The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Local Govts. Step to the Plate on Climate Change
With politics tangling up action on the Federal level, cities and local governments are adopting climate action plans to combat global warming. Smart growth is high on the list of action items.
Walmart vs. New Yorkers
Walmart has met enormous opposition in its attempts to open stores in New York City in the past, but that isn't stopping the big box behemoth. The City Council is hearing new arguments this week.
Livable Communities Act Faces Uncertain Future
The mid-term elections have created even more uncertainty for the Livable Communities Act, which has stalled in the House and has yet to be taken up by the full Senate. Critics worry about government spending and housing affordability.
Conflict Between History and Modernity Plays Out in Seoul District
Single-story, tiled-roof houses called hanok used to cover the footprint of Seoul, now a city of skyscrapers and avant-garde architecture. Today many describe the hanok as "endangered,"and conflict has come to a head in the small district of Bukchon.
Move Over Suburbia... For "Prefurbia"?
Twin Cities developer and software guru Rick Harrison believes that, through innovative urban design configurations such as 'coving,' suburban areas can be transformed from "disdainable to sustainable."
Tolls Incite San Francisco Peninsula Border War
The mere possibility that a SF County Transportation Authority study could result in a 'border' charge (congestion toll) to drive into SF from San Mateo County has the latter floating their own competing toll for motorists entering San Mateo County.
How Does A Gas Tax Reduce The Deficit?
The deficit commission has proposed a 15-cent gas tax, which would fund the Highway Trust Fund for needed infrastructure projects as opposed to deficit reduction. Brooking's Robert Puentes explains why it was included.
Outside Interests Spell Change for Harlem
An influx of chain stores and new development in Harlem has many residents worried about retaining the historical character of the nation's so-called "African American 'Main-Street.'" Not everybody minds the changes though.
City's Fate Rests On Airport's Revival
Officials in Ontario, CA, contend that LA/Ontario Airport would be a major driver of development -- if it wasn't mismanaged by an airport authority controlled by the City of Los Angeles.
A New Saudi Arabia Rises Out of the Desert
An under-20 population of more than 13 million and an eagerness to move the national economy away from oil production have the Saudi government investing heavily in huge new cities that are designed to encourage a 'Western-style modernity.'
The Best Laid Plans
Planning students at the University of British Columbia unveiled bold new plans for Vancouver for the next 40 years, but as planning director Brent Toderian put it, the plans are "the easy part."
First Nation-Wide Count of Parking Spaces
A new study estimates there are at least 500 million off-street parking spaces in the U.S. This represents 0.5% to 12% of estimated lifecycle energy consumption and greenhouse emissions, and 24% to 81% other air pollutants.
FEATURE
Following the High Line
For Cities, It's Not Coolness That Matters
In a piece for New Geography, Bill Fulton says that the cool v. uncool debate asks the wrong question. The issue is whether their economy is based on exports or imports.
Preserving Culture, But Moving From Home as the Permafrost Melts
The village of Newtok, Alaska is subsiding into a nearby river as the permafrost beneath it melts. Villagers want to preserve their heritage, but face moving from their homeland.
Urban Rail Coming to Qatar For World Cup
As Qatar prepares to host the 2022 World Cup, officials there have announced plans to build an urban rail network to link its 12 World Cup venues.
Using Waste, Swedish City Cuts Fossil Fuel Use
One Swedish city is saying bye to fossil fuels and using its position as an epicenter of farming and food processing to generate energy from some unlikely sources... potato peels, manure, used cooking oil, stale cookies and pig intestines.
Bridge Tolls Critical Missing Part Of NY Transit Funding Package
The Post's transit reporter looks at the substantial MTA budget shortfall resulting in major service reductions and fare increases, but one MTA board member regrets the state senate's refusal to do away with the 'free ride' to Manhattan.
Brrr, Where's my Bikeshare?
Garrett Bradford of TheCityFix.com explores why bikesharing systems in, like those in Denver, the Twin Cities, and Montreal go into hibernation over winter and re-emerge anew in springtime.
Susan Straight's New Novel Depicts A Vision of LA Rarely Explored
Susan Straight's new novel draws on her experiences of growing downtown LA and its surroundings to create an image of a neighborhood 'reeking of cheap liquor and hurt.'
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.
