The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Feds to Invest $4.25 Billion in Rental Housing
The Obama Administration has announced a plan to invest $4.25 billion of stimulus money to build low-income rental housing.
Recasting the Station as the Neighborhood Nucleus
Zoning changes around the train station in New Carrollton, Maryland seek to redefine the city into a more vibrant, walkable area. The changes have received preliminary approval.
Can Infill Save Beijing?
After an unstoppable run of megaprojects being built with an eye on the Olympics, architects are now designing smaller, human-scale projects in between the cracks.
The Most Expensive Cities in the World
This photo slideshow from the <em>Los Angeles Times</em> looks at the 10 most expensive cities in the world.
Prince Charles Fails to Stop Modern Building
In a location near St. Paul's Cathedral, a new self-proclaimed "ultra-modernist" office and shopping complex is going up, despite the efforts of the Prince of Wales behind the scenes to squelch the project.
Solar Bus Shelters Debut
San Francisco has begun installing 1,200 new bus shelters that incorporate a solar array on the roof to power an LED display showing bus arrival times.
Renting the American Dream
Home ownership remains a major part of the American dream. But more and more people are beginning to question the wisdom of investing in a home and are leaning towards renting.
BLOG POST
New urbanists and old-fashioned Jews
<p> A few years ago, someone asked me the following question (loosely paraphrased) on a listserv: “Since the most tradition-minded* religious Jews are required by Jewish law to walk to synagogue on Sabbaths and holy days (and thus presumably prize walkability) why aren’t they a major market for new urbanist developments?” At the time, I didn’t have a coherent answer. But now that I know more about both traditional Jews and new urbanism, I do. </p>
The Costs and Benefits of the Canada Line
A new rail line connecting Vancouver to its airport is highly anticipated in the region. The costs and construction disturbances, are causing some concern, however.
The Shifting Tide of Public and Private Space
In Malibu, CA, private property extends to the high tide waterline, where public land begins. An unofficial group of "urban rangers" is giving tours and dance performances along that line to explore the absurdity.
Building Communities With Legos and Plastic Bottles
GOOD Magazine follows planner James Rojas as he engages a community in the act of planning in his own particular fashion, using everyday objects and building blocks.
Don't Just Blame the Cyclists
In response to the Vancouver Sun's recent editorial chastising cyclists for blocking traffic with Critical Mass rides, Gary Engle declares that the op-ed didn't go far enough: there are lots of other villains responsible for causing traffic chaos.
Feeding the World in 2050
Growing populations and diminishing land will make feeding people a challenge in the near future. This piece from <em>Popular Science</em> looks at eight strategies to keep the world fed.
First Small-Scale Urban Wind Turbines Rising
Developers in Portland has begun installation of a set of wind turbines atop a new tower in downtown Portland.
The Future of the Human Relationship with the City
A recent episode of the Australian radio program <em>Future Tense</em> examines how humans interact with the city and how it will likely change in the future.
The Problem With Coal
In his new book,<em> Big Coal: The Dirty Secret Behind America’s Energy Future,</em> author Jeff Goodell uncovers the damage the coal industry has done to America's landscape.
Homeless Shelters Go Unregulated
In Louisville, Kentucky, urban planning professor John Gilderbloom decries the lack of regulations on homeless shelters in the area.
A Survey of American Drinking Fountains
Public drinking fountains are a useful if underappreciated urban amenity. <em>The New York Times</em> asked eight illustrators around the U.S. to watch one fountain in their cities and report back.
Recovery Through Self-Discovery
Some economists are starting to believe that the U.S. is on its way to economic recovery. But recovery from what, asks William Shutkin in this piece. He suggests the recovery should really be a discovery of better ways of developing and using land.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
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Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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.
