The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Controversy Over Public Housing Rehab In Chicago

<p>Chicago has plans to replace more than 50 high-rise public housing buildings, a renovation project that is expected to cost more than $1 billion. The plan has elicited criticism from housing advocates who argue that many residents will be displaced.</p>

July 29 - NPR

The Impact Of McMansions On The Value of Neighboring Homes

<p>A Wall Street Journal writer shares her family's experience in a neighborhood quickly being dominated by McMansions.</p>

July 29 - The Wall Street Journal

What To Do When The Population Drops

<p>Demographic trends are shifting all over the world, leading scientists to believe that the global population may soon peak and decline. Demographers argue that how countries and regions handle the decline will be critical in the long-term.</p>

July 28 - The Economist

The Importance Of Eco-Cities In An Urbanizing World

<p>As urbanization increases, the importance of ecologically-considerate city building techniques has become more pronounced. Several examples of planned "eco-cities" are laying the foundation for embracing this model of growth and development.</p>

July 28 - GLOBE-Net

Suburb And City Battle Over Airport Expansion

<p>With expansion of nearby O'Hare Airport planned and moving forward, the suburban Chicago community of Bensenville is being slowly drained of residents and buildings to make way for the project. But some residents aren't going without a fight.</p>

July 28 - The Chicago Tribune


The Health And Education Benefits Of Affordable Housing

<p>A new collection of research shows that people who have access to affordable housing don't just have a better place to live, but more easily improve their health and education level.</p>

July 28 - Center for Housing Policy

Massachusetts May File Criminal Charges in Big Dig collapse

<p>Such a move would set a new legal precedent and might encourage other prosecutors to bring similar charges in structural failures.</p>

July 28 - The Christian Science Monitor


Friday Funny: Dallas-Fort Worth Killed in Pileup

<p>The Onion reports on the tragic loss of two cities in a senseless pileup.</p>

July 27 - The Onion

Flashing Yellow Arrows: Bad Traffic Engineering?

<p>A technologist who focuses on pointing out problems with poorly designed computer software and websites takes aim at a confusing flashing yellow arrow at an intersection.</p>

July 27 - Missing Features Blog

Landfill Doubles As Eco-Preserve

<p>The landfill on the island of Pulau Semakau is designed to store the waste from the city-state of Singapore while preserving the ecological health of the surrounding environment.</p>

July 27 - CNN

You Call That A Census?

<p>Feeling undercut by Census 2006 population figures, county officials in Ohio are gathering support amongst the 49 municipalities concerned to issue a formal challenge to the Census Bureau.</p>

July 27 - The Enquirer

California Lawmakers Fight Over Land Use Lawsuits

<p>This year's budget dispute is colored by the state's effort to force local governments to reign in sprawl and stop global warming.</p>

July 27 - AP via Forbes

What Happened To Phoenix?

<p>The once "model city" that promised good jobs and inexpensive housing now offers clog roads, poor schools and rising crime.</p>

July 27 - The Economist

School District Developing Housing Subdivision

<p>Trying to make the most of a real estate deal gone bad, a school district in North Carolina is building a new 88 home subdivision next to a new school.</p>

July 27 - Charlottle Observer

Historic Preservation On The Moon

<p>As governments consider more moon exploration, a space heritage archaeologist is calling on policy makers to think about how to protect historic sites on the moon -- such as the Tranquility Base landing site of the 1969 moon walk.</p>

July 27 - Discovery

Toll Schemes Cash In On Congestion

<p>California is full of various plans to solve congestion with toll roads and congestion pricing. But Bill Fulton suggests that none of the plans is radical enough to make a real difference.</p>

July 27 - California Planning & Development Report

The Growing Job Market For Urban Planners

<p>With environmental issues increasingly center stage in the public consciousness, the demand for 'green' jobs -- such as urban planners -- is growing quickly.</p>

July 27 - Newsweek

BLOG POST

Walking the Tightrope: Creating Great Coastal Communities

<p><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">In my last <a href="/node/24234" target="_blank">blog post</a>, I talked about some of the challenges and growth pressures coastal communities are facing.<span>  </span>W<span>ithin 10 years, the coastal population is expected to grow by 12 million people—or by 3,600 people per day.<span>  </span>This growth poses unique opportunities—and challenges—to coastal communities. The issue facing these communities becomes one of balance: how to maximize the opportunities waterfront development can provide to a community and, at the same time, meet the often significant challenges. </span><span> </span></font></font></p>

July 26 - Anonymous

Paris: Nice To People, Not Nice To Cars

<p>An observer comments on the French capital's success at making alternate modes of transportation easier and accessible.</p>

July 26 - The New York Times

More Land May Not Mean Cheaper Housing

<p>In the face of a proposal that would lighten planning controls over some new development in England, a recent report says that making more land available for development will not lower housing prices and will lead to sprawl.</p>

July 26 - BBC

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