The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

I.M. Pei's 1964 redesign of Oklahoma City involved the destruction of more than 500 buildings. It was abandoned in the 80s. A model now on display reveals the modernist ideal that Pei envisioned and eventually failed to inspire redevelopment.

May 8 - The Oklahoman

Edward L. Glaeser says that the government policy of encouraging homeownership through tax breaks subsidizes Americans to buy bigger homes which waste energy.

May 8 - The Boston Globe

Two major reports released in the last couple of weeks detail very different approaches to fixing the highway system in the U.S. At the National Journal, experts weigh in on who has the right approach.

May 8 - National Journal Online

Peter Harnik, director of the Center for City Park Excellence at the Trust for Public Land, believes that formulas for how much parkland cities and neighborhoods cause more harm than good.

May 7 - NRDC Blog

Marketplace reports on the parking market from NYC. Peak hour parking is being applied on Sixth Ave in Greenwich Village as a trial to increase parking availability and decrease congestion. Due to positive results, it's now being tried in Brooklyn.

May 7 - Marketplace (American Public Media - Radio)

Jeffrey Simpson argues that, in most policy areas that matter to Canadians, the federal government is doing almost nothing, while provinces and cities are moving ahead with innovation in energy, climate change and transportation.

May 7 - The Globe and Mail

Blair Kamin applauds a new plaza at the Trump International Hotel + Tower, and calls an aging public space nearby 'an eyesore.'

May 7 - The Chicago Tribune

Across the country, grey-to-green transformations are in the works, capping freeways to reconnect neighborhoods with urban parks.

May 7 - USA Today

Former Planetizen managing editor Christian Madera proposes that videoconferencing could revolutionize the public meeting because the entire proceedings could be "broken up and digitized."

May 7 - Next American City

"Participatory Chinatown" is a computer game designed to increase public participation in the planning process in Boston.

May 7 - The Boston Globe

Filmmaker Keiichi Matsuda imagines a future where augmented reality is everywhere, blanketing the built environment with advertising and interactive elements.

May 7 - Vimeo

The Deepwater Horizon disaster presents President Obama with an opportunity to "move boldly" on alternative energy, writes Bill McKibben.

May 7 - AlterNet

Patrik Schumacher of Zaha Hadid Architects argues that the unified style of architecture for the 21st century will be 'parametricism'.

May 7 - The Architect's Journal

A growing grassroots effort for community-building is to build brick ovens in vacant lots to encourage gatherings. Kyla Fullenwider of GOOD gives step-by-step instructions for putting one in your neighborhood.

May 6 - GOOD Magazine

Three planners and the zoning administrator in San Francisco's Planning Department are accused of circulating raunchy emails around the office and are at risk of losing their jobs.

May 6 - SF Weekly

With a plan to distribute $775 million in federal funding for urban bus projects, <em>Next American City</em>'s Yonah Freemark suggests using it to fund projects like Cleveland's Healthline BRT.

May 6 - Next American City

The Atlanta City Council voted unanimously to approve a 30-day moratorium on enforcing the city's privately managed parking meters.

May 6 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In the wake of an attempted car bombing in New York City's Times Square, officials are calling for the expanded use of security cameras throughout Manhattan.

May 6 - Agence France Presse

Everyone wants street trees, but roots can tear up sidewalks and cause pedestrians to trip. John Olson has the infrastructure solution.

May 6 - EV Studio

The city of Vancouver is looking to expand its bike network with the proposal of a $25 million investment in bicycle infrastructure over the next two years.

May 6 - The Vancouver Sun