The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Suburbia Isn't The Problem
John Jensen at the Seattle Transit blog makes a persuasive argument that the suburbs themselves aren't the problem - depedency on the automobile is.
Paris Plans for Power From Hydroliennes Beneath The Seine
This week, Paris City Hall is launching an appeal to find power companies able to install eight 'hydroliennes' underneath the Seine's celebrated bridges. French power company EDF has already declared the plan interesting.
Are College Graduates Worth It?
Vincent Valk looks at the dogged pursuit by cities for new college graduates, and asks if that strategy really pays off in the end.
Jan Gehl's Ten Principals For Liveability
Kaid Benfield introduces Jan Gehl and Walter Hook's principals to promote "environmentally sustainable and socially equitable transportation worldwide."
Baltimore Points The Way Forward For Urban Renewal
Neal Peirce describes how Baltimore's first mixed income neighborhood since WWII is taking shape on the east side just north of the Johns Hopkins campus.
FEATURE
Placemaking for Pot Smoking
Potential legalization of marijuana presents California cities the chance to do a different type of 'greening.' Josh Stephens reports on the land use challenges of regulating California's most lucrative crop.
Southern States Lagging in Energy Efficiency
The South eats up more resources than the rest of the U.S., says reporter Elizabeth Daigneau. With 36% of the U.S. population, the South uses 44% of the nation's energy consumption.
Court Allows Use of Eminent Domain in University Expansion
New York's Court of Appeals overturned an earlier decision that prevented Columbia University from using eminent domain to build an extension of their campus.
Homes Shrink As Lower-Priced Homes Sales Surge
More first-time, energy-conscious, urban home buyers with smaller households have contributed to a noticeable reduction in home size as shown in 2008-2009 housing Census data. Concurrently, lower-priced home sales outpaced more expensive homes.
Illegal NYC Commuter Vans Could Become Legitimate
Private transit in the form of livery vans are now sanctioned as part of a year long pilot pushed by Mayor Bloomberg that will compete with public bus and taxi for areas not well-served by the city's extensive, but hard-hit transit network.
Battle Over Closure of Paris Expressways
A political battle is brewing in Paris, where the city's mayor wants to close off sections of roadway along the River Seine, a move that President Nicholas Sarkozy is against.
An Indianapolis Aerotropolis
Planners in Indianapolis have revealed plans for an "aerotropolis" to develop around the city's international airport.
Wal-Mart Gains Foothold In Lucrative Urban Market
Wal-Mart is succeeding in convincing Chicago politicians that it will create sustainable "employment and revenue for the city." The predominantly suburban-based supercenter chain is trying to move into denser urban areas.
Affordable Housing Makes Life - Well, Affordable
Households that are given affordable housing have more money to spend, which can bring more money into the economy, according to a new study from the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy.
Retailers No Longer Asking for Help
Mall operators across the country were getting requests for rent relief during the economic downturn, but in a sign of possible recovery, the requests have mostly dried up.
CalTrans Shells Out $17 Million to Rename Pasadena Freeway
The first freeway in California is being renamed back to its original designation, the 'Arroyo Seco Parkway.' Known more recently as simply 'the 110,' it was considered a "marvel of engineering," when construction began in 1938.
Priority Seating for Chatters
A public art project that appeared in Brisbane, Australia proposes a "priority seating area for people who want conversation" in order to encourage friendly chatter on public buses.
Reshuffle at L.A. Planning Department
With fewer staff members to cover the workload, L.A. is redefining planners' roles, including a change that will make planners more community-focused and less centralized.
Suburbs Lag As Urban Core Mark Population Gains
William Frey of Brookings Institution analyzes census data from 2008-2009 in a WSJ economics blog that unmistakably shows a reduction of growth within suburban parts of metro areas while the cities in metro areas have increased in population.
MTA Drops Two NYC Subway Lines
In the face of an $800 million budget gap, the MTA just blinked, closing the W and V lines on Friday night. More than 30 bus routes are also scheduled to close in an effort to save $93 million.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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