The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Boston Confronts the Origins of Its Lousy Architecture
For the first 300-or-so years of its history, Boston built some of the most handsome, historic neighborhoods in the country. Lately, says critic Rachel Slade, it has given in to mediocrity. Mayor Marty Walsh is trying to undo the damage.
Meet the New Calatrava-Designed Bridge Under Construction in Downtown Dallas
Everything you wanted to know about the Margaret McDermott Bridge, under construction in Downtown Dallas.
Doubts Raised About OneNYC's Energy Efficiency Goals
Following the April announcement of Mayor de Blasio's OneNYC plan (an update to the Bloomberg Administration's PlaNYC), critics are poking holes in the energy efficiency goals included in the new plan.
Does the Loss of 591 Parking Spaces Constitute a Crisis?
That's how two San Francisco Chronicle reporters are painting the loss of 591 parking spaces to bike lanes, parklets, and bus rapid transit this year, after losing 180 downtown spaces last year. Streetsblog's Aaron Bialick responds.
BLOG POST
San Francisco's Proposed Housing Moratorium Is a Bad Idea
After San Francisco Supervisors reject housing moratorium, proponents vow ballot initiative. But a moratorium is the wrong solution to the problem and would likely lead to continued price increases, condo conversions, and Ellis Act evictions.
Breathe Easier: Six Ways to Improve Air Quality for People on Bicycles
On the Plan.Place blog, planner Jenny Koch describes how planners and bicyclists can make it easier to breathe on a bicycle, by reducing the risks posed by traffic-related air pollutants.
BLOG POST
City Living Without the Racket
Planners can use building codes and design review to protect city apartments from internal and external sources of noise.
Houston Stormwater Infrastructure Falls Short in Recent Flooding
Recent floods in Texas, especially prevalent in Houston, reflect a stormwater infrastructure that both worked as it's designed and is in need of improvements.
The Plaza: What Makes a Community Living Room?
The Plaza can behave as the community living room. Why is this so hard to get right in post-WWII U.S.?
The Code Change That Could Enable Mid-Rise Construction in Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. must wrap up its consideration of the 2015 International Building Code by July. Adoption of the IBC could enable new types of density in the nation's capital.
Lawsuit Takes Issue With Bond Financing for NFL Stadium Plan in St. Louis
A lawsuit filed by Missouri state legislators finds fault with a plan to extend bond funding from the city's last NFL stadium project to help finance a new $985 million stadium located north of downtown along the city's waterfront.
North Carolina Inks its First Public-Private Partnership for Highway Construction
The state of North Carolina joins the roster of states working with the private sector to invest in highway infrastructure around growing urban areas.
The Supply Side of California's Historic Drought
As General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Jeff Kightlinger is a veteran of the states' wet and dry cycles.
New Section of the Chicago Riverwalk Open to the Public
A newly opened section of the Chicago Riverwalk lets the public get up close and personal with the Chicago River. And there's more to come.
FEATURE
Urban Big Data: Where is the Signal in the Noise?
Amid growing skepticism, an international gathering examines the useful benefits for an age of critical urban challenges.
Whatever Happened to the Population Bomb?
Biology Professor Paul Ehrlich's 1968 book, "The Population Bomb," took America and the world by storm. The apocalyptic vision based of population outgrowing its resources appeared to make inherent sense.
BLOG POST
Collecting Comments on a PDF Planning Document on the Web?
How do you collect public comments on a web-based PDF planning document? It should be simple. But it isn't.
How the Coal Industry Collapsed
The writing is on the wall for what's left of the coal industry.
Bikeshare Opening Punctuates Pittsburgh's Open Streets Event
It was a beautiful weekend to hit the streets of Pittsburgh—and many did, for the Open Streets Pittsburgh event and the debut of Pittsburgh Bike Share.
Get Off the Ground with Community Investing
We're all familiar with the now ubiquitous Kickstarter campaigns, but what about some other tools to help crowdfund local retail and development?
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.
