The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

In a professional critique of his master plan for the new town of Poundbury in England - one of the first new towns under Prince Charles' Foundation for the Built Environment - Leon Krier reveals that the plan was 'meant to be boring'.

November 10 - bd

Portland's Pioneer Square, designed back in 1983, is still looked t as a model of successful public space design. Landscape Architect Doug Macy looks back on the thought that went into the design.

November 10 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Afraid of losing their investment in a down market, homeowners aren't moving out of their neighborhoods - even if their jobs do.

November 10 - The Christian Science Monitor

FEATURE

If the Frederick Law Olmsted of 1857 offered to plan and manage your city’s central park, you probably wouldn’t hire him. The 35-year-old then was a farmer, journalist and former sailor with no formal training in architecture, engineering or any related field. Though he didn’t have much technical expertise, he had great leadership skills. Those gave him the opportunity to succeed, and helped him become successful, according to Leonardo Vazquez.

November 10 - Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP

Despite the reduction in oil consumption caused by the global recession, the world faces a duel energy-environmental crisis of an oil shortage and climate crisis, according to the World Energy Outlook written by the International Energy Agency.

November 10 - The New York Times

Researchers in Scotland have concluded that areas without parks and green space have an increased risk of death and illness.

November 9 - BBC News

Lofts and ground floor retail envelop a new Lowe's store in Charlotte, forming a buffer between the large store and the surrounding Dilworth neighborhood.

November 9 - The Charlotte Observer

Where traditional shopping malls were all about creating retail-only internal spaces, new retail developments are mixing uses and returning to the street.

November 9 - Building Design

Transportation officials in Britain have announced plans for a road pricing system that tracks drivers' mileage to determine charges.

November 9 - The Times

Effective planning creates harmonious environments, according to this piece from <em>Xinhua</em>. Most Chinese planners, the author argues, have not embraced this idea.

November 9 - Xinhua

BLOG POST

<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: small; font-family: Times New Roman">Some things are so very bad that they are good, for the sake of amusement and as examples to avoid. Of course, everybody makes mistakes, but some massive disasters involve so many errors by so many people that onlookers can also wonder, “What were they thinking?!”</span> </p>

November 8 - Todd Litman

The politicians name-checked 'clean coal' throughout the campaign. Has coal really cleaned up its act?

November 8 - Inhabitat

Two traffic engineers in Los Angeles hacked into a traffic light control system with the intent to influence upcoming contract negotiations.

November 8 - Los Angeles Times

A future housing development is planned next to Vancouver's GM Place Stadium. 'It’s certainly different than the livability we’ve stressed elsewhere,'says Planning Director Brent Toderian.

November 8 - Straight.com

This article looks at the concept of "planning gain" -- in which cities gain amenities as concessions for allowing big developments -- and finds that the benefits are often outweighed.

November 8 - Evening Standard

The age of sprawl is ending in Atlanta, according to Christopher Leinberger, who highlights the city's move towards a more dense, walkable future.

November 8 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In Swansea, U.K., planners requested a translation via email of a road sign into Welsh. What they got back was not quite what they expected.

November 7 - BBC News

Not one board member of the Metrolink in Southern California is an everyday rider. But is it so bad that these members, usually politicians, are calling the shots?

November 7 - Los Angeles Times

Puget Sound voters strongly supported Sound Transit's sales tax measure to expand public transit while Washington state voters overwhelmingly rejected an Eyeman initiative to allow solo motorists to use carpool lanes during off-peak hours.

November 7 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Bill Fulton writes that despite the real estate downtown, the slow-growth side won most California land-use measures on Tuesday's ballot. But public transit did well.

November 7 - California Planning & Development Report