The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

<p>More common sense is needed in creating and managing the litany of federal, state and local policies intended to create more affordable housing.</p>

February 27 - Florida Trend

<p>Can Oregon, Metro and Portland learn from the rest of the nation in their new planning efforts: Regulation and policy, alone, do not produce development.</p>

February 27 - The Oregonian

BLOG POST

<p>New Orleans is experiencing a crime wave. High murder rates in the first two months of 2007 have made national attention. Anderson Cooper of CNN has been following this story. So far this year he has devoted two hour-long shows to this topic. I live in central New Orleans and my biggest complaint about the city is the high crime rate. I don’t think our city will recover if we fail to address this most serious issue. Crime makes you ask yourself – should I move to the suburbs where it’s safer and commute? But being a transportation planner, I can’t help but follow-up that question with – If I spend a lot more time driving will my exposure to dieing in a car accident increase? So which is worse - murder or traffic fatalities?</p>

February 27 - John Renne

<p>Unpaid riders and broken fares boxes are causing budget woes for San Francisco's bus and rail system, Muni, according to the system's administrators. The agency estimates losses in the tens of millions of dollars.</p>

February 27 - The San Francisco Chronicle

<p>An architect sculpts ever-changing atmospheres with light and recorded sound. Everything from jungle birds to ocean breezes to wind chimes enhance the experience of the built environment.</p>

February 27 - NPR Weekend Edition

<p>This article from the <em>Houston Press</em> looks at the issue of homelessness in nearby suburban Fort Bend County, a problem many public officials deny.</p>

February 27 - Houston Press

<p>A new report highlights the struggles of historic mill cities in Massachusetts as they lose thousands of jobs and strain to attract high-tech industries.</p>

February 27 - The Boston Globe

<p>Chicago Mayor Richard Daley proposed a revised version of a crosstown expressway his father, former Mayor Richard J. Daley, first envisioned almost 30 years ago. The mayor's new plan for a Mid-City Transitway would utilize existing rights of way.</p>

February 27 - The Chicago Tribune

BLOG POST

<p class="MsoNormal">Thousands of New Orleanians have participated in planning their post-Katrina future – likely more than in any single American city-planning effort, ever. Unfortunately, the New Orleans experience definitively demonstrates the limits of orthodox community-focused planning, the kind that has been neighborhood-based and consensus-driven.</p>

February 27 - James S. Russell

<p>Despite ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, Kandahar's officials, residents and planners are envisioning a prosperous and sustainable future for the city.</p>

February 27 - The Globe and Mail

<p>Defying conventional wisdom, more seniors 75 and over are now migrating north rather than south. Often the reason is to be near their children as their health may begin to decline.</p>

February 27 - The New York Times

<p>Plans have been unveiled for a new public plaza in downtown Seattle, built in conjunction with the construction of a high rise office and residential tower and street level retail complex.</p>

February 27 - Seatlle Post-Intelligencer

<p>First come the artists, then the high rents. So why not base you real estate investment strategy on where artists are going now?</p>

February 26 - Business Week

<p>Houses in gated communities generally command values 5-7% higher than equivalent houses non-gated communities. Despite the rapid growth of gated communities, many critics question the value.</p>

February 26 - The Los Angeles Times

<p>With more coffee shops per person that any other place in the United States -- Anchorage, Alaska, provides some interesting lessons about latte culture.</p>

February 26 - Anchorage Daily News

BLOG POST

<p>Thanks to Planetizen for asking me to participate in “Planetizen Interchange” with such a distinguished group. This is my first entry so to let you know a bit about me, I live in New Orleans, LA. I was displaced for 10 months to Houston, TX after Katrina destroyed my house, but I am back in New Orleans where I am a planning, zoning and land use consultant.

February 26 - Anonymous

<p>Communities in Pennsylvania and other stats are struggling to develop regulations in the face of a growing number of billboard applications.</p>

February 26 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

<p>Long known internationally as America's "Gay Mecca", San Francisco's Castro District is seeing an influx of straight couples who find the district's amenities attractive. A movement is afoot to ensure the district retains its gay identity.</p>

February 26 - The San Francisco Chronicle

<p>Amid concerns over his plans to create a modern socialist republic, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has denied that he has plans to phase out the concept of private property in the country.</p>

February 26 - International Herald Tribune

FEATURE

With the Latino population growing tremendously, it's time to begin addressing the shortcomings in the practice of planning regarding this key demographic.

February 26 - Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP