The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Measuring the Legacy and Risks of South Africa's World Cup

As South Africa prepares to host the soccer World Cup, questions remain about whether the estimated $6 billion investment will be worth it. Some say those questions won't be answered for years.

May 28 - Sports Illustrated

Looking Forward to the Future in Columbus

Like Daniel Burnham's famous Chicago plan, a bold plan for Columbus, Ohio has been proposed by the Columbus Downtown Development Corp. The plan, developed by consultant MSI Design, hearkens back to turn-of-the-century city plans that went unrealized.

May 27 - The Columbus Dispatch

Pennsylvania's Infrastructure Report Card - Not Good

Pennsylvania's roads, bridges, transit, and water infrastructure received near-failing grades according to a American Society of Civil Engineers' "2010 Report Card for Pennsylvania's Infrastructure" and the DOT rebuffed the state's tolling solution.

May 27 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Feds Should Shore Up Coasts to Fight Climate Change

Former Interior secretary Bruce Babbitt believes that the federal government needs to create a new agency to do the planning necessary to prepare the coastline for rising waters due to climate change.

May 27 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy blog

Towering TOD Proposed For Vancouver: City Unsure

A 30-story residential building will be at the core of a transit-oriented development project at Canada Line's Marine Drive Station in Vancouver.

May 27 - The Vancouver Sun


In Reusing Infrastructure, D.C. Should Look to NYC

Columnist Roger K. Lewis says Washington D.C. has a lot to learn from New York City in terms of reusing old and outdated infrastructure.

May 27 - The Washington Post

Saudi Arabia Looks to Build Major Rail Hub in Capital

Officials in the Saudi capital of Riyadh are planning to build a central rail hub with an annual passenger capacity of more than 800,000. The station is expected to be complete by 2013.

May 27 - Building


Troubled Times for Philadelphia's Underfunded Parks

With one of Philadelphia's best-supported public parks in danger of losing the private funding that keeps it maintained, <em>Philadelphia Inquirer</em> architecture critic Inga Saffron looks at the sad state of the city's parks.

May 27 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Americans Driving at 2005 Levels

Americans are driving fewer miles than they were a year ago, despite an improving economy. Some say the American demand for oil will be low throughout the rest of this year.

May 27 - USA Today

Denver's Form-Based Code Closer to Approval

Five years in the works, Denver's new zoning code has been introduced. The form-based code now faces a period of public input before its expected approval.

May 27 - The Denver Daily News

Charlotte's Light Rail Extension Faces Decade of Delay

Plans to expand Charlotte's CATS light rail system to a nearby university could be delayed by a decade or more.

May 27 - The Charlotte Observer

FEATURE

Parks, Playgrounds and Physical Activity

May 27 - Tim Halbur

Richard Florida Picks the Top Cities for College Graduates

Richard Florida and his team have ranked the Best Places for Recent College Grads using nine different indicators, including the number of singles, unemployment rate, rental housing stock, and of course, creative capital.

May 26 - The Daily Beast

London Mayor Seeks to Downsize Congestion Charge Area

London Mayor Boris Johnson is proposing a plan to scrap the extension of the city's congestion charge in the west, instituted by his predecessor. Some say the city's air pollution and congestion improvements will be lost.

May 26 - Guardian

Development Proposed Near Wrigley Field Not As Bad As Feared

A proposed hotel, apartment and retail complex right across from Chicago's Wrigley Field has many in the city up in arms about what they fear will be just another shopping mall ruining the area's urban feel. But those fears are unfounded.

May 26 - Chicago Tribune

Funding for Washington DC H Street Streetcar Line Pulled at 11th Hour

The Washington DC City Council voted Wednesday to approve a FY2011 budget which strips nearly all the funding to complete the H Street-Benning Road streetcar line. The line is partially complete, and several streetcars have already been purchased.

May 26 - Greater Greater Washington

City Makes Street Intervention Permanent

An activist project in Dallas, Texas turned an auto-oriented block into a pedestrian paradise, envisioning what could be with a little paint and fake lampposts. The city listened, and is now working to make the change permanent.

May 26 - CoolTown Studios

The Big Hair Express

As a stunt to attract more riders, the New Jersey Transit Authority is giving away tickets to see Bon Jovi live at the New Meadowlands Stadium, which is accessible by transit, of course.

May 26 - RTT News

Sesame Street = Bad Urbanism?

People always think that because he advocates for better public spaces and density that Bill Lindeke wants something like the closely-knit community of Sesame Street. Step back, says Lindeke.

May 26 - twin city sidewalks

Small Wind Turbines Making Big Inroads

A new report from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) says that the number of small wind turbines in the U.S. has grown considerably over the last year, adding 20 megawatts of production.

May 26 - CNET

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