The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
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The NIMBY Brain, and the Abstraction of Global Warming
<p> You may have noticed that over the past few years we've learned a lot more about how the brain works. This is mostly due to advances in functional neuroimaging (fMRI), which makes brain scanning much less onerous and dangerous (no radiation involved). Researchers are using this new access to the brain to send it through various puzzles and thoughts and seeing where and how the brain reacts. </p> <p> Josh Greene is an assistant professor at Harvard, and he has used his research to explore questions of moral judgement and decisionmaking. One puzzle he's looked at is called the "Trolley Problem." Here's the setup: </p>
DJ BLDGBLOG
Geoff Manaugh of <em>BLDGBLOG</em> joins WFMU's DJ/Rupture as a guest selecter, offering some musical picks and discussion about the architecture of sound -- and the sound of architecture.
Watching Water Loss Via Satellite
NASA satellites have tracked the loss of water in California's Central Valley over the past few years, and finds that drought coupled with over-irrigation are stressing the state's supplies.
From Brothel to Floodplain
A floodplain on the Truckee River -- the original site of a famous Nevada brothel -- is being restored to its natural state.
All You Need is Louvre
A war-battered town in Frances will be the site of a new extension of the venerable Louvre museum, and locals hope the addition of the cultural site will revive the struggling city.
Life is a Two-Way Street
Vancouver, Washington's Main St. had languished for years, until city officials turned the street back to two-way traffic. Everyone was surprised at how much difference it made.
China Clamping Down on Home Flippers
The Chinese government has announced their intention to increase the stock of affordable housing and tax homes sold within five years or less of purchase.
Seattle's Big Dig Controversy
Seattle's new mayor come January, Mike McGinn, a former Sierra Club activist, withdrew his campaign threat to veto the highway tunnel planned to replace the Alaska Way Viaduct.
Privatization of City Services, or Tax for the Public Good?
That's the decision cities face, says columnist John Gurda, and his hope is that Americans will reinvest in the common good through effective taxation.
The City Solution to Climate Change
In this commentary from the UN climate talks in Copenhagen, <em>Worldchanging</em>'s Alex Steffen looks beyond the quick fixes and geoengineering and notes that making cities more sustainable will help fight climate change.
The Trouble With Modeling the Future
Demographic modeling is a critical tool in urban planning. But what happens when the model is wrong?
Home Loan Program Fueled Foreclosure Boom in Cleveland
In trying to turn people into homeowners, the city of Cleveland's participation in a federally-funded home loan program greatly exacerbated its foreclosure crisis.
The Longest and Most Frustrating Commutes
This chart from <em>The Economist</em> lists how frustrated international workers are with the commute times in their countries. The U.S. ranks surprisingly low.
'A Palace for the Age of Towering Debt and Easy Credit'
<em>Los Angeles Times</em> architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne offers a take on Las Vegas' new CityCenter mega project, highlighting the project's faux-urbanism and what in the end is disappointingly conservative architecture.
Beloved Bicycles, in Oil and Acrylic
Artist Taliah Lampert paints portraits of bicycles, particularly well-used and loved bikes. She sees them as symbols of freedom and empowerment.
Counting Bikes in Copenhagen
Streetsfilm reports from Copenhagen during the UN climate summit, looking at the city's innovative bicycle infrastructure, including a prominent bicycle counter next to a lane to inspire civic pride.
Boxcars Getting in the Way of High-Speed Rail
In Chicago, plans to make passenger and commuter trains faster are limited by the freight trains that share the tracks. The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) is working to improve that relationship.
Historic Preservation vs. Revitalization?
In Willmar, Minnesota, city officials were not pleased when a mandated environmental review concluded that the 68-year old airport building they wanted to demolish was historically significant.
Streetcars: Old is New Again in Rockford
Rockford, Illinois used to have a system of streetcars, interurban rail and long-distance passenger trains like many cities. Planners now say the time is right to consider rebuilding.
Rivers Reworked in South Korea
South Korean officials have begun work on a $19.2 billion effort to remake the country's four largest rivers. The project would slightly reshape the rivers and add towns and bike trails to their waterfronts.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
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
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
