The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

BC has about half the obesity rate of the Northwest states, a one-third lower car-crash fatality rate, and its residents live an average of two years longer. Why?

June 28 - The Vancouver Sun

Even with high real estate prices, traffic congestion, wildfires, and the possibility of a major earthquake, people from around the world and across the nation, continue to relocate to California. Why?

June 27 - Abhijeet Chavan

Northern California's Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is the subject of a wide variety of blogs, which chronicle the good, the bad, and the, well, ugly.

June 27 - The Contra Costa Times

The report looks at the largest cities in developing countries and measures their growth and development. Cities such as Cairo have been praised for improvements to utilities, but criticized for not addressing the root of poverty in its slums.

June 27 - Mail & Guardian

Once rife with crime, Stockton is taking baby steps towards reducing the crime rate and attracting development to one of the Central Valley's burgeoning population centers.

June 27 - The Los Angeles Times

Though more expensive than steel, a New England developer is finding more long term value in the use of concrete.

June 27 - The Boston Globe

Across the nation, middle class neighborhoods are shrinking as cities and suburbs become increasingly segregated by income.

June 27 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Victorian houses are for sale for $6,000 in Canton. Local real estate investors flip, rent, or renovate in "the city the boom passed by".

June 27 - The New York Times

England's planning policies may be reformed based on national versus local interests and needs, as the country attempts to secure deals with major international corporations.

June 27 - The Guardian

Though Cambridge's Kendall Square has long been a hub of employment, it has always lacked a significant residential component. With several projects in the pipeline, that is about to change.

June 27 - The Boston Globe

The $1.5 billion National Enrichment Facility in New Mexico just received its license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The facility will produce the enriched uranium that powers nuclear energy plants. Construction may begin in August.

June 27 - Associated Press via San Francisco Chronicle

Longest serving member of the Bush cabinet, Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta has resigned.

June 26 - The New York Times

Los Angeles' new Planning Director Gail Goldberg, and California Endowment head Dr. Robert Ross discuss how to build healthy communities through smart planning.

June 26 - The Planning Report

A 1970 environmental law, the California Environmental Quality Act, was used to temporarily halt San Francisco's bike plan from being implemented. The law ensures environmental review of projects that plaintiff's felt was inadequate for the plan.

June 26 - The San Francisco Chronicle

The twin cities of Lewiston and Auburn have long been known as Maine's worst urban area. Today, it is using art, history, diversity, and culture to carve out its niche as one of the state's funkiest and most historical urban areas.

June 26 - The Boston Globe

The City of Portland, Maine, might join other cities around the country by lowering its parking requirements in exchange for a fee from developers.

June 26 - Portland Press Herald

Randy Shaw counters the San Francisco Chronicle's analysis of gentrification in San Francisco.

June 26 - BeyondChron

Coal mining in northern China is ravaging many of its villages. Mining goes on without regard to the environmental destruction it causes and the devastating effects on China's rural villages.

June 26 - The New York Times

FEATURE

June 26 - Sarah Jo Peterson

Kentucky, a state slow to adapt the concepts of New Urbanism, eyes several developments that are walkable and pedestrian friendly.

June 26 - The Courier-Journal