The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Will Doig takes us through some of the biggest projects to look out for across the nation this year, proving that cities are neither as cash-strapped nor as unimaginative as we perhaps thought.

January 2 - Salon

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<p class="MsoNormal"> I had heard of “dense sprawl” and “density without walkability” in the past, but before spending a week in Jerusalem last month, I had never really lived through these problems. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> My parents (who I was staying with) rented a unit in a high-rise condo complex called Holyland Tower.  Although Holyland Tower was the tallest building in the area, there were numerous mid-rise buildings, and lots of two-and three-story apartment and condo buildings.  While walking through the idea, I saw nothing resembling a single-family home.  In sum, this area was a pretty dense neighborhood in a pretty dense city (Jerusalem’s overall density is roughly comparable to that of the city of San Francisco). </p>

January 1 - Michael Lewyn

This piece from <em>The New York Times</em> goes inside the economic powerhouse of Mumbai's Dharavi slum to profile the informality that both troubles it and brings it prosperity.

January 1 - The New York Times

Parklets are a new urban trend spreading to cities all over the world. It's an idea born in San Francisco, and the <em>San Francisco Chronicle</em>'s John King takes a tour of each of the city's new mini-parks

January 1 - San Francisco Chronicle

The continuing recession and housing crisis are being further decimated by federal cuts to housing aid, according to The Nation.

January 1 - The Nation

Last winter, subway riders were stuck on a New York City train overnight. Now some have filed a lawsuit against the MTA for its poor handling of the situation, highlighting the need for emergency planning in public transit agencies.

January 1 - Transportation Nation

University Place, Washington is a small town struggling through the recession. With its credit rating recently downgraded and labeled a "negative outlook," the town is facing new challenges as it tries to emerge from the hole.

January 1 - The Wall Street Journal

Chuck Wolfe analyzes his 2011 articles which appeared on Planetizen and in other sources, and derives his urbanist trends to watch for in 2012.

December 31 - myurbanist

Megacities are the future of our planet. Author James Canton offers several visions and strategies to begin planning for them.

December 31 - Significance

Call it megachurch fatigue: A proposed Sufism Reoriented sanctuary is just one of an increasing number of religious developments facing no shortage of community backlash in northern California.

December 31 - The Wall Street Journal

Atlantic Cities collects the new slogans cities adopted in 2011 to help define their city and improve business and tourism.

December 31 - Atlantic Cities

As part of its 400th birthday celebration, Quebec City kicked off a plan that involves lighting up its historic landmarks at night.

December 31 - The Montreal Gazette

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I am sorry to report that, Canada, my chosen country (I immigrated here in 1993), recently withdrew from the Kyoto Accord, which sets international climate change emission reduction targets. It’s worth noting that this decision was made...

December 30 - Todd Litman

Your probably heard of ecotourism -- responsible tourism to natural areas. Apocalypse tourism celebrates the the end of the world on December 21, 2012, and Mexico's tourism board has the event locked up.

December 30 - CNN

Curbed offers its eclectic selection of the most deserving people, places and things in the real estate architecture, and neighborhood universes of New York City.

December 30 - Curbed

A group of lawyers in California has filed a lawsuit to overturn the two-thirds legislative voting requirement of Proposition 13, the law that limits increases in the state's taxes -- but not property taxes.

December 30 - San Francisco Chronicle

Atlantic Cities offers a review of ten of the worst urban transportation failures to take place in American cities in 2011.

December 30 - Atlantic Cities

New street furniture is being installed in Toronto, but locals are already sick of it. They're called "information pillars" and are supposed to offer helpful directions and info to pedestrians, but critics complain that they're mostly advertisements.

December 30 - The Globe and Mail

The State Supreme Court struck down redevelopment. Now it's up to the political players in California to strike a deal to bring it back. Can they do it? And what will the state's price be?

December 30 - California Planning & Development Report

The court's decision is likely to have far-reaching effects on how cities in California finance and facilitate urban redevelopment.

December 30 - Los Angeles Times