The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Dealing with Housing Abandonment in Chicago

The foreclosure crisis and economic meltdown have left many American cities struggling to cope with thousands of properties being abandoned -- not just by owners, but by lenders as well.

March 3 - Huffington Post

Transportation Could Take Big Hit from Government Shutdown

If no solution is made by the end of this week, a government shutdown will grind Washington to a halt. As <em>Steetsblog</em> reports, that shutdown could cost the transportation sector $100 million per day.

March 3 - Streetsblog

L.A. City Council Approves New Bike Plan - Unanimously

The new plan is touted by Alissa Walker of Good Magazine as "perhaps the most ambitious pro-cyclist action in L.A. history."

March 3 - GOOD Magazine

What Do Twitter Patterns Say About Your City?

A study of Twitter-use patterns found that some cities are far more active early in the morning, while others showed higher activity at night or on weekends.

March 3 - Sustainable Cities Collective

Is the Nation's Affordable Housing Supply Overwhelmed?

Colleen O'Connor, a writer for <em>The Denver Post</em>, uses the case of Colorado to demonstrate what she sees as an inadequate supply of affordable housing across the country.

March 3 - The Denver Post


Video Series on Cities Going Beyond the Car

<em>Streetfilms</em> has begun a ten-part video series looking at non-automobile transportation in cities across the U.S.

March 3 - Streetfilms

Tourist-Centric Venice Loses Population

As floods increase and the tourist-focus of the city pervades, Venice, Italy is losing much of its charm -- and its native population.

March 3 - Der Spiegel


Obama Urges States to Focus on Infrastructure

Despite recent state actions to counter the federal government's efforts, President Barack Obama has called on the nation's governors to make infrastructure projects a priority.

March 3 - Governing

The 21st Century: Century of The City or of Suburbia?

There are many challenges facing cities and suburbs across the country. How they handle such issues may determine if they thrive or fail in the 21st century, writes Mary Newsom.

March 2 - Citiwire

Richard Florida Talks Sports and Talent Migration

ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd talks to Richard Florida about cities and talent migration in the sports world.

March 2 - ESPN Radio

Public Transit Gets Wi-Fi and Concierge

In an attempt to lure more employees of high-tech companies to use public transit, the Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority has proposed buses with wi-fi, reclining seats, and even a concierge to coordinate dry-cleaning services.

March 2 - GOOD Magazine

The Suburbanization of Chicago

With the Second City experiencing a 7% decline in the population over the past decade, the newly elected Mayor Rahm Emmanuel must adapt to a suburban-dominated environment.

March 2 - Chicago Tribune

Squatters Dominate Caracas Tower Amid Housing Shortage

As housing costs rise and supplies dwindle in Caracas, more than 2500 squatters have occupied a downtown skyscraper.

March 2 - The New York Times

The Unlikely Biennale of Landscape Urbanism

A landscape urbanism biennale in an unlikely suburb of Tel Aviv offers its working class citizens a look how their city can change for the better.

March 2 - The Architect's Newspaper

BLOG POST

How Smart Are 'Intelligent Cities'?

<p>Most trends are fleeting, some of them mercifully so. Some last no longer than a Lady Gaga wardrobe change. But urbanism is still, by and large, a leisurely exercise, so it&#39;s no wonder that planners still embrace fashions on a nearly generational basis. It often takes that long just to see if something works. Or not.  <br /><br />So, while Gaga would inspire us to attach telephones to our heads and light our bustiers on fire, planners who ascribe to the principles of smart growth are still rhetorically swaddling cities in the urban equivalent of flannel. For better or worse, this age may finally be coming to a close. Don&#39;t cry, Monster.</p>

March 2 - Josh Stephens

Bike Lane Battle Drags on in New York City

The city of New York has been trying to encourage an increase in bike lanes throughout the city. But the issue has become increasingly political, and progress has been slowed.

March 2 - The Gotham Gazette

Attacking the Setbacks of Suburbia

Canada's suburbs don't have to be a problem, according to architect Drew Adams, who proposes a plan to densify them by developing unused space.

March 2 - The Toronto Star

New City to Sprout in Qatar Ahead of World Cup

Qatar is building cities from scratch ahead of its hosting duties for the 2022 World Cup. One city to be located near the tournament's final match will house 200,000.

March 2 - Bloomberg

Chicago Plans Electric Vehicle Charging Network

The city of Chicago is planning to build a network of 280 electric vehicle charging stations throughout the city by the end of the year.

March 2 - Grist

BLOG POST

Managing Time in Graduate School

<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Recently, a number of students have asked me questions about a similar topic—managing time. In graduate school there are deadlines. Some required tasks are not things you would choose to do unless forced—just like the world of work. At the same time one has a relatively large amount of flexibility as to how one organizes time to get it done. The tips below aim to help you figure out an approach to this difficult issue. They draw on my own observations. However, my able researchassistant Amanda Wilson provided some additional comments and I quote her fromtime to time! Errors are of course mine.</span></p>

March 1 - Ann Forsyth

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.