The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

A new app from the nonprofit Sunlight Foundation culls publicly available information to give you a graphically pleasing "cultural and demographic snapshot of your surroundings," writes Ariel Schwartz.

January 8 - Fast Company Co.Exist

Cold air and windless days have trapped the fumes from millions of cars and hundreds of old factories in Tehran. The air pollution has reached such high levels that officials are advising residents to remain indoors and to avoid downtown areas.

January 8 - The New York Times

Professional planners can be a great resource for staffing local planning and zoning commissions (especially in smaller communities). That is, of course, as long as they can manage to wear both hats without conflict.

January 8 - The Western Planner

The uncompromising writer, who pioneered the position of full-time architecture critic at an American newspaper, and exemplified the pinnacle of the profession for five decades, died on Monday.

January 8 - The New York Times

BLOG POST

Research supports the argument that increased densities reduce vehicle miles traveled, even in areas with minimal transit service.

January 7 - Michael Lewyn

Angel Jennings reports on the opening of renovated Del Aire Park in unincorporated Los Angeles County, home to the state's first public orchard.

January 7 - Los Angeles Times

ArtPlace — a collaboration of foundations, banks, and federal agencies that supports creative placemaking projects — has released a new study that identifies 12 neighborhoods across the country as America's Top ArtPlaces 2013.

January 7 - ArtPlace

In her news article and blog, Rebecca Smith examines the reduction in electricity consumption in the U.S. - the causes and how utilities have reacted to remain profitable.

January 7 - The Wall Street Journal

In a draft report being circulated by one of the commissions established by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to develop recommendations for adapting New York to climate change, a menu of infrastructure improvements, from hard to soft, are being proposed.

January 7 - The New York Times

Dave Hill reflects on the history and outlook for the world's first underground train. He beckons Londoners to do the same, and to contemplate on how to best help the London Underground flourish in the future.

January 7 - The Guardian

In the Bronx, three acres of newly planted wetlands were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. As New York seeks to fortify its coast, should it rebuild this 'Paradise in the Bronx'?

January 7 - The New York Times

Two L.A. City Council members have floated an ambitious proposal to fund the city's backlog of needed road repairs. At a time when the city is expanding transit, and seeking other tax hikes, should $3 billion in street repairs be a top priority?

January 7 - Los Angeles Times

Brian Libby examines the plans for Zidell Yards, downtown Portland's last major real estate opportunity, which "seeks to be a macro development comprised of many different micro-sized parts."

January 7 - The Atlantic Cities

According to Charles Marohn, institutional inertia continues to carry the nation's transportation agencies on a wayward path that correlates highway spending with economic development. He offers 9 principles to guide "Next Generation DOTs."

January 7 - Better! Cities & Towns

Declining rental vacancy rates and increased interest in urban living are putting upwards pressure on housing prices throughout the country. But 2012 wasn't all bad news for attempts to retain and expand affordable housing in American cities.

January 7 - Rooflines

With bicycling growing in popularity while driving decreases, should a city install "bicycle-specific traffic signals"? Mary Ebeling of State Smart Transportation Initiatives provides guidance and helpful designs from city transportation officials.

January 6 - The State Smart Transportation Initiative

As this video from The Perennial Plate, a web series about sustainable food, demonstrates, rooftop gardening is becoming a global phenomenon.

January 6 - The Atlantic

A new study out of England provides the first "holistic assessment" linking school design to learning rates. "[S]chool layouts can influence a child’s development by as much as 25 percent over the course of an academic year," reports Ian Steadman.

January 6 - Wired UK

An award-winning street redesign project in the Los Angeles exurb of Lancaster provides a case study in the value of retrofitting for walkability.

January 6 - NRDC Switchboard

L.A. Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne reports on the changing nature of Lankershim Blvd., which appears to be at a crossroads between integrating transit into a multi-modal future or turning to outdated planning strategies.

January 6 - Los Angeles Times