The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Vancouver's Olympic Village Going Green, Hopefully
Vancouver is hoping to build the greenest Olympic Village yet as it prepares to host the 2010 Winter games. But there are some challenges facing the ambitious plans.
GE's Home of the Future
General Electric has released a design for a Home of the Future, which is planned to be almost completely energy-neutral. As GOOD Magazine notes, the house is almost overloaded with gadgets to get you there.
Dealing With Vacant Mansions in London
In a posh borough of London, empty homes are causing problems for officials, who are tasked with finding the owners of these vacant or abandoned mansions.
Congressmen Propose Water Trust Fund
A group of U.S. representatives has proposed the creation of a national trust fund for water infrastructure in the U.S.
Wayfinding in the City
A review of <em>The Wayfinding Handbook: Information Design for Public Places</em> by David Gibson finds it rich with great ideas for designing new systems, but lacking in ideas for fixing old ones.
BLOG POST
Sorting Out Sonia Sotomayor
<p> According to the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/27/AR2009062702476.html?hpid=topnews">Washington Post</a>, 62% of Americans think Sonia Sotomayor should be confirmed for the U.S Supreme Court because she is “about right” ideologically. The question is, how good will she be for municipal attorneys? </p>
Soaking Up Runoff For a Greener Street
The city of Santa Monica has just unveiled its first segment of green street, one where rainwater runoff seeps into porous pavement and landscaping.
Officials Protest as Wal-Mart Encroaches on Civil War Site
Plans to build a Wal-Mart and parking lot near a historic Civil War battlefield has spurred a bi-partisan protest from Virginia's top officials.
Prayer at City Council
The ACLU and local clergy are fighting over the prayers recited at City Council meetings in San Marcos, Texas, near Austin.
CA's Top Cities for Solar
Environment California has released a study that shows significant growth in the state's solar power construction, and ranks cities by how many solar roofs they have. San Diego is tops.
Make No Big Plans
Salon's Michael Lind argues that attempts to create "comprehensive reform" of anything is a recipe for disaster.
New Eco-Town Plans Meet NIMBY Resistance
The UK government recently announced the sites of four new planned "eco-towns". But local opposition to the projects remains high.
A Bus-Powering, Rider-Paying Bike Share System
A new city bike sharing design concept not only gives people access to bikes, but also provides power for the local bus system and even pays riders to do it.
BLOG POST
Design our industrial future
I <a href="/node/38510">previously lamented</a> the apparent death of industrial use in our cities by the widespread application of terms like “post-industrial” and “rust-belt.”<span> </span>While semantics is an issue, let’s not forget that design matters and, in terms of industrial use, it hasn’t seemed to matter enough in recent years.<span> </span><span> </span> <p> In times past, industrial use was often a form of pride.<span> </span>Many of the hulking, multi-story industrial buildings in older cities are (still) beautiful additions to our cityscapes.<span> </span>In some cities, those that went vacant have spawned a new form of <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20090301_Eploring_abandoned_industrial_hulks.html?viewAll=y">urban scavenge hunting</a> by those seeking to fuel their appreciation for our industrial past through photography and exploration.<span> </span>Think as well of the <a href="http://vintagraph.com/wpa-posters/health-and-safety-posters/">WPA posters</a>, many of which used stylized industrial themes to promote our “American” identity.<span> </span> </p>
Urban Bees in Brooklyn
Beekeeping is on the rise in urban areas, despite laws to the contrary. Some beekeepers are concerned about the decline in bee populations and are doing their part to change that- other see it as a way to nurture local food movements.
London Transit Guru Moves to New York's MTA
An American-born transit planner who help usher in congestion pricing and smart transit card technology in London has been nominated to chair New York's transit system.
Making Property Owners Pay for Sidewalks
Los Angeles sidewalks are in an advanced state of disrepair, with little to no funds available. A new proposal in front of the city council puts the burden on new property buyers.
Historic Preservation for Tract Homes?
A resident of a Rancho Palos Verdes, CA development of 262 tract homes designed by Paul R. Williams, the first African-American architect in the AIA, is seeking an historic preservation measure to protect the 1950s-era homes.
Canada Finds Electric Car Infrastructure Already In Place
In the cold climes of Canada, parking lots come equipped with 120-volt outlets to keep engine blocks warm. Planners see these outlets as a stepping stone to a future of electric cars for the country.
LA the "Meanest City"?
A new report on how cities criminalize the practices used by homeless people to get by on a daily basis names Los Angeles as the country's "meanest city" for its "Safer City Initiative."
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
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.
