The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

FEATURE

Greening America's Roadways

Our nation's roads must be greener, says David Wenzel of HNTB. A green road is one that is designed, built and maintained in a manner that protects and enhances the environment, lessens the impact on its surroundings, and encourages mass transit.

July 6 - David Wenzel

Designing a City on the Sea

Winners have been announced in an open competition to design what could become a permanent, sea-based, autonomous living facility.

July 6 - Bustler

Think You Can Balance California's Budget?

The Los Angeles Times has created an interactive game where you can make the hard choices in where to cut the State's expenditures.

July 5 - The Los Angeles Times

Bid to Build Museum in San Francisco's Historic Presidio Dropped

A controversial effort to develop a modern art museum in San Francisco's Presidio has come to an end.

July 5 - San Francisco Chronicle

Fear of Density in Houston

As Houston considers extending its urban boundaries, planners and locals struggle with the proper techniques for ensuring good development without zoning.

July 5 - Houston Chronicle


Women Close To Freeway 128% More Likely To Give Birth Prematurely

A new study from UC Irvine in Los Angeles concludes that women who live within 1.9 miles of a major roadway increase their risk of premature birth by 128%.

July 5 - Treehugger

Report Calls Chicago-St. Louis High Speed Rail Doable

High speed rail advocates in Chicago have released a study that says building a 220-m.p.h. train between Chicago and St. Louis is an achievable goal.

July 5 - Chicago Tribune


Urbanism is Alive

Steve Mouzon explains how to think about cities and towns as living species, and how that perspective should guide the practice of planners and architects.

July 4 - Living Urbanism

Developer Sues Planners

Terrapin Run LLC proposed a 4,300 home development in Allegheny County. Local officials decided that the project was not in keeping with environmental or smart growth objectives for the area, and the developer answered with a lawsuit.

July 4 - Baltimore Sun

Significant Shift in Car Preference

A new study by market research firm Synovate says that when given the choice between a "green" car or a "dream" car, 6 out of 10 people choose green.

July 4 - Vancouver Sun

Baghdad's Changing (U.S.) Demographics

The population is falling -- the population of U.S. troops stationed in Baghdad, that is.

July 4 - The New York Times

Ocean Zoning Moves Forward

Gov. Deval Patrick of Mass. has released a draft zoning plan to regulate the waters off the state's coast, particularly around Cape Cod and Cape Ann.

July 4 - Gloucester Daily Times

New York's Legislative Lock Down Leaves Cities Hanging

As a power struggle between legislators in New York drags on, statutes in the state are expiring, leaving many cities with procedural headaches and tied hands.

July 3 - The New York Times

Census Conspiracy Theories?

With the Census Bureau still without a Director and the 2010 Census looming, the count is facing a new threat in the form of right-wing conspiracy theories.

July 3 - The Progress Report

Make Your Own Bike Lane

A new device called LightLane attaches to the back of your bike and projects a virtual bike lane behind you.

July 3 - H2OVisions

St. Louis Opens New Art Park

Two vacant lots in downtown St. Louis have been revived as an urban art park, featuring works by world-renowned artists.

July 3 - ArchNewsNow

Supreme Court Nominee's Eminent Domain Experience

Back in 2006, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor had a role in a controversial eminent domain ruling. <em>Reason</em> magazine takes a look at the decision and what it might mean for property rights if she's confirmed to the Court.

July 3 - Reason

Ten Fastest-Growing Cities in U.S.

The Christian Science Monitor reports on America's fastest-growing cities, many of which were slow to feel the effects of the recession and hope to use their momentum to push through it.

July 2 - The Christian Science Monitor

Will a "New Direction" in Housing Policy Mean a "Return to Feudalism"?

John Petro counters Joel Kotkin's views that America's post-bubble housing policy should be "a renewed quest for homeownership."

July 2 - DMIblog

Tiny Submarines Run Real Cable

An Italian company is using an RC model submarine to run fiber optic cable through sewer systems.

July 2 - Boing Boing

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.