The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

In the wake of the BP oil spill, geographer Richard Campanella of Tulane University takes a look at the geography of New Orleans and the Gulf region, and suggests that the disaster will fuel a renewed discussion of the area's uniqueness.

September 12 - Places

Unclean and unsafe water is an increasingly vexing problem for the world's cities, which are struggling to meet the needs of rapidly growing populations. But there has been some positive work in developing countries.

September 12 - Citiwire

The Environmental Protection Agency has named five state capitals as its first group of cities in a new effort called Greening America's Capitals.

September 12 - Reuters

Robert Wright describes the policy shift already underway in planning for cities of the future. He reports that "as energy becomes more expensive, cities will have to be much more compact, easier to navigate by bike and on foot."

September 11 - Financial Times

Many people have argued that global cities can take lessons from informal communities like Dharavi and the favelas of Brazil. Designers Pavlina Ilieva and Kuo Pao Lian have created a new framework for city development based on these informal cities.

September 11 - The Futurist

With the next World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics on their way, Rio de Janeiro is in the midst of a vast citywide regeneration campaign.

September 11 - Smithsonian Magazine

BLOG POST

<div>On a day we remember how hate can be manifest into reckless slaughter, perhaps we can find a moment to also remind ourselves that the provision of mobility as a basic tenet of urban planning is one small but nonetheless fundamental way we can strengthen the brotherly ties between neighbors, nations, cultures, humanity. ~ian</div><div><br /></div><p>&nbsp;</p>

September 11 - Ian Sacs

A new report from <em>The Reason Foundation</em> finds that the nation's roads and highways are in the best shape of the last 19 years. The authors contend that this fact is largely a result of fewer people driving due to the recession.

September 11 - The Reason Foundation

Fueled by a generous tax incentive, Michigan has seen its film industry grow in recent years. Much of that growth is centered in Metropolitan Detroit, and is expected to continue its upward trend.

September 11 - Next American City

Derek Thompson reports on the twenty strongest metro areas and the major factors behind their success in recovering from the recession. He concludes that the country "did not experience an even, cross-country recession."

September 10 - The Atlantic

The newest U.S. stimulus proposal is aimed at improving infrastructure but could go farther, says Jonna McKone from TheCityFix.com.

September 10 - TheCityFix

A documentary currently touring the country sets out to show that Detroit is not dead, highlighting the entrepreneurs, artists and activists that are currently reclaiming and rebuilding Detroit.

September 10 - Palladium Blog

An internal Statistics Canada simulation of a voluntary census -- conducted prior to the federal government's announcement that the mandatory long form census would be scrapped -- reveals serious concerns over potential inaccuracies.

September 10 - Globe and Mail

Brookhaven, New York received a 43-page Design Guideline document from their consultants. The city asked to have it all boiled down to one sheet, front and back.

September 10 - New Urban Network

Miami could be the next major American city, and one that other global cities should try to emulate, according to this interview with economist Saskia Sassen.

September 10 - Foreign Policy

This post from <em>The Atlantic</em> suggests that mobile devices and the ability to connect them with the Internet will help lure more people into cities.

September 10 - The Atlantic

Five finalists have been announced in a design competition to rethink the park near St. Louis' iconic Gateway Arch. Fast Co. Design takes a look at the contenders.

September 10 - Fast Co. Design

A new report from the Los Angeles transit authority shows that construction of a new subway connecting the west side of the city would cause only a small reduction in car traffic.

September 10 - Los Angeles Times

Efforts to tear down the Interstate-10 Claiborne Expressway, a 2.2 mile section of elevated roadway in New Orleans that many locals and activists have blamed for separating neighborhoods. Neal Pierce says teardowns might begin to grow in popularity.

September 10 - Citiwire

Traffic deaths are down almost 10% for last year- in fact, they haven't been this low since 1950. Why?

September 9 - CNN-Money