The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Moving to New York City - Difficulties In Finding An Apartment And Discovering Density

A young couple leaves a spacious, affordable Chicago apartment to live in a cramped East Village, Manhattan apartment. Slide show with audio and related article describe their old and new digs, as well as the arduous hunt for their new home.

June 7 - The New York Times

Will Environmentalist Impact Bush Cabinet?

Henry Paulson, "global warming believer" and current chair of Goldman Sachs and the Nature Conservancy, has been nominated by Bush to succeed John Snow as Treasury Secretary.

June 7 - Associated Press via New York Times

World's Fastest Growing City - A Photo Essay

Dubai is leading the pace as one of the world's fastest growing cities.

June 7 - Flickr

Around Puget Sound, Long Commutes Worth It For Some

Some people prefer the suburban sprawl, in spite of soaring gas prices and hour-long commutes. Schools, open space, and lower cost of housing may offset costs.

June 7 - Puget Sound Business Journal


Sharpening 'Ruppie' Skills For Downtown Living

Urban planner Kyle Ezell has developed a course to teach suburbanites the "skills" required for downtown living. It promotes the "ruppie", or "retired urban people" lifestyle.

June 7 - The Chicago Tribune

Learning From Bangalore: Lessons For Declining U.S. Cities

What declining Detroit can learn from booming Bangalore.

June 6 - Abhijeet Chavan


Brownfields to Art Parks

When is a brownfield not a brownfield? When it's transformed by art works, as in two U.S. cities.

June 6 - The Trust for Public Land

Georgia Looks To Neighbors For Water Supply

Increased demand for water in the metropolitan Atlanta area is forcing the Atlanta Regional Commission to look to South Carolina and Tennessee for additional supplies.

June 6 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Chicago's Millenium Park Sparks High End Housing Development

Modernist park design inspires modernist residential buildings, increasing real estate values in Chicago's East Loop.

June 6 - The New York Times

For Rent In New York City: $1000, Nonregulated

According to NYC's Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the average rental price in the city is $1000. And that includes five boroughs and non-regulated apartments of all shapes and sizes.

June 6 - The New York Times

NYC's Homeland Security Funding Slashed

While cities that have never suffered terrorism are receiving large increases in homeland security funding, New York City's allocation is being cut by 40 percent after faulty analysis omits reference to iconic sites, critics charge.

June 6 - New York Daily News

Bill Clinton Pushes LEED On Shopping Center Industry

Former President Clinton, addressing the shopping center industry's convention in Las Vegas, urged the adoption of LEED certification for new centers, explaining how it would benefit the security of the country and the economy.

June 6 - The Denver Post

FEATURE

Book Review - 'Imagined Cities'

June 6 - Lainie Herrera

The Future Of Philadelphia's Waterfront

New political willpower demonstrated by Philadelphia's mayor, a state senator, and Governor Rendell has opened the door for much-needed development in the area.

June 6 - The Philadelphia Daily News

The Top 15 Sustainable Cities In The U.S.

The Pacific Northwest trumps this year's rankings, although a number of older East Coast cities also make the top ten. Criteria considered include commitment to public health, the local economy, and citizens and city cooperation on long-term goals.

June 6 - Marketwatch

BLOG POST

Low-Tech Communications

There's been an increasing number of urban projects breaking out the paint brushes as a low-cost means of improving cities. As stated by Jaime Lerner, former Mayor of Curitiba, for every zero that is removed from a city budget, the more creative solutions become. It seems these examples represent areas with extremely limited budgets. Object Orange is a public art project in Detroit that is calling attention to blighted structures through the use of bright orange paint. It seems their efforts have resulted in their desired outcome - increased demolition of unsafe structures.

June 6 - Scott Page

Future Silicon Valleys Need More Than 'Rich People And Nerds'

Joel Kotkin takes issue with Paul Graham's recent commentary on "How To Be Silicon Valley", asserting that his logic is elitist and much of his evidence incorrect, in this three-part Inc.com blog entry.

June 5 - Inc.com

A Disturbing Insider's Look At New York City's 'Rentocrats'

Nora Ephron breaks the "code of silence" of Manhattan's exclusive rent-regulated tenants when she publishes an account in The New Yorker of bribing her way into an eight-room apartment for $1,500 a month.

June 5 - The New York Times

L.A. Stakeholders Perform 'Walk Audit' Downtown

L.A.'s downtown Business Improvement District calls on local business people, property owners, and residents to get stepping in L.A.'s Fashion District, to evaluate the area's walkability. The BID has $1.6 million to make improvements by 2008.

June 5 - Los Angeles Downtown News

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.