The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Municipal bonds are being defaulted on left and right. But the news sounds worse than it is. Few of those defaults are by cities -- for now.

August 13 - Governing

When Dwell Magazine asked for submissions to their Re-Burbia contest reimagining the suburbs, they probably didn't count on a 3000 ft. geothermal tower on legs that rips homes out of the ground and files them into its towering heights.

August 13 - Dwell

The Denver Housing Authority is planning on demolishing one of the city's oldest low-income public housing projects to make way for a new mixed-use, transit-oriented housing development.

August 13 - The Denver Post

12,000 new homes could be coming to Sacramento over the next two decades -- part of a $5.3 billion redevelopment focused on the city's historic railyards.

August 13 - The New York Times

Mayor Yu Qun has transformed the city of Baoding, China into what some are calling the world's first "carbon-positive" city -- mainly by shifting away from polluting industries to the renewable energy industry.

August 13 - The Christian Science Monitor

Iconic Olympic venues may not be the best take-away from next Winter's games in Vancouver. The real benefit for the city may be its new rapid transit line, according to this article.

August 13 - USA Today

FEATURE

Zoning is often portrayed as the great evil of city planning, but Les Pollock of Camiros argues that we shouldn't dismiss the power of zoning to create great communities.

August 13 - Leslie S. Pollock, FAICP

BLOG POST

<p> <span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','sans-serif'"><span style="font-size: small">For serious transportation policy wonks lately every day is like Christmas.<span>  </span>Climate change, bailout, deteriorating infrastructure, reauthorization, aging baby boomers, bailout, stimulus, new administration, economic development, global competition, urban redevelopment, bailout, etc.<span>  </span>One has all they can do to just keep up with all the relevant news and positioning say nothing of understanding it.<span>  </span>In fact, I don’t understand it.<span>  </span></span></span><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','sans-serif'"><span style="font-size: small"> </span></span><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: 'Lucida San

August 12 - Steven Polzin

On abandoned lots and in backyards across the country, urban land is being turned over to agriculture as a means of improving food security.

August 12 - CommonDreams

Hundreds marched in San Antonio, Texas, in defiance of new street procession fees that the organizations believe will stifle free speech.

August 12 - San Antonio Express-News

Westchester County, NY will be required to invest in the provision of affordable housing units in communities that lack minorities. Furthermore, they will have to actively market these units towards minority populations.

August 12 - The New York Times

The population of Florida has decreased by about 50,000 people between April 2008 and April 2009, according to demographers at the University of Florida.

August 12 - St. Petersburg Times

Southern California developers are gearing up to pounce on the areas surrounding proposed high speed rail hubs that will make up California's statewide high speed rail line.

August 12 - San Diego Business Journal

Local currencies are seeing a resurgence in American communities.

August 12 - Los Angeles Times

There is controversy over new sidewalk laws in Washington, DC.

August 12 - The Washington Post

BLOG POST

<span style="font-size: x-small"> <p> I&#39;m sure much will be written on the observations and learning&#39;s from the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Winter Olympics and Paralympics process - at least once all those working tirelessly on it have had some time to catch our breath after next year&#39;s monumental event. As you can imagine, we&#39;re already inundated with visitors, questions and critiques, and we still have months to go and much hard work to do. </p>

August 12 - Brent Toderian

Nashville is just one of many cities that have stopped dispersing and penalizing tent city settlements, but instead are relaxing some regulations and providing basic services.

August 12 - Wall Street Journal

Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman unveiled a prototype bicycle design he believes is 20 years ahead of its time. It includes an onboard computer, spokeless wheels and solar power.

August 12 - The Daily Mail

Raising bees, that is. In England, a British government conservation agency is encouraging city dwellers to keep bees on their roofs, and have introduced a new hive design to make the pursuit easier.

August 12 - NY Times: Green

BLOG POST

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"> <span><span style="font-size: small"><span style="font-family: Swis721 Cn BT"><strong>Every real estate developer and urban planner knows that Portland, Oregon rocks.</strong></span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify" class="MsoNormal"> <span><span style="font-size: small"><span style="font-family: Swis721 Cn BT">It is probably our best civic example in the United States of defining a comprehensive growth strategy for its citizens and staying true to the vision.<span>  </span>The result is an authentic, creative, smart, home grown, artsy, sustainable, eco-friendly, colorful, self sufficient, vibrant, athletic, outdoorsy, walking, biking, multi-generational and experimental lifestyle downtown community where buildings, transit, waterfront festivals, park blocks, fountains, theaters, bookstores, galleries, music, crafts, food, wine, beer, coffee and people all blend together perfectly.<span>  </span>It really works here. But one thing was never done properly and needs to be changed to capture this spirit – the name of the city.</span></span></span><span><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Swis721 Cn BT"> </span></span> </p>

August 11 - Rick Abelson