The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Land Use, Transportation and the World Cup in South Africa

Nate Berg reports on the effects of the upcoming World Cup in South Africa. Will the stadia be built on time? And what will be the impact on after they're built?

April 2 - Next American City

Comeback Cities

Paul Grogan headed LISC for 13 years in the 1980s and 1990s, and it's been 10 years since his influential book, "Comeback Cities", was published. How has Mr. Grogan's "blueprint for urban revival" held up, ten years on?

April 2 - Fels Institute of Government

How To Design Your Own Speed Bump - In German

A German homeowner is frustrated with the traffic in his neighborhood, so he designs and installs his own speed bump for his street. While there are no English subtitles, the pictures and sounds illustrate the directions and results all too well.

April 2 - YouTube

4/1 Funny: "Demographer Today" Magazine Targets Demographers

Audio advertisement from The Onion highlights how the new magazine "Demographer Today" will present data about people for people interested in data about people.

April 1 - The Onion

A Closer Look at Dockside Green

Dockside Green, a development in Victoria, B.C., is a breathtaking model of urban regeneration, brownfield reuse, green design, and community building, says Ken Pirie.

April 1 - Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built & Natural Environments


Chicago's $1.3 Million Experiment in Democracy

In a Chicago Tribune op-ed, Alderman Joe Moore explains why he is letting residents decide how to spend his $1.3m ward budget, through the first Participatory Budgeting process in the US.

April 1 - Chicago Tribune

A NYC Housing Code Rarely Enforced - Fortunately

Fortunately for the unrelated roommates, that is, because in NYC the housing code prohibits more than three to live under the same roof. By one estimate, that would make at least 15,000 units illegal. This article looks at several of them.

April 1 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region


LEED Certification For Parking: Reserve Space For Low Emitters

A Marin County shopping mall hopes to be the first LEED-certified mall, partly by reserving parking space for low emitting vehicles. All spaces, for guzzlers and green vehicles alike, are unpriced, perhaps pointing to shortfalls of green building.

April 1 - Marin Independent Journal

Creative Class Breathes New Life into Empty Spaces

The recession has left many real estate properties empty across the country. In Los Angeles, some of those empty spaces are being revived by the city's artists.

April 1 - Core77

Success in San Francisco Alleyways

This piece from <em>The Examiner</em> looks at the alleyways of San Francisco and how they have become activated in recent years.

April 1 - Examiner

Obama: Drill, Baby, Drill

President Barack Obama has lifted a ban on drilling for oil off the coast of the eastern U.S. Critics say the move won't meet the stated goal of achieving energy independence, while proponents say this is only the first step that needs to be taken.

April 1 - The New York Times

Bringing Life to the Streets of the UAE

This oped from <em>The National</em> calls for increased attention to the streetscapes of the United Arab Emirate, specifically the lack of non-palm trees and seating.

April 1 - The National

FEATURE

Five Things You Need To Know About High-Speed Rail

To inaugurate the launch of our new website with exclusive coverage of high-speed rail, we asked David J. Carol, Market Leader of High-Speed Rail at Parsons Brinkerhoff to tell us what we need to know about the U.S.'s exciting new endeavor.

April 1 - David J. Carol

Las Vegas Residents Want Out

A recent survey from UNLV suggests that 40% of the residents of the Las Vegas metropolitan area would prefer to leave the state.

April 1 - Las Vegas Sun

Here Comes the Sun...and it's Not Alright

A recent report from NASA outlined the threat solar storms pose to Earth-based electrical and communications systems, and warned that the social and economic disruptions could be catastrophic.

April 1 - Big Think

Fort Worth Streetcar Project In Jeopardy

In this editorial, blogger Kevin Buchanan argues that a Fort Worth streetcar is being delayed by political forces and should move forward for the benefit of the community.

April 1 - Fortworthology

Reconstruction Plan Could Dramatically Reshape Haiti

With the country is full recovery mode, urban planners in Haiti are releasing a strategy document that seeks to redistribute the population of damaged Port-au-Prince and to create a series of smaller urban centers throughout the country.

March 31 - The New York Times

Immigrants Remain Uneasy About Census

Illegal immigrants in Arizona are wary about the Census, and are planning to avoid enumerators. But other illegal immigrants without the right to vote see the count as their only option for having a positive impact on their communities.

March 31 - NPR

Times Square's Last Homeless Man

While this article focuses on 'Heavy', the homeless hold-out, it really is a success story of how a popular, urban destination can tackle what many considerable an insurmountable urban problem - homelessness.

March 31 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Chicago's $1.3 Million Experiment in Democracy

In a Chicago Tribune op-ed, Alderman Joe Moore explains why he is letting residents decide how to spend his $1.3 ward budget, through the first Participatory Budgeting process in the US.

March 31 - Chicago Tribune

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.