The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
New York's Coney Island Makeover Moves Forward
New York City's planning commission recently approved a plan to revitalize Coney Island.
Community Design With A Side of Pie
At PieLab in Greensboro, Alabama, locals mingle with designers attempting to do use design to do good, with a slice of pie on the side.
Smart Growth Suburbia?
The Lighthouse at Long Island is a proposed 5.5 million sq. ft. of mixed-use development covering 150 acres of Nassau County. The developers see it as a new form of smart growth suburbia.
Agricultural Land, Permanently
25 farmers in Fairfield County, Ohio are attempting to prevent future development by preserving their farmland in permanent agricultural use.
Bike Plan Booed
The Los Angeles City Council's Transportation Committee revealed its new proposed bicycle plan on Weds. to a packed house and a chorus of boos.
Boulder Limiting House Size
The buying and selling of development rights heats up in Boulder County.
Treetops in the Rooftops
A NY-based landscape architect, Thomas Balsley, FASLA, has created a new type of green roof using Austrian pines.
Does Paris Have a Bike-Stealing Program?
Paris' bike-sharing program Vélib was supposed to make commuting more civilized; instead it has become the subject of widespread theft and abuse.
Going to the Races
Locals are concerned that a real estate development approved to replace Hollywood Park, one of California's few remaining thoroughbred racetracks, will be underused in this housing crisis.
Walking On Air
SOM designs observation platforms that allow visitors to walk on the air. A new platform is planned for Chicago's Sears Tower.
Anti-Transit Bias Revealed in Museum Exhibit
Conrad DeFebre of Minnesota 2020 went to an exhibit about transportation at the Minnesota History Center titled "Going Places: The Mystique of Mobility" and found an overt bias against transit.
Retailers Fleeing Detroit
As recently as the turn of this century, retailers were taking a chance on downtown Detroit. But today, Starbucks, Borders and others are pulling their stores out.
BLOG POST
Architecture You Can Dance To
On my way to work this morning, I was listening to an interview with the band <a href="http://blitzentrapper.net/vids.html">Blitzen Trapper</a> on my iPod. They’ve got a beautiful song called ‘Furr’; the sound echoes 1970s folk rock- and roots influences like English folk, country and bluegrass. Anyway, Eric Early, the main songwriter, got my attention with his answer to this question:<br /> <br /> <blockquote> <em>INTERVIEWER: Obviously ‘American music’ means different things to different people. What does it mean to you?<br /> </em>
Obama Administration Snubs Mayors
Representatives of the Obama Administration, including VP Biden, were set to be a part of the U.S. Conference of Mayors last week, but they cancelled their appearance so as not to cross a union picket line outside.
The Return of Streetcar Architecture
Portland, Oregon sees the revival of building styles not seen since the last time streetcars rolled through the city.
Fresh in Philly
Philadelphians (and the Obama administration) sing the praises of the city's Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which works to bring healthy produce and groceries to underserved locations.
The High Cost of Internet Access
The City of Sherwood, Oregon has invested $1.55 million in broadband fiberoptic cable, promising internet access for all and a system that would pay for itself. So far, it hasn't quite worked out that way.
A Frank Conversation With Ray LaHood
In this 'anything-goes' Q & A between the NYT Magazine with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, we learn about the derivation of his name, the car he drives, and more appropriate topics liks HSR, infrastructure, and George Will.
Sidewalks Key Factor Influencing Physical Activity
A new study provides further evidence that incorporating sidewalks into existing neighborhoods is a practical and inexpensive way of encouraging people to exercise.
Some Cities 'Too Much Fun'
With job cuts and cost-saving measures the watchword of the day, cities like Orlando and Las Vegas are fighting their fun-loving image to attract serious-minded conventioneers.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
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.
