The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Biking is New York's Fastest-Growing Mode of Transport

Bicycles are on the rise in New York City, where more and more people are making bikes a major part of their transportation diet. City officials say it's the fastest-growing mode of transport.

August 19 - WCBS

Troubled Florida Not Losing Hope Yet

With foreclosures racking up, the state of Florida is entering a dark period. Despite the dire prognosis, the stat'es historic ups and downs hint that Florida may be able to come back.

August 19 - The New York Times

Michael Bloomberg: The Un-Moses

<em>The New Yorker</em> offers a long profile of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and highlights his efforts to "undo" the work of Robert Moses.

August 19 - The New Yorker

Better Walkability, Higher Value

A recent study finds a correlation between a neighborhood's walkability and its home values.

August 18 - Inman News

Hi-Tech Highway Coming To North Carolina

Groundbreaking for the nation's most technologically highway, a toll road, occurred on August 12 in North Carolina. Attended by Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez, the 19 mile road will have no toll booths. It is expected to open 2011.

August 18 - The Fast Lane


iBurgh Connects Pittsburghers With Services

The City of Pittsburgh, PA yesterday released an iPhone app that allows you to take pictures of potholes and send a complaint directly to the city.

August 18 - KDKA2

Feds to Invest $4.25 Billion in Rental Housing

The Obama Administration has announced a plan to invest $4.25 billion of stimulus money to build low-income rental housing.

August 18 - The Boston Globe


Recasting the Station as the Neighborhood Nucleus

Zoning changes around the train station in New Carrollton, Maryland seek to redefine the city into a more vibrant, walkable area. The changes have received preliminary approval.

August 18 - The Washington Post

Can Infill Save Beijing?

After an unstoppable run of megaprojects being built with an eye on the Olympics, architects are now designing smaller, human-scale projects in between the cracks.

August 18 - Asia Times

The Most Expensive Cities in the World

This photo slideshow from the <em>Los Angeles Times</em> looks at the 10 most expensive cities in the world.

August 18 - Los Angeles Times

Prince Charles Fails to Stop Modern Building

In a location near St. Paul's Cathedral, a new self-proclaimed "ultra-modernist" office and shopping complex is going up, despite the efforts of the Prince of Wales behind the scenes to squelch the project.

August 18 - The Guardian U.K.

Solar Bus Shelters Debut

San Francisco has begun installing 1,200 new bus shelters that incorporate a solar array on the roof to power an LED display showing bus arrival times.

August 18 - The Architect's Newspaper

Renting the American Dream

Home ownership remains a major part of the American dream. But more and more people are beginning to question the wisdom of investing in a home and are leaning towards renting.

August 18 - The Wall Street Journal

BLOG POST

New urbanists and old-fashioned Jews

<p> A few years ago, someone asked me the following question (loosely paraphrased) on a listserv: “Since the most tradition-minded* religious Jews are required by Jewish law to walk to synagogue on Sabbaths and holy days (and thus presumably prize walkability) why aren’t they a major market for new urbanist developments?” At the time, I didn’t have a coherent answer. But now that I know more about both traditional Jews and new urbanism, I do. </p>

August 17 - Michael Lewyn

The Costs and Benefits of the Canada Line

A new rail line connecting Vancouver to its airport is highly anticipated in the region. The costs and construction disturbances, are causing some concern, however.

August 17 - The Globe and Mail

The Shifting Tide of Public and Private Space

In Malibu, CA, private property extends to the high tide waterline, where public land begins. An unofficial group of "urban rangers" is giving tours and dance performances along that line to explore the absurdity.

August 17 - The Los Angeles Times

Building Communities With Legos and Plastic Bottles

GOOD Magazine follows planner James Rojas as he engages a community in the act of planning in his own particular fashion, using everyday objects and building blocks.

August 17 - GOOD Magazine

Don't Just Blame the Cyclists

In response to the Vancouver Sun's recent editorial chastising cyclists for blocking traffic with Critical Mass rides, Gary Engle declares that the op-ed didn't go far enough: there are lots of other villains responsible for causing traffic chaos.

August 17 - Vancouver Sun

Feeding the World in 2050

Growing populations and diminishing land will make feeding people a challenge in the near future. This piece from <em>Popular Science</em> looks at eight strategies to keep the world fed.

August 17 - Popular Science

First Small-Scale Urban Wind Turbines Rising

Developers in Portland has begun installation of a set of wind turbines atop a new tower in downtown Portland.

August 17 - Portland Business Journal

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