The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

New Upscale Hotel Threatens Music City's Soul

<p>In Nashville, a debate ensues over an eco-friendly hotel and condominium project that may change the character of a funky downtown commercial strip that dates from the 1940s.</p>

November 21 - The New York Times

City of Angels, East: An Urban Tour Of Bangkok

<p>An automobile tour through Bangkok explores the city that epitomizes urban decentralization in Asia.</p>

November 21 - Urban Tours by Rental Car

Gulf Coast Recovery A Public and Private Sector Failure

<p>Sluggish government response and a reliance on market forces have failed to resolve the housing crisis faced by thousands of Gulf coast residents, argues a recent editorial.</p>

November 21 - The New York Times

Healthy Foods, Strong Communities

<p>Community groups and politicians are creating new strategies to bring fresh foods into low-income neighborhoods.</p>

November 21 - Shelterforce Magazine

Small Town Tries To Cope With Major Traffic

<p>Halfway on the route between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, residents of Yermo, California, must plan their errands around weekend traffic jams.</p>

November 21 - The Los Angeles Times


Replacing State Gas Taxes With Alternative Funding Measures

<p>With gas taxes not keeping pace with inflation, state politicians are looking to eliminate gas taxes in favor of alternatives such as sales taxes, vehicles-miles-traveled fees, and new forms of road tolls.</p>

November 21 - USA Today

Building Green In Japan As Home Sizes Increase

<p>As its population declines and homes are taking up more space, home designers in Japan are looking to the self-sufficient designs of space stations to guide the development of environmentally sustainable homes.</p>

November 21 - BBC


Hill May Get Flat Top For Development In Raleigh

<p>This article in North Carolina's <em>Independent Weekly</em> looks at a proposal to chop the top off a historic hill in Raleigh to make way for commercial development. Environmental groups are opposing the plan.</p>

November 21 - The Independent Weekly (North Carolina)

Keep The Affordable Housing Outside, Please

<p>A gate with stone pillars will separate the haves from the have-nots at a recently approved development for seniors in Monterey County, California.</p>

November 21 - Monterey County Weekly

Scholarship Program Yielding Big Results For City

<p>Kalamazoo's bold scholarship program is helping town's students and emerging as an effective economic development tool.</p>

November 20 - Michigan Land Use Institute

In Crime-Ravaged Memphis, Business At Gun Shops Is Good

<p>Crime-weary residents of all ages, races and sexes are increasingly choosing to protect themselves by purchasing guns and learning to shoot them. Happiest about the trend are the owners of the city's gun shops.</p>

November 20 - Memphis Commercial-Appeal

Big Dig Safety Review Finds Only 'Minor Flaws'

<p>Gov. Mitt Romney releases an engineering review that finds Boston's Big Dig to be 'fundamentally safe' but recommends some repairs.</p>

November 20 - The Boston Globe

The Case For BRT Versus Subway

<p>Los Angeles should consider improving its already successful bus rapid transit system before investing in a $5 billion subway expansion.</p>

November 20 - The Los Angeles Times

How Design Competitions Can Reinvent Downtown

<p>Richard Weinstein, a professor of architecture and urban design at UCLA, and dean from 1985-94, comments on the role design competitions can play in building a better downtown.</p>

November 20 - The Los Angeles Times

Indianapolis Debates Building New Beltway

<p>Supporters and critics of a proposal to build a new 75-mile bypass road around Indianapolis debate whether the new road will help or hurt the city.</p>

November 20 - The Indianapolis Star

Goodbye To The Pink Lawn Flamingo

<p>An iconic piece of popular culture passes into history after the factory producing the bright pink lawn art shuts down.</p>

November 20 - The New York Times

Canada's Hottest Housing Markets Losing Steam

<p>New figures show a dramatic downturn in two of Canada's hottest real estate markets -- Calgary and Vancouver -- though the change appears to be a reaction on the part of consumers to unrealistically rapid price increases.</p>

November 20 - The Globe and Mail

Scotland's Planning System Changes Leave Out Public

<p>Broad changes to Scotland's planning systems were recently approved. A proposal to give communities a third party right of appeal did not pass, leaving many residents concerned that they will have little say in the planning and development of their communities.</p>

November 20 - The Scotsman

What's A Guy Gotta Do To Run A Strip Club In This City?

<p>As industrial areas convert to condos and a new baseball stadium eats up a large chunk of their former stomping grounds, it's getting harder and harder for strip clubs to find a place to operate in Washington D.C.</p>

November 20 - Washington City Paper

University of Miami To Build Affordable Faculty Village

<p>As the cost of living continues to rise in southern Florida, The University of Miami is working with Duany, Plater-Zyberk and Company to design and build an affordable faculty-oriented village.</p>

November 20 - The Hurricane

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