The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

CBO: The Collision Course of Fuel Efficiency Standards and Transportation Revenue

Ann Mesnikoff, Director of the Sierra Club Green Transportation Campaign, looks at the CBO's Highway Trust Fund report on the relationship between fuel economy standards and projected gas tax revenues, and finds it too hypothetical.

May 14 - Sierra Club Compass

America's Mass Transit and Renewable Energy Delusions

Michael Lind argues that the version of the nation's infrastructure priorities we've been sold is a fallacy, and he has some suggestions for the kind of infrastructure we really need.

May 14 - Salon.com

Vital Census Tool Gets Axe in the House

Jason Jordan reports on last week's stunning vote in the House of Representatives to eliminate the American Community Survey (ACS) in its entirety.

May 14 - APA Policy News

Can A Charter City Save Honduras?

Adam Davidson explores Honduras's experimentation with economist Paul Romer's theories on the need for poor countries to build special economic development zones that essentially "start from scratch" with new legal and political systems.

May 14 - The New York Times

Healthcare Fuels Pittsburgh's Comeback

The onetime steel capital's transition to an economy based on the healthcare sector has helped Pittsburgh emerge from the recession much quicker than many other cities, bringing welcome jobs and questions about its sustainability, reports Don Lee.

May 14 - Los Angeles Times


Design for Chicago's Bloomingdale Trail Takes Shape

As it wraps up the first stage of a community planning progress, Alan G. Brake checks in on the latest designs for Chicago's answer to the High Line.

May 14 - The Architect's Newspaper

Preservation Struggles to Persevere in LA

With victories in Beverly Hills, and a notable defeat in nearby Palos Verdes Estates, Alexei Barrionuevo tracks historic preservation's shifting place in Los Angeles.

May 13 - The New York Times


Tokyo's Role in Creating A Global Food Phenomenon

ASLA's blog, <em>The Dirt</em>, dishes on how sushi, an ancient food, became modern in Tokyo, and conquered the world.

May 13 - THE DIRT

How Public Transportation is Failing the Disabled

With more than a quarter of disabled Americans who are unable to leave their homes prevented from doing so by transportation difficulties, Sarah Laskow argues it's time for cities to move beyond ADA.

May 13 - Good

Habitat for Humanity Builds Big in Portland

Kirk Johnson chronicles the nonprofit housing builder's move into larger-scale housing development in Oregon, as it takes advantage of the depressed real estate market, and the kindness of donors.

May 13 - The New York Times

CA's Hydrogen Energy Power Plant Applies For Certification

HECA, the Hydrogen Energy California project, will do much more than burn H2 to produce 300 megawatts of emission-free electricity. This U.S. Dept. of Energy-backed project will store (sequester) carbon underground in Kern County's oil fields.

May 13 - Business Wire

When Will the Pop-Up Bubble Burst?

Kelly Chan explores how temporary architecture is changing our relationship to the built environment, and asks "how permanent is our current fascination for the temporary?"

May 12 - Art Info

Designs Unveiled for Seattle's Largest Ever Development

Ariel Rosenstock delivers the details, and slick renderings, of Amazon's new 3 million square-foot downtown Seattle headquarters.

May 12 - The Architect's Newspaper Blog

How to Build an Edible City

Several case studies from edible city innovators are offered in a new ASLA video that shows how you can transform your backyard, corner lot or rooftop into an urban farm, reports Jude Stewart.

May 12 - Fast Company

A Fall From Grace Leaves Chongqing's Urban Plans Unresolved

Mostly unmentioned during the very public removal of Chinese leader Bo Xilai was the ambitious urban development program he led in Chongqing. Julia Zhou looks at those efforts and their uncertain future.

May 12 - Architizer

Architects Walk the Runway

For their "Work Wear" series, <em>The Wall Street Journal</em> looks at the fashion habits of the employees of Richard Meier & Partners Architects.

May 12 - The Wall Street Journal

Friday Funny: Urbanism Avengers Assemble!

Last week's record setting premiere of the Avengers movie franchise inspired the launch of a planning and design themed legion of superheroes on Twitter. Sommer Mathis interviews the urbanist behind the mask.

May 11 - The Atlantic Cities

Subsidized Solar Sprouts in the Suburbs

Diane Cardwell reports on the creative ways in which solar installers are taking advantage of government subsidies, creative financing, and cheap Chinese-made panels to make solar power accessible to the mass market.

May 11 - The New York Times

Has New Urbanism Reached a Midlife Crisis?

On the occasion of the 20th Congress for the New Urbanism, running through the weekend in West Palm Beach, Anthony Flint looks at what happens when a revolutionary movement becomes part of the establishment.

May 11 - The Atlantic Cities

A Place to Park Your Farm

A parking garage in downtown Vancouver is scheduled to be the first structure in North America to host a "paradigm shifting" 6,000-square-foot vertical farm.

May 11 - Designing Healthy Communities

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