The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Seeking an Example of Sustainable Urbanism in Seattle
Seattle has the political momentum behind sustainable urbanism, but it doesn't seem to have a physical neighborhood example of how sustainable urbanism can work, according to this article.
'Smart Growth' Replaced by 'Intelligent Cities'
The term "smart growth" may be approaching the end of its shelf life, according to some. Its replacement: "intelligent cities".
State Takes 0ver Wealthy County's Finances After Budget Failure
Long Island's Nassau County is one of the nation's wealthiest counties, yet its inability to balance its budget (though the county executive claims it's in surplus) is a warning to other counties to get their finances in order before repealing taxes.
New Jersey Stiffs FTA on ARC Expenses
Governor Chris Christie announced the state would not repay the $271 million the Federal Transit Administration claims it is owed for the canceled trans-Hudson rail tunnel, reports Jim O'Grady.
Republican Plan to Shortchange Rail May Be Shortsighted
Eric Jaffe pushes back on the Republican Study Committee's proposal to cut over $6 billion in rail funding over the next ten years.
Detroit: No 'Food Desert'
James Griffioen debunks the myth that his hometown is in want of grocery stores.
The High Cost of Unaffordable Housing
Joel Kotkin argues that planners too often ignore "the most critical issue" in housing.
Distinguishing Taxis From Livery Cars
Do you know the difference between taxis and livery cars? This op-ed by a taxi driver/author explains the difference. It is timely because Mayor Bloomberg will propose a rule that will make the two more similar, and (yellow) cab drivers oppose it.
Friday Funny: Bicycle Rights!!
Portlandia is a new TV show spoofing the self-righteously urban culture of Portland. In this clip, a hyper bicycle rights activist zips around the city decrying the evils of automobiles.
Apartments Replace Retail At Los Angeles TOD Site
At the subway stop at Wilshire Blvd. and Vermont, developer Jerry Snyder halted construction on his planned vertical retail mall, saying that the apartment market is comparatively "very strong."
Wisconsin Water Policy May Drain Cities and Destroy Rural Towns
Suburban Waukesha seeks to be the first city to pipe water from the Great Lakes since the 2008 Great Lakes Pact. But will approval just mean more sprawl in a sprawling region?
Building the Virtual City
Beatville is a new "open source, multi-player environment for real cities", which purports to be a useful tool for democratizing urban planning.
The Twisty, Bendy, Far-Out World of Asian Architecture
Barun Roy says that some of the most adventurous, bizarre and impractical architecture is being built in Asia.
An Improbable Eco-Village in L.A.
In the heart of Koreatown in Los Angeles, an experimental community took over 2 apartment complexes in the '90s. Today, it's a thriving group of folks trying to live greenly in the big city.
Tea Party Senator Proposes Cutting HUD's Funding - Completely
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has introduced a new bill proposing to completely defund the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
'Radical' Plans to Expand NY Airports
The Regional Plan Association has released a $15 billion proposal to expand capacity at congested Kennedy and Newark Liberty International Airports by 50 million passengers per year.
Top 10 Cities for Personal Income Growth
Wendell Cox looks at which U.S. cities saw the greatest gains (and losses) to per capita income from 2000 to 2010.
CA Redevelopment Agencies To Be Audited By State
In what looks like a developing battle between states and cities over redevelopment, the California state comptroller announced that he will audit 18 redevelopment agencies.
Urban Roads May Be Safer than Rural Ones
A new study of federal data on fatalities per 100,000 people and per 100 million miles driven finds significant differences in urban and rural roads.
The Architecture of Possible Worlds
Karl Chu sees a future of architecture that combines artificial intelligence and biological processes resulting in fantastical organic buildings.
Pagination
One Hundred Miles
County of Mendocino
planning NEXT
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.