The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

BLOG POST

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Like many world cities, Vancouver has a growing discussion on the issue of &quot;iconic&quot; architecture, one that I&#39;ve been a part of and encouraging. This despite the fact that, like many urbanists, the word iconic actually makes me nervous. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial"> </span></p>

January 21 - Brent Toderian

<p>A coalition of 21 countries has signed an agreement that will prohibit any development within 100 yards of the Mediterranean coast -- a broad agreement that will affect more than 29,000 miles of coastline.</p>

January 21 - The Christian Science Monitor

<p>Plans for 250,000 new houses on a floodplain in Britain and broad redevelopment plans in New Orleans have many wondering why planners aren't looking to the flood expertise of the Dutch.</p>

January 21 - The Guardian

<p>New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger rallied recently in California, calling on the federal government to do more to address the country's aging infrastructure.</p>

January 21 - The New York Times

<p>In response to a request for documentation about why the EPA recently rejected greenhouse gas regulations in California, the agency has handed over limited and censored documents and citing an executive privilege in doing so.</p>

January 21 - Associated Press

<p>This article from <em>National Geographic</em> looks at the increasing strain on the water supplying the western U.S.</p>

January 21 - National Geographic

<p>In this opinion by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters, she rejects the recommendation by a national transportation commission to increase the gas tax, instead preferring road tolls, congestion pricing, and other private sector investment.</p>

January 21 - The Wall Street Journal

<p>Retired FEMA trailers originally sent to house the displaced after Hurricane Katrina have found new purpose in a government programs that distributes them for use by local municipalities.</p>

January 21 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

<p>Public transit systems must be closely linked with new development and projections of growth for communities to sustain themselves in a changing environment, according to this op-ed.</p>

January 21 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

<p>More than 200 acres of public land in Texas were transferred to the Department of Homeland security on the order of a federal judge. The department sought the land as part of its plan to build hundreds of miles of fences along the U.S.-Mexico border.</p>

January 21 - The Los Angeles Times

FEATURE

With little else to do, teenagers in the rural Indiana town of San Pierre have found a new place to hang out: community meetings. But they're not just hanging out, they are actively participating in the planning and revitalization of their community.

January 21 - Therese Schmidt

<p>After black teenagers from Cleveland severely beat a white man, Shaker Heights residents reconsider the safety of their community.</p>

January 21 - The New York Times

<p>A community activist in Philadelphia is rallying support to pressure the city to consider a bike-sharing program similar to the Paris Velib system.</p>

January 20 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

<p><em>Streetfilms</em> presents this brief video montage of cars infringing on the rights of pedestrians.</p>

January 20 - Streetsblog

<p>After more than a year with its funding in limbo and its future questionable, the Chicago Transit Authority has been saved from fare hikes and service cuts by an increase in county sales taxes.</p>

January 20 - The Chicago Tribune

<p>In this article, author James Surowiecki discusses the idea that -- contrary to common assumption -- there is a lot of wisdom to be found in crowds.</p>

January 20 - Scenarios

<p>Two Turkish villages illustrate the impact of radically different approaches to development.</p>

January 20 - The Christian Science Monitor

<p>California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted lawmakers to pull a nearly $10 billion bill from the November ballot that would fund a long-sought high-speed rail system, but he now wants the legislation to require private funding partnerships.</p>

January 19 - Associated Press via San Francisco Chronicle

<p>A high-speed rail connection through the busy Windsor, Ont., and Quebec City corridor has been debated for years. However, the Ontario government's $100 billion infrastructure deficit and the rising cost of land may make it economically unfeasible.</p>

January 19 - The Globe & Mail

<p>As part of a mixed use development proposal, the 1971 Marcel Breuer-designed office tower in Cleveland would become a boutique hotel and residences. The adjacent Cleveland Trust rotunda, designed by G. B. Post &amp; Sons, would become the hotel's lobby.</p>

January 19 - The Plain Dealer