The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

France's highest court dealt an 'unexpected and embarrassing blow' to French President Nicolas Sarkozy by ruling his carbon tax, set to take effect on New Year's, unconstitutional on Dec. 30.

January 4 - The Guardian U.K.

BLOG POST

<p class="MsoNormal">With vacations upon us many students have been asking me what they should read over the winter break. Certainly it is possible to catch up with planning <a href="/node/31384" target="_blank">classics </a>and <a href="/node/33755" target="_blank">thought-provoking books</a><a href="/node/33755" target="_blank"> </a>and several earlier blogs have highlighted these options. However,for those wanting to escape and learn something as well, a number of mystery authors write books that both investigate crimes and evoke a sense of place. The following list highlights just some of this range—there are hundreds more of course (and if you scroll for the bottom you will find links to other lists).

January 4 - Ann Forsyth

Thorium is much cleaner, more efficient and safe than uranium, and doesn't leave any waste that can be weaponized. Could a thorium-based nuclear power industry save the U.S.?

January 4 - Wired

Landscape designer Julie Moir Messervy collaborated with cellist Yo-Yo Ma to design a waterfront park in Toronto. Bach's First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello served as inspiration.

January 4 - ASLA's The Dirt blog

New regulations in Virginia limiting their use may be the death knell for cul-de-sacs. Planners and developers debate their worth, but new studies show they aren't cost effective for cities, or even as safe as assumed.

January 4 - Fast Company

While the U.S. has its infamous Single Room Occupancy hotels, Tokyo has its "capsule" hotels - making SROs appear downright spacious by comparison. This article and accompanying slide show looks at life for one resident of Capsule Hotel Shinjuku 510.

January 4 - The New York Times - Global Business

New London, Connecticut was dealt a major blow when pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced plans to pack up and leave the heavily city-subsidized building New London had lured the company with. Bill Fulton looks at the impact of the move.

January 4 - Governing

FEATURE

January 4 - Vinayak Bharne

Bryan Finoki looks at the devastated cities of Detroit and New Orleans and finds "blueprints for the manufacture of ruin".

January 4 - Triple Canopy

Preservation groups and land trusts are beneficiaries of the economic recession, as prices on land have dropped low enough for many to buy up land for conservation purposes.

January 3 - The New York Times

This discussion from <em>TED</em> looks at the ancient water engineering techniques used in the Golden Desert of India, and argues that these centuries-old methods offer lessons for water planners today.

January 3 - TED

A growing number of universities are offering programs in urban sustainability studies, including Tufts, New York City College and the University of Colorado.

January 3 - The New York Times

<em>Curbed LA</em> takes an amusing look at the urban planning proposals that bubbled up in L.A. throughout 2009.

January 3 - Curbed LA

After an extended history of favoring rural areas over metropolitan ones, The World Bank appears to be changing course.

January 3 - Citiwire.net

Universities bordering impoverished neighborhoods can do more to improve living conditions, according to the founders of LIFT, a group that trains volunteers. The group is featured on this week's episode of <em>Smart City</em>.

January 2 - Smart City

A group of historians and urban enthusiasts have developed a successful tourist organization that explores the underground structures and spaces of Berlin.

January 2 - The New York Times

<em>Change Observer</em> interviews Casey Jones, the director of design excellence and the arts for the U.S. General Services Administration about green building and sustainability in urban design.

January 2 - Change Observer

Parks officials in San Francisco look to mimic New York City's approach to funding parks through public-private partnerships.

January 2 - San Francisco Chronicle

Portland, Oregon planners are updating the city's zoning to make home improvements for solar panels and eco-roofing easier to do, but some developers think it will actually make things more difficult.

January 2 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Sweetheart deals using public monies to fund stadiums have backfired across the country, causing more drain than gain.

January 1 - The New York Times