the fate of state energy policy.
Setting a National Standard for Measuring GHG Emissions
It's hard to believe that in the decades since the impact of greenhouse gas emissions were first recognized, no standard for measuring and calculating emissions has been developed. The introduction of the Community Protocol intends to change that.
LA Densification Must Offer Suburban-like Amenities
Joe Edmiston, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, embraces the suburban, private yard-quality to Los Angeles living in an interview with The Planning Report, emphasizing the need to balance densification with open space.
Gas Price Spike Was Uniquely Californian
During the first week of Oct, gas prices were falling through much of the country while spiking an unprecedented 50 cents in CA due to some unique circumstances - bad air requiring a unique fuel blend and a 'perfect storm' of refinery mishaps.
The Secret to Savannah's Surging Downtown
Lively walkable streets teeming with tourists bouncing between unique stores make Savannah's downtown the envy of many cities. But this state of affairs hasn't always been the case. Greg Bluestein looks at the secrets to Savannah's success.
Is Public Land the Key to Solving D.C.'s Affordability Crisis?
A new report argues that city-owned lands must be leveraged to increase D.C.'s stock of affordable housing, and indicts Mayor Gray's administration for not doing enough to keep up with increasing demand.
Building a Better Parking Garage
Mark Byrnes has collected images of 16 innovative parking garages whose inspirational designs prove that accommodating the automobile doesn't necessarily mean neglecting the neighborhood.
Picture It: Coding for Character
Get lost in the details when explaining zoning reform? Hazel Borys puts forth a pictorial review that helps.
Fiscal Cliff Imperils Design and Construction Industry
An American Institute of Architects (AIA) report released this week estimates that the mandatory federal spending cuts looming at the start of next year could cost the design and construction industry 66,500 full-time positions.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Last Great Project Turns 50
John King looks at how Wright's Marin County Civic Center, which the architect described as a "three-dimensional essay on the relationship between government and governed," has stood the test of time.
Friday Eye Candy: Toronto Grows Up
The CBC has compiled a selection of 8 interactive before and after images of Toronto's skyline that dramatically document the city's condo boom over the last decade.
Using an App to Shame Property Violators Into Repenting
In Philadelphia, resourceful City Councilman Bobby Henon has introduced a free app named CityHall, which has quickly become a weapon of choice for getting landlords and tenants who blight their blocks to clean up their acts, reports Dan Geringer.
Downtown LA Sees Signs of a Development Boom
Carol Schatz, President and CEO of the Central City Association (CCA) of Los Angeles, discusses Downtown LA's reemergence as one of the hot development and rental markets in Southern California, reflecting a national trend as the economy recovers.
The American City Makes a Comeback
<em>Architectural Record</em> explores the rebirth of the American city through the lens of three cities reinventing themselves through public initiatives, architecture, and urban design: Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Oklahoma City.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
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.
