The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The New York Times columnist Ginia Bellafante documents the inherent disconnect between the haves and the have-nots who reside literally side-by-side where the Upper East Side meets East Harlem.

September 17 - The New York Times

Had a deal with Sen. Tom Coburn not been reached on Friday, a shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration would have begun Saturday morning. Coburn's issue, characterized by NPR as 'flowers vs. bridges', will be dealt with in final bill.

September 17 - NPR

So how would you count the mode share of this commuter?

September 16 - Reddit

The President went out of his way to support Solyndra's cutting-edge solar technology. When the company declares bankruptcy this week, Jon Stewart anticipates the gaffes by Obama's opposition in a very funny segment on The Daily Show.

September 16 - The Daily Show

From the Walklet in SF to Transparent Churches in the Netherlands, Allison Arieff argues that "temporary space remains a sharp tool in the urban revitalization kit." Sheer creativity notwithstanding, what makes these spaces so successful?

September 16 - The Atlantic

The Atlantic ranks cities around the globe with a roaring economic engine. Tokyo's formidable $1.2-trillion economic output propels the City to No. 1 spot. NYC, Chicago, Boston, and D.C. come in at No. 2, 4, 6, and 10, respectively.

September 16 - The Atlantic

All over the world, people are celebrating Park(ing) Day, taking over metered parking spots with homemade hangouts and parklets to reclaim public space dominated by cars.

September 16 - KABC-TV

A large chunk of the state's developed land is designated as low to very low single-family residential, which explains an exceptionally high percentage of workers who commute to work alone. PlanMaryland seeks to change this unsustainable trend.

September 16 - The Atlantic

Lonely Planet has just released a book highlighting the "1,000 Ultimate Sites." ASLA looks inside, and marvels at the natural scenery and the ways humans have chosen to frame them.

September 16 - ASLA's The Dirt blog

Earlier this week, New York City officials announced a new bikeshare system that will be available to New Yorkers in 2012.

September 16 - TheCityFix.com

Galina Tachieva of DPZ argues that targeting mortgage interest deductions to benefit infill development and denser living would be an effective way to fight sprawl.

September 16 - Galina Tachieva

Veteran planner Bill Fulton looks back on a quarter-century of planning in California and finds distressingly little energy or spirit.

September 16 - California Planning & Development Report

BLOG POST

<p class="MsoNormal"> During these harsh economic times I’ve read about some of the most creative and inspiring planning and design projects in my career. Whether they are the product of the underemployed looking for a creative outlet or a resetting of our values and goals, something magical is happening in the world of planning. Below are 5 things that have inspired my inner planner. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> &nbsp; </p>

September 15 - Melissa Hege

Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the NEA, has long make the link between the arts and economic development. He is one of the big hitters behind ArtPlace, a public-private collaboration to foster creative placemaking.

September 15 - ArtPlace

The megaretailer is part of a trend to rethink and shrink stores, as big boxes around the country have seen their sales plummet.

September 15 - Streetsblog Capitol Hill

Arguing against a regional transportation tax, the Georgia Tea Party says that we shouldn't build any more light rail because terrorists might see it as an attractive target.

September 15 - Treehugger

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK, came through with his promise to stop the clean extension of the transportation bill - and extension of the fed. gas tax, over the inclusion of what are known as 'enhancements' including bike/ped/livability programs.

September 15 - Steetsblog Capitol Hill

Lee County, Florida saw a 30% increase in its homeless population. A new shelter system that addresses mental health and addiction problems is helping keep homeless out of jail and on the right track.

September 15 - Governing Magazine

FEATURE

September 15 - Tim Halbur

BLOG POST

<p> &nbsp; </p> <p style="line-height: 17px; margin: 0px" class="ecxMsoNormal"> It is conventional wisdom in some circles that “comprehensive planning” and sprawl are polar opposites- that planning is the enemy of sprawl. </p> <p style="line-height: 17px; margin: 0px" class="ecxMsoNormal"> But in fact, a comprehensive plan is almost as likely as a zoning code to be pro-sprawl.<span style="line-height: 17px">  </span>Many of the land use policies that make suburbs automobile-dependent (such as wide roads, long blocks, low density, single-use zoning, etc.) can just as easily be found in a comprehensive plan.  </p>

September 15 - Michael Lewyn