The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Battered for years by the Great Recession, declining state and federal support, and Congressional gridlock, the nation's mayors are expressing "cautious optimism," reports Lizette Alvarez.

June 18 - The New York Times

For a city known for its storied history, but whose burgeoning creative culture has gone less noticed, a recent branding campaign was charged with the challenge of merging both identities.

June 18 - Fast Company

Shopping center landlords are having trouble renting their big-box spaces after the fall of Borders Group Inc., reflecting a larger shift in the way Americans shop, reports Kris Hudson.

June 17 - The Wall Street Journal

A company renowned for its high speed construction accomplishments has announced plans to build Sky City, a 220-story mega-building in Changsha.

June 17 - CNN/GO

Many U.S. airports are in need of significant overhauls, as terminals from the 60s and 70s can't keep up with current demand and expectations. Jad Mouawad explores the renovations and expansions transforming the nation's largest airports.

June 17 - The New York Times

This past week, the Cato Institute and Next American City played host to an energetic discussion of the role of housing and development policy in controlling the supply of affordable housing in American cities.

June 17 - Cato Institute

Unveiled earlier this week by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the area around Citi Field in Queens is due to become "the site of historic private investment," as a result of a deal reached with developers Sterling Equities and Related Companies.

June 17 - The Architect's Newspaper Blog

With New York and the federal government partnering to fund 325 new electric-vehicle charging stations statewide, Dana Rubinstein asks if this investment will be enough to persuade East Coasters to start buying EVs in droves.

June 16 - Capital

In town for New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, Zak Stone reports on New Orleans' attempts to repopulate the city with the creative class.

June 16 - Good

While California's high speed rail project will be beneficial for the environment by turning polluting car and plane trips into zero-emission travel by train, there are formidable environmental challenges it must overcome in the construction phase.

June 16 - Los Angeles Times

A new guidebook to the architecture and culture of the North Korean capital comes in two handy volumes -- censored and illicit. Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan has the details.

June 16 - Fast Company Co:Design

With home prices at their lowest in a decade and mortgage rates at historic lows, one would thing buying a home now would be significantly cheaper than it was five years ago. Not so, says a new study.

June 16 - The Wall Street Journal

BLOG POST

This week the American Planning Association proudly released the results of a recent poll entitled <a href=http://www.planning.org/policy/economicrecovery/>Planning in America: Perceptions and Priorities</a>, which it commissioned indicating that Americans are overwhelmingly supportive of community planning. Given the state of national politics, it's no wonder that Americans are reserving their passions for local issues. Boss Tweed and Mayor Quimby are looking like angels by comparison. Some of the results are beyond obvious -- such as the fact that 77% of Americans "agree that communities that plan for the future are stronger" -- while others could, if heeded, foretell profound changes for the profession.

June 15 - Josh Stephens

You're probably itching for a change of pace from relentlessly humorous stories we bring you every Friday. So, this week we're changing it up a bit, with the help of our friends at <em>The Atlantic Cities</em>.

June 15 - The Atlantic Cities

While cities across North America work diligently to expand their bicycle infrastructure, Toronto appears to be headed in the opposite direction, and local bike enthusiasts are taking to the streets to voice their opposition, reports Lloyd Alter.

June 15 - Treehugger

Anne Marie Chaker reports on the emergence of the "shared backyard," in which a surprising number of neighbors are combining resources to create bigger gardens and more space to entertain.

June 15 - The Wall Street Journal

Nate Berg looks at one of the overlooked challenges emerging from the world's rapid urbanization - the rise in municipal solid waste. A new report documents the problem.

June 15 - The Atlantic Cities

You've likely heard of Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh’s plans to revitalize downtown Las Vegas in advance of his company's relocation there. Whitney Pastorek profiles one young entrepreneur that's already making a difference in the neighborhood.

June 15 - Fast Company Co.Exist

A new report from the Urban Land Institute concludes that Boston's subways could become overwhelmed by widespread congestion by the end of the decade without investment in more subway cars, better power and signal systems, reports Eric Moskowitz.

June 15 - The Boston Globe

Connecting existing assets and social networks with very little additional monetary investment can generate returns in lean times, writes Hazel Borys.

June 15 - PlaceShakers