The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

State, Towns Form Naval Air Station Redevelopment Agency

Just months after the Pentagon announced that they would close the Brunswick Naval Air Station, The State of Maine and the towns of Brunswick and Topsham have moved quickly to begin the redevelopment process.

October 8 - Portland Press Herald

Study Finds SUV's Deadlier Than Cars

The front shape of sport utility vehicles puts pedestrians at greater risk of injury on impact.

October 8 - CNN.com

Artificial Neighborhoods Are No Substitute For Community

As new urbanist ideas begin to emerge in Calgary, a local columnist wonders whether New Urbanism promotes artifice over ideas that might actually work.

October 8 - Calgary News And Entertainment Weekly

McDonalds vs Starbucks: Giants Battle For Mall Space

Why is McDonalds is trying to block Starbucks from moving into the Liberty Square shopping center in Wauconda, IL?

October 7 - The Chicago Tribune

Subdividing Paradise

Los Angeles is overflowing with an abundance of nature. So why isn't the city more readily available to the public in the form of parks, asks D.J. Waldie.

October 7 - The Los Angeles Times


Classicists at the Gates

Both classicist architects and some of their more pragmatic Chicago counterparts have a weakness for returning to the past, but their approaches couldn't be more different.

October 7 - Chicago Reader

Planning A Mixed Use Development In The Heart Of Downtown Phoenix

Revitalization efforts in downtown Phoenix receive a huge boost with plans for a $200 million mixed-used development in the heart of downtown. [Includes photos.]

October 7 - The Arizona Republic


Burning Rubber -- Under Your Feet

To work with the tree roots that can quickly crack concrete sidewalks, Seattle follows the lead of other cities that are testing rubber sidewalks made from recycled tires.

October 7 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Hurricane-proofing Louisiana's Coast

With $40 billion in federal dollars at stake for protecting New Orleans from future flooding, Congress is forming a special commission to oversee the allocation of the funds.

October 7 - CNN

Duany To Lead New Urbanists' Largest Planning Effort

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is welcoming new urbanist professionals from across the nation to an unprecedented "mega-charrette" for rebuilding many of the hardest-hit communities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

October 7 - New Urban News

FEMA Scuttles Evacuee Housing Plan

New Orleans city officials are outraged over FEMA's about-face that would have provided housing for over 6,000 displaced workers.

October 7 - The Wall Street Journal

School Choice And Sprawl

As urban schools decline, those who can afford it head for ever-expanding, land-consuming 'burbs. The flight of the affluent drains urban schools of funding. We can break the cycle, says Dan Akst.

October 7 - Grist Magazine

NY Subway Identified As Possible Terror Target -- System On Alert

New York City increases subway security after a "specific" threat to the city's subway is announced.

October 7 - CNN

City Inspectors Trade Cars for Bikes

City property maintenance inspectors find that they are better able to view property code violations on bikes rather than in cars, saving tax dollars on gas and reducing emmissions.

October 6 - The Chicago Tribune

How And Where to Build Schools

TPR interviews Dwayne Mears of the California-based Planning Center, who offers guidance on how to comply with the school district regulations and to build better, more effective schools.

October 6 - The Planning Report

London Businesses Oppose Congestion Charge

Business owners in London complain of a drop in profits and oppose an expansion of the congestion charge zone.

October 6 - BBC

States Take On Feds Over Environment

State-led lawsuits and environmental initiatives are changing the face of US environmental regulation.

October 6 - The Christian Science Monitor

Is Skid Row A Dumping Ground Los Angeles' Problems?

A major revitalization of downtown Los Angeles leaves skid row residents with far fewer choices in housing, and has led to accusations of 'dumping' the homeless.

October 6 - The Los Angeles Times

Smart Code Expert Resigns From Ventura, CA Smart Growth Dream Team

Architect and smart code expert Ann Daigle resigns suddenly from Ventura's planning department to join Andres Duany's CNU-sponsored rebuilding effort.

October 6 - Ventura County Star

Trapped By Gridlock

As Americans are forced to spend more time commuting, the question must be asked 'what have highways done to improve quality of life?'

October 6 - The Baltimore Sun

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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.