The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

After decades of neglect, the infrastructure in the Canadian province of Quebec is in such bad condition that drivers are nervous going through tunnels and over bridges.

August 8 - The Globe and Mail

FEATURE

The U.S. is going from one financial crisis directly into another, as SAFETEA-LU, the omnibus transportation bill, expires next month, writes Roxanne Blackwell of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

August 8 - Roxanne Blackwell

Adam E. Anderson says that there is a growing need for "a hybrid landscape architect/sound artist" to sculpt the sonic environment in public spaces.

August 8 - Design Under Sky

Architectural Digest highlights films where the architectural setting plays a larger role than most of the people, from the futuristic (Blade Runner) to the contemporary (The Ghost Writer).

August 8 - Architectural Digest

Author Russell Shorto claims that "the willingness of Europeans to follow top-down social planning" makes public transit and bicycling more feasible in European cities than they are in the States where people don't always agree with technocrats.

August 8 - The New York Times

Like the Hamptons for affluent New Yorkers, Singapore emerges as the go-to real estate hot spot - replacing Hong Kong - for wealthy Chinese. "It confers class status in China to say that you own a flat in Singapore," asserts Mohamed Ismail.

August 7 - The Economist

The New York City Council voted last week to alter the city's code to encourage green roofs and urban gardening.

August 7 - Inhabitat

Matthew Yglesias writes on the upcoming expiration of the federal gas tax as the next political hurdle facing a divided Congress that has enormous infrastructure and budget deficit implications. The Republican 'no new taxes' pledge may apply.

August 7 - Think Progress

New York City has led the way in tactical urbanism for some time, like the pedestrian plaza in Times Square. Now they're encouraging "pop-up cafes", or cafe table seating that takes over excess roadway.

August 7 - Pattern Cities

In Antelope Valley, Calif., Alan Kimble Fahey's 70-foot tower - aka "the highlight of his life's labor" - was eviscerated on Friday along with the rest of his 20,000-square-foot quirky concoction. The court found it in violation of local codes.

August 7 - The Los Angeles Times

Not only is the Utah Transit Authority debuting two new light rail lines at the same time, they were brought in 20% under budget.

August 6 - The Source

They've been tough to build, thanks to a market skewed towards suburban-style houses via tax, infrastructure, mortgage, and land value subsidies, says Ben Brown. But six years after the storm, Katrina Cottages offer some hard-won solutions.

August 6 - PlaceShakers

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced plans to implement more bus-only lanes throughout the city.

August 6 - Los Angeles Times

Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) announces the winners of the Connected Vehicle Challenge that asked people to submit ideas, using the Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) technology to its full potential.

August 6 - Transportation Nation

Matt Seaton argues that "after significant investment in cycling infrastructure, biking needs better PR." Would a bike ambassador make the difference?

August 6 - The Guardian

...except with architects, who are still creating utopian visions. A new book gathers works by 70 such architects and includes a "linear city" thousands of miles long proposed by an Italian architecture firm.

August 5 - The Globe and Mail

Cities with high populations of older adults are beginning to alter their programs and street signs to make it easier to respond to senior citizens' needs.

August 5 - The Washington Post

Washington D.C.'s first sidewalk cafe opened 5-plus years ago. This piece from <em>The Washington Post</em> looks at the history of outdoor eating in the city, and how the trend has picked up over the years.

August 5 - The Washington Post

"Vacancy begets vacancy." With more than 1,000 vacant lots adding to the city's running total of 20,000 each year, Cleveland is on an Ultra-Ex mission to prepare these sites for tomorrow's housing renaissance.

August 5 - The New York Times

After landed No. 10 on MainStreet.com's "America's Dying Cities" list earlier this year, Grand Rapids, Mich., shows the world that the city is anything but. Its citywide rendition of Don McLean's classic gets almost 4 million hits on YouTube to date.

August 5 - Sustainable Cities Collective