The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Explaining the Ups and Downs of U.S. Wind Power

A Vox post explains the fickle trends of wind power production in the United States.

December 27 - Vox

Chicago Moving Forward with Residential High Rise Designed by Robert A.M. Stern

The Chicago Plan Commission approved a 67-story residential high rise earlier this month, as the latest evidence of the city's changing skyline.

December 27 - Crain's Chicago Business

Will Electric Vehicles Feel the Pinch from $2.30 Gasoline?

Having posted two environmental pluses from low oil prices, we look at a negative—the effect on sales of EVs would seem to be one of the more evident downsides. How will alternative-fueled vehicles compete in the marketplace when gas costs $2.30?

December 27 - San Francisco Chronicle

Polk Street Bikes

Is America's Best Bike Lane Overrated?

The SF Examiner reports on America's top-rated bike lane, as rated by People for Bikes. The protected contraflow lane runs from Market Street to Grove Street, all of two blocks; only one block in opposite direction is separated

December 27 - San Francisco Examiner

'Self-Sufficiency Standard' Reveals Distressing Levels of Poverty

Most policies regarding poverty are driven by obsolete metrics. Another model, which measures the very basic needs for survival, reveals deep poverty in New York City.

December 27 - Quartz


Northern Avenue Bridge Shut Down in Boston

The Northern Avenue Bridge in Boston—a 100-year-old swing bridge used by pedestrians and cyclists—was closed abruptly due to structural defects.

December 26 - The Boston Globe

Critical Support for New NBA Arena Proposal in San Francisco

After controversy derailed an earlier plan by the Golden State Warriors to build a new arena at Piers 30-32 along the Embarcadero in San Francisco, a new plan at a new location has made progress toward completion.

December 26 - San Francisco Chronicle


Royal Family

Prince Charles Lays Out a 10-Point Planning Agenda

The Prince of Wales took to the pages of The Architectural Review to share his vision for the future of architecture and planning.

December 26 - Dezeen

Seattle Tenants Force Public Housing Not To Raise Rent

Seattle tenants win in rejecting public housing's proposal to quadruple rent.

December 26 - Rooflines

Could Keystone XL Become the Next Casualty of Falling Oil Prices?

Recently we noted that Chevron had dropped their Arctic lease due to falling oil prices. With falling gasoline prices, Americans may no longer see the Keystone XL pipeline as urgent. In addition, President Obama appears likely to oppose the project.

December 26 - The Wall Street Journal

Traffic 'Crisis' in the Birthplace of Jesus

If Jesus and Mary came to Bethlehem in 2014, they'd be frustrated by high levels of congestion before finding a place to settle down for the night.

December 25 - AP via Yahoo News

Mapping America's Toy Manufacturing

All those toys under the Christmas tree came from somewhere.

December 25 - The Washington Post

Google Searches Reveal Christmas Lists for 24 U.S. Cities

The New York Times Upshot and Google team up to reveal the top three most-searched holiday gift items for U.S. cities, revealing local and regional trends.

December 25 - New York Times - The Upshot

Santa Claus for Digital Natives

The death of suburban malls at the hands of online shopping is well documented. It turns out Santa also has a cyber proxy rendering the old way of doing things obsolete.

December 25 - The Wall Street Journal

Planning and Design: North Pole Edition

In the realm of supply chains and distribution logistics, Santa’s the guy. So you’d presumably be safe in assuming that the planning and design of his village at the North Pole would reflect a similar insistence on best practices. But is it so?

December 25 - PlaceShakers

Made in America Concert

BLOG POST

2014 in Review—Music About Places

A list of personal favorites—music that expressed more than research or rhetoric can about the places where we live, work, and play.

December 24 - James Brasuell

Polls: New York Fracking Ban Has Wide Support

According to a Quinnipiac University Poll, New Yorkers upstate, downstate, Democrat, and Republican, all supported Gov. Andrew Cuomo's decision to ban fracking—only energy companies and some businesses and property owners expressed dismay.

December 24 - Newsmax

Florida High Speed Rail to Remain Privately Funded

Apparently some in Florida were uncomfortable with the much touted "privately funded railroad" using a $1.6 billion Federal Railroad Administration loan, so All Aboard Florida applied for tax exempt bonds to supplement or replace the loan.

December 24 - The Palm Beach Post

Los Angeles Lacking Data to Support Bike Infrastructure Investments

Los Angeles has added hundreds of miles of bike routes in recent years, but the local paper of record identifies a lack of data as contributing to ongoing discord from drivers who feel like they're being pinched by bike lanes.

December 24 - Los Angeles Times

Philadelphia Replacing 7 Bridges Above Vine Street Expressway

"A five-year, $82 million project to replace seven bridges over the Vine Street Expressway will also remodel the cultural spine of the city," reports Paul Nussbaum.

December 24 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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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.