The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Living at the Mall - Not Just a Figure of Speech
What comes next for the doomed, enclosed mall across America? This article highlights a number of solutions, including an adaptive reuse model that incorporates housing units inside the mall itself.
FEATURE
TOD Q&A With John Renne and Jeff Wood
Transit oriented development experts John Renne, PhD, and Jeff Wood recently fielded questions from Planetizen readers about TOD, its current applications and its future.
Trans-Texas Corridor Plans Dropped
Plans for a broad statewide highway project known as the Trans-Texas Corridor have been abandoned by state officials.
Miami's Highway Shoe Mystery Remains Unsolved
Was it a walkability protest, political demonstration, or just an accident? Regardless, the thousands of used shoes that covered Miami's Palmetto Expressway last week, delaying traffic for hours, are now on their way to Haiti.
One Victory for the City in Billboard Battle
A federal court has knocked down a previous ruling that Los Angeles' billboard ban is unconstitutional.
Oregon UGB Expanded
Bend, Oregon councilmembers took no more than five minutes to vote to expand the city's urban growth boundaries, adding nearly 9,000 acres of developable land to the city's map.
Canada on Verge of Wind Energy "Breakthrough"
Canada is now on the road to developing enough capacity to have at least some residents in every province receiving at least some of their energy from turbines.
For Amish, Building Code and Religion Don't Jibe
Eleven Amish families have sued their own town for religious discrimination in its building code.
Obama Knows Jane Jacobs
Last summer in Toledo, former mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski handed Barack Obama a book, saying it is the most important book about rebuilding cities. Obama responded, 'Is it Jane Jacobs?'
Cities and Cognitive Burnout
Compared to natural settings, busy urban environments can be detrimental to cognitive functioning and self-control. Well-designed, biodiverse parks are integral to counterbalancing the concrete jungle.
Young, Japanese, and Car-Free
Young Japanese men and women are ditching the car as a status symbol, sparking concern for car companies.
More Signage, More Business
Cities like Alexandria, VA and Agoura Hills, CA have taken to relaxing sign restrictions for the sake of boosting local business.
Are We Resuscitating a Dinosaur?
A panel of experts weighs in. Is rebuilding rail transit the way of the future, or just reviving a system that should stay extinct?
Instant Architecture (Don't Add Water)
Oobject collects examples of instant architecture, temporary structures created mostly for the military to serve as hangars, sleeping quarters, or tactical command posts.
TOD at Hollywood & Western, 10 Years Later
Stephen Box, a bicycle advocate in Los Angeles, reviews the famous TOD project at the intersection of Hollywood and Western 10 years after it opened. Is "It's Not As Bad As It Used To Be" enough?
Rio's "Eco Barrier" Draws Fire
Plans to erect a concrete "eco barrier" around Rio's slum areas being heavily criticized by human rights activists and environmentalists.
Sydney Pins New Growth to Mass Transit Plans
Officials in Sydney, Australia, are creating a blueprint for the city that envisions a broad mass transit system, increased density in the inner city and the suburbs and a much higher skyline.
Inauguration Puts D.C. in Crowd Control Mode
The city of Washington D.C. is trying to get ready for the Presidential Inauguration -- likely to be the largest gathering of people in U.S. history.
Long Term Planning and the Importance of Soil
Degradation of soils has brought down many human civilizations. Our current industrial agriculture practices threaten the future of human existence. A 50-year farm bill is needed to guide policy on a more sustainable path, according to this oped.
Importing the Tijuana Model
Architect Teddy Cruz is creating new models of affordable housing using the shantytowns of Tijuana as his inspiration.
Pagination
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.