The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

As New York City's population grows older, the city is developing age-friendly districts. The districts will include improvements from grocery discounts to more time to cross busy intersections.

July 21 - The New York Times

Cities across the country are being forced to outsource or privatize many of their basic civic services like janitors, police and trash collectors due to huge budget deficits. The moves are saving millions.

July 21 - The Wall Street Journal

Forest land and open space have been steadily gobbled up by development in the Pacific Northwest. A new initiative in Washington seeks to relocate some of developers' planned greenfield housing into cities.

July 21 - Citiwire

A new sustainable housing development breaking ground in Oregon has put affordability on the same pedestal as sustainability.

July 21 - The Oregonian

BLOG POST

<p> The City of Los Angeles <a href="http://planning.lacity.org/">Department of Planning</a> and <a href="http://www.ladottransit.com/">Department of Transportation</a> held a first-ever public online participation webinar Thursday, July 20, 2010. The city used the opportunity to experiment with web conferencing technology, and will survey participants after the event to evaluate the success of the experiment.<br /> <br /> A webinar is a web conference, where participants can access a virtual meeting using a computer, and Internet connection. Participants access a website to see the presenter&#39;s computer screen, and also listen to the presenter through the computer&#39;s speakers, or using a telephone.<br />

July 20 - Chris Steins

The City of Maywood, California has completely outsourced all of its civic services and turned local officials into contract workers. Though some worried the city would crumble, it's actually taken a turn for the better.

July 20 - The New York Times

The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts achieves an impressive collection of architectural icons but fails to tie them together with inviting outdoor spaces for the public, says Jared Langevin.

July 20 - jargon

Citywide form-based codes are gaining in popularity, with Miami's recently implemented code and a new code in Denver. But some architects worry about if and how these new codes will impact their work and the look of their cities.

July 20 - Architect

Decommissioned Tempelhof Airport in Berlin had been the subject of grand plans for reusing the massive space for the last two years. But with little money in city coffers, officials decided to simply open it to the public as-is.

July 20 - Los Angeles Times

"Vigilant old ladies: another good example of the value of neighborhood social capital (and urban living)."

July 20 - Good

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are becoming standard components of transit agencies' strategies for outreach and keeping riders informed.

July 20 - InTransition Magazine

The City of New York is planning to open three public temporary "dumpster pools" in Manhattan during August.

July 20 - The New York Times

A new coalition in Syracuse, New York is making moves to help regenerate the city. Roberta Brandes Gratz offers this look at what the city is doing.

July 20 - Citiwire

A decommissioned Naval base in Concord, California, may be falling into the hands of the city -- a prospect few thought possible.

July 20 - San Jose Mercury News

Millions of Germans this weekend closed off a 40-mile stretch of autobahn for a banquet and party.

July 20 - BBC

Nearly half of the commercial real estate in the U.S. is underwater, according to Elizabeth Warren, Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel. She is concerned that a coming crisis could sink the current recovery.

July 19 - Blueprint America

Charlotte just won $25 million in grants from the federal government to combine with $12 million of local funds to build a streetcar system. Some say it's a waste of money. This editorial from <em>The Charlotte Observer</em> argues its case.

July 19 - The Charlotte Observer

The Los Angeles River has long been forgotten by many of the city's residents and officials. <em>GOOD</em>'s Alissa Walker takes a look at some plans to reintegrate the river into the city.

July 19 - Good

Hoboken, New Jersey has instituted a new car sharing service -- one run by a rental car company that pays the city for the right to operate.

July 19 - The New York Times

FEATURE

Proposals for new projects arrive on city desks everyday showing vibrant public plazas full of people. But too often those spaces fail to attract people in the way they were portrayed. Are Photoshopped people a deliberate falsehood?

July 19 - Tim Halbur