The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Shipping containers are increasingly being used as a readymade, eco-friendly building material. WebUrbanist highlights a handful of such structures, vernacular or professionally designed.

March 7 - WebUrbanist

The Dirt interviewed Jamie Lerner, an architect, designer, and former Mayor/Governor from Brazil who is credited with introducing the world's first BRT system in Curitiba, Brazil.

March 7 - THE DIRT

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will take on the responsibilities of the Philadelphia agency for at least one year, after revelations of profligate spending led to the termination of the former Executive Director.

March 7 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

As Facebook prepares to relocate its corporate headquarters from Palo Alto to Menlo Park, the company organized a day-long charrette to get input from architects, planners, and community members about how to "turn this neighborhood inside out."

March 7 - San Jose Mercury News

Has historic preservation been responsible for making New York a luxury city? A former member of the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission argues no.

March 7 - The Huffington Post

Kaid Benfield says that the current trend towards "intelligent cities" is driven by large corporations, and "futuristic technology won’t fix many of our basic urban problems."

March 7 - NRDC Blog

Chuck Wolfe suggests five "Burnhamisms" for getting communities inspired and engaged with urban planning, including using social media and video to communicate your message.

March 7 - myurbanist

A new report from the American Public Transit Association shows how transit riders are saving a bundle in comparison with car commuters, particularly when you factor in the rising cost of gasoline.

March 7 - Treehugger

America's cities and towns have issued nearly $3 trillion in municipal bonds, yet are facing shrinking revenues, budget shortfalls and enormous pension obligations. There are fears that the next financial crisis will be municipal bankruptcies.

March 7 - New York Times

Philadelphia may lose its world-famous skateboarding landmark with the renovation of its LOVE Park plaza, flaring a decade-old debate that has made international headlines.

March 6 - The Philadelphia Daily News

The FL Supreme Court ruled March 4 against two state senators who sued to save the project despite Gov. Rick Scott's opposition. DOT Secretary LaHood contacted Scott a third time before announcing that $2.4 billion in HSR funds would be redirected.

March 6 - St. Petersburg Times

FEATURE

As cities in developing countries expand, is smart growth the right approach? The conclusions of a new report by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy may surprise you.

March 6 - Gregory K. Ingram

Will the settling down of Generation X, whose youngest members are now turning 30, represent a boom in localism and community building? Scott Doyon thinks so.

March 6 - PlaceShakers

Hybrid solar/diesel ferries have been plying the waters for some time now, but now a number of new technologies are being implemented, including one of the very oldest - sails.

March 6 - InTransition

Michael Klare argues that the revolution and turmoil sweeping so many of the Middle Eastern oil-producing nations will bring the age of cheap oil to an end.

March 6 - Truthout

Aaron M. Renn says that Nashville has very few significant assets in comparison with other Midwestern cities, but it appears to poised for significant growth. What's happening in Nashville?

March 5 - New Geography

Toronto's City Hall is a massive concrete structure. Oddly, so was all its furniture, which was included with the original design. <em>99% Invisible</em> looks at this unconventional design choice, and the legacy of that furniture.

March 5 - 99% Invisible

<em>Grist</em> delves into the responses and repercussions of a recent <em>New York Times</em> story about contaminated water in Pittsburgh caused by a method of extracting natural gas known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking.

March 5 - Grist

A new gondola cable car system is opening in a Rio de Janeiro slum to improve accessibility.

March 5 - Wired

Streetfilms takes a look at the growing trend of car sharing as part of its series on cities moving beyond the automobile.

March 5 - Streetfilms