The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

This piece from <em>NPR</em> looks at the debate over plans to use more than $7 billion from the stimulus plan to expand broadband Internet access in rural areas.

February 19 - NPR

Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario has announced a plan to counteract the intense NIMBYism that has stifled projects throughout the province.

February 19 - The Toronto Star

The Wall St. Journal reviews the latest in smart technology for infrastructure, from vehicle infrastructure integration to smart utility meters.

February 18 - Wall St. Journal

President Barack Obama has announced a $75 billion plan to help counteract home foreclosures -- a move that aims to allow more than 9 million Americans to refinance their troubled mortgages.

February 18 - The New York Times

Atlanta has been recognized as having some of the lowest proportion of greenspace per capita. The city has borrowed more than $100 million in its commitment to create more parks.

February 18 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

BLOG POST

<p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'">Since Vancouver Council unanimously supported the preparation of bylaws to introduce <a href="/node/35805" target="_blank">laneway housing across the City</a> in single family zones<span style="color: olive">, </span>the housing idea has been getting consistent media attention. Although we&#39;re in the process of using modeling and dialogue to answer the last few questions - what the parking standard should be, and the exact dimensions of the 1 1/2 story model - the most common question I get is &quot;when can we apply for one?&quot;</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"> </span> </p>

February 18 - Brent Toderian

Houston may be able to anticipate four new rail lines before 2012, if a deal two years in the making can be worked out through negotiations.

February 18 - Houston Chronicle

Its history of pollution dates back to the Civil War, but 25 years after being declared a Superfund site, Woburn's Industri-plex in Massachusetts is just about cleaned up. A retail complex there has opened recently.

February 18 - The Boston Globe

A new study shows that walks in the park are more beneficial than those on city streets, in terms of memory and attention. The natural scenery requires less direct attention, so it's sharper when needed next.

February 18 - The McGill Tribune

One developer has found a way to build condos at $60,000 less than it costs the average Toronto developer. Through deferrals from the city, money is made available to assist homebuyers with their down payments.

February 18 - The Tyee

NASA's James Hansen takes his global warming message to England, telling them in no uncertain terms that they must stop their reliance on coal-derived electricity. He dismisses 'clean coal' and even 'carbon caps' if coal plants continue to operate.

February 18 - The Observer

In this op-ed, Michael Andregg touts Personal Rapid Transit over 'financially unsustainable' light rail, which he blames politicians for encouraging.

February 18 - The Pioneer Press

Recognizing that urban greenery is crucial city dwellers' health and well-being, experts in Chicago spent the 100th anniversary of Daniel Burnham's "Plan of Chicago" by discussing ways to attain its vision.

February 18 - Medill Reports

FEATURE

The 'Subway to the Sea' project in Los Angeles isn't just about transportation- it also opens up a world of development opportunity, say architects Ernesto Vasquez, AIA and Jeff Mayer, AIA of MVE & Partners.

February 18 - Jeff Mayer

BLOG POST

A week ago I spent some time with Enrique Peñalosa, urban strategist and provocateur. North Americans don’t often look south for innovation, but Peñalosa made remarkable changes in the public environment as Mayor of the city of Bogotá, Colombia. Nearly impeached for his actions to push cars aside in favor of people, now he is invited to provoke and inspire others.  “We have Environmental Impact Statements; why don’t we have Human Impact statements,” is a sampling from last week. <br />

February 17 - Barbara Knecht

NYT columnist David Brooks compares the dreams for a more compact, less car-dependent lifestyle of many urban planners with the findings of a Pew Research poll on the types of communities Americans want to live in, and they are not like Amsterdam.

February 17 - The New York Times

When it comes to carbon emissions, dense cities are better for the environment than anything else, says economists Edward L. Glaeser of Harvard and Matthew Kahn of UCLA. And right now we're inhibiting building where we should be encouraging it.

February 17 - City Journal

Matthew Klauer had intended to build a 44-room country inn on the 27-acre plot he purchased in Washington, Connecticut. Rejected by locals, Klauer is changing the plan and building 33 small homes using an affordable housing law.

February 17 - Governing Magazine

Banks and financial institutions are making the foreclosure crisis worse, as lobbying efforts seek to block bankruptcy courts from gaining more power to reduce debt, according to this article from <em>Der Spiegel</em>.

February 17 - Der Spiegel

More than $1 billion has been invested in a Vancouver slum area, but little improvement can be seen, according to this investigation from <em>The Globe and Mail</em>.

February 17 - The Globe and Mail