The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Locking Trash Bins to Thwart Scavengers
Residents of Santa Ana neighborhood are locking up their trash bins, hoping to eliminate the noise and trouble brought by scavengers.
Parkour Enthusiasts Rediscover The American City
While urbanists have long used the built environment as their playground, the French sport of parkour is connecting residents of America's cities to their surroundings in a new, if not extreme manner.
FEATURE
Masterplanning the Architecture of the Near Future
As the population rises, underused and empty spaces are going to fill in. How well the transition works depends on shifts in demographics and infrastructure, as well as architecture. A studio of UCLA architecture students were asked to plot that transition. But before they could be architects, they had to be planners.
How are Cities Experiencing the Recession?
A new Brookings Institution study shows that American cities are experiencing the recession at "radically varying levels."
Return of the Pedicab
The City of Los Angeles is writing a proposal to bring pedicabs back to the streets.
"Grow Smart Bay Area" Report Released
With great fanfare, the Bay Area's Greenbelt Alliance has released a new report, "Grow Smart Bay Area", the premise being that future population and job growth can be accommodated by infill and by doing so, will add to the region's sustainability.
BLOG POST
Athletes (Like Stallworth) Are Not The Only Ones Who Get Off Easy
<p> If you watched or read the news yesterday, then you likely came across <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090616/ap_on_re_us/fbn_stallworth_pedestrian_killed">the sentencing of Donte Stallworth</a>. Previously known (maybe) for being an NFL role player, Stallworth will serve a 30 day sentence for hitting and killing a pedestrian named Mario Reyes while driving intoxicated here in Miami Beach. The typical sentence for such an offense in Florida is 4 to 15 years. Stallworth will be released just in time for his NFL training camp. </p> <p> How convenient. </p>
Renewable Energy System is on the Way
President Obama plans to spend billions on building an interstate highway-style system for energy.
The Sludge Threat
Coal ash retention ponds are so numerous and so toxic that they are now considered to be a potential threat to national security.
US-Arab Annual Cities Forum Next Week
Next week, the Greater Amman Municipality will host activities of the 2nd US-Arab Forum, which will last from June 22 to June 24.
Residency Requirements Struck Down
A state supreme court ruling will prevent the city of Cleveland from requiring its employees to live within the city limits. City leaders fear neighborhoods will decline, while some firefighters and other city employees say they'll stick around.
No Reckless Walking on the Tracks!
Officials are trying to regulate jaywalking of the residents of East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights about reckless walking and driving on the tracks.
Height Ordinance: A Broader Issue
South Walton is considering pass a height ordinance to limit the buildings to 50 feet.
Urban gardens provide food to Philadelphia residents
Mini-farms across the city boost neighborhood appearances, help low-income residents in tough economic times
BLOG POST
Remembering Canada's Greatest Architect
<span style="font-size: x-small"> <p> This weekend, friends, family, colleagues and admirers got together to celebrate the life, and mourn the death, of a man many consider to be the most talented architect Canada has ever produced. Frank Gehry may have been born in Canada, but Arthur Erickson began, remained and died a great Canadian. He was also one of the World's architectural greats, and a "citizen of the World". </p>
The Mathematics of Traffic
A study from MIT's Department of Mathematics provides new means of understanding how traffic jams form.
Infill is Standard Operating Procedure
The U.S. Bureau of the Census is producing new data that shows how infill development is affecting urban areas. Wendell Cox says that the new data shows that infill has been happening since 1960 with or without mandates.
Letting Nature Take its Course
Facing urban decline and abandonment, a growing list of U.S. cities may be dramatically accelerating the process by returning vast swathes of land to nature.
Well-Designed Prison, Well-Behaved Prisoners
A prison design in Austria that emphasizes inmate comfort and dignity raises questions about the role architecture and design plays in preventing or encouraging more crime.
Neighbors Team Up To Build Community Garden
Residents in an Oxnard neighborhood install a community garden which will provide them with fruits and vegetables.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.
