The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Frank Gehry's Design is Out
According to government officials and real estate executives, Frank Gehry is out as the architect for Barclays Center arena.
Eliminate Child Safety Program to Cut Budget?
House Republicans sent President Obama a $375 billion budget-cutting plan, which slices $1 billion from bicycle and pedestrian programs.
BLOG POST
The Garbage Genius of Paris
<p> I just got back from my first trip to Europe, where the cities are a lot older and a lot different than they are here in the New World. I made many observations on my brief trip, which included Paris and Barcelona, and I'm sure those will bubble up in blog posts in the near future. However, I won't waste anyone's time remarking about how great European cities are. We've all heard it before, and while it may be right, the point has been made. Like, really made. <br /> <br /> So, yes, the narrow streets are nice to walk on, the bike sharing system in Paris is awesome, and the architecture is impressive. But one piece of these cities that hasn't receioved enough praise is their garbage cans. </p>
No Lot Size Ordinance Any More in Stafford, VA
The Stafford Board of Supervisors opposed an ordinance which would require a minimum buildable lot area for agriculturally zoned parcels.
Bad Habits Persist in Designs for Future Malls
A competition to design the shopping mall of the future produces some surprisingly non-futuristic results, according to juror and commentator Allison Arieff.
Friday Funny: Puppets Impede Public Process
There was much ado at a recent L.A. City Council meeting when a group opposing a new 7-story development was allowed to speak after the project had been approved. It also appears the public speakers were cut short by a puppet show.
Going Green With Brown and Yellow
Planetizen's Nate Berg reports on the latest trend in waste management: 'living machines' that treat human sewage in-house using plants.
BLOG POST
The Housing Boom and Bust: Where Was Planning?
<p class="MsoNormal"> It was the collapse of the housing bubble that triggered the current economic crisis. As is the case in the aftermath of many calamities finger pointing abounds. There are an ample number of would be culprits. Take your pick; The Federal Reserve for keeping interest rates too low, mortgage brokers for pushing inappropriate loans, ratings agencies for blessing dubious securities, the list goes on. A common criticism aimed at all of these culprits is that they lacked the foresight to see the inevitable housing bust. It was the housing bubble that camouflaged all of the bad decisions. </p>
President Obama's Aiming for U.S.-China Deal
The Obama administration is making a U.S.-China deal on climate change a centerpiece, according to The Guardian (UK).
Tiny Town Tries to Recover From Immigration Bust
When an immigration raid brought down the dominant employer in tiny Postville, Iowa, last year, nearly half of the town's population were either deported or lost their jobs. As the town struggles to regain its feet, its learned some tough lessons.
Katrina Trailers for a Buck
Hurricane victims on the Gulf Coast can still live in government-provided trailers to buy their temporary homes for only $1, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Making Brownfield Sunny
A manufacturer of solar systems has planned to develop the country's largest urban solar power plant at a brownfield in Chicago.
A "Softer" Color Scheme for Hotel Facade on Waterfront
The Planning Board of Buffalo has urged the developers of a new hotel on the waterfront to make design changes so that it looks less "bunkerlike".
BLOG POST
wish you were here: liveblog from the Association for Community Design Annual Conference
<p> I’m watching local Rochester-area advocates respond to presentations by three panelists on the subject of “Community Food Supply and Environmental Justice” at the <a href="http://communitydesign.org/Annual_Conference.htm">Association for Community Design annual conference</a>. We’re here hosted by the Rochester <a href="http://www.rrcdc.org/">Regional Community Design Center</a>.
"Rescue" Bill for New York's Mass Transit
The solution to transportation problems in New York lies not just with the city and the state, but also with the federal government.
A New Vision for Delaware Waterfront
The executive director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission says that the zoning "overlay" of the central Delaware waterfront will be replaced by a new master plan in 12 to 16 months.
The Challenge of Finding People Before Counting Them
Collecting Census data can be a daunting task. But in some places, like New York City, just finding the people to survey can be most of the challenge.
L.A.'s Neighborhoods Defined and Mapped
After months of input on boundaries from readers, the <em>Los Angeles Times</em> has released its map of neighborhoods in the city.
Dry Counties Facing Zoning Issues As Liquor Sales Approved
The Planning and Zoning Commission of Lubbock, Texas is in the process of revamping old zoning to meet a new voter-approved iniative to allow off-premise alcohol sales.
Theft of Bricks Means Buildings Are Crumbling
Rob Powers was researching his architecture thesis in St. Louis, when he made a discovery: local landmark buildings weren't crumbling from age, but from brick theft.
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.
