The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Biden Bodes Well for Rail
Transit supporters may have reason to rejoice in the selection of Sen. Joe Biden as Obama's V.P. pick.
The Future of the Electric Car
Shai Agassi, who's not quite the household name T. Boone Pickens is, has an even more radical plan to end the planet's oil addiction.
Buildings With Living Skins
Giant video screens and lighting displays are changing the face of buildings, but the content has not caught up to the technology. Peter Hall of Design Institute proposes that these displays could reflect the inner life of the buildings and the city.
Cities React as Drivers Become Cyclists
Across the country, cities are trying to figure out how to handle the rising tide of cyclists riding through their streets. A common reaction is to offer classes on safe cycling.
Shifting Back to the City
The suburbs draw on Americans may be dwindling, according to this column from Neal Peirce. But, he argues, this shift doesn't mean the end of suburban living.
Vancouver May Be Livable, But It's Not Happy
This article from <em>Vancouver Magazine</em> looks at a recent study naming the livable and oft-envied city home to some of the least happy Canadians and asks why a great city has unhappy people.
Behind the Scenes at the L.A. Subway
Josh Stephens illuminates the debate on subway expansion plans in Los Angeles and the forces on all sides.
Should Drivers Pay For Climate Protection?
AAA and the Chamber of Commerce fight environmentalists and transit planners who want to allow California voters to decide to add regional driver’s fees, either variable registration surcharges or new gas taxes, to fund climate protection measures.
Mending Columbia's Urban Fabric
The mayor of Columbia, SC proposes turning the city's main street from an eight-lane freeway into a more comfortable place to walk. Says a supporter, 'Bridging that street is important for future development in the Vista and Main Street.'
BLOG POST
Last Days of a Way of Life
<p> This summer I cycled through beautiful countryside, saw impressive ruins, visited old churches, travelled through small towns and met friendly people. I also saw communities, deprived of their purpose, coping with decline. I may have even seen the last days of a way of life. (See for youself, in this issue of <a href="http://www.pricetags.ca/pricetags/pricetags105.pdf" title="Price Tags 105">Price Tags</a>.) </p> <p> This was Upstate New York State, along the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany – an experience that rivaled any bike tour I could have taken in Europe. For it was there that I saw one of the wonders of the world. </p> <p> The Erie Canal was certainly that. </p>
The 250 Sq. Ft. Condo
Technically these are SROs- Single Room Occupancy units, but it's a spanking new building, cafe below, in the vibrant SoMa district, starting at only $279,000. The catch: some units are only 250 sq.ft.
Farm Resists Encroaching Sprawl
Development encroaches on one of the last family farms in Orem, Utah. Now the Cook Family Farm intends to stand their ground in the face of new city mandates and developer pressure.
Restaurants Draw Crowds, Even As Retail is Hit By Economic Woes
Restaurants are now a better draw than retail in a tough economy, and new retail centers are upping their percentage of eating places to follow suit.
New Daleville, Witold Rybczynski's Subject, is Failing
Witold Rybczynski wrote <em>The Last Harvest</em> about a new development being created in an exurban cornfield. NPR visits the half-finished community with Witold, which is suffering from the economic crisis.
Two Men Banned from Natl. Parks for Correcting Grammar
Two men calling themselves the Typo Eradication Advancement League drove around the country fixing typos on signage in national parks- until the park service caught them defacing a historic marker in the Grand Canyon.
FEATURE
The Social Functions of NIMBYism
Assessing NIMBYism: not just its agonies but also its value in democratizing land use planning decisions, and concluding with constructive advice on how to make the most of this painful but inescapable feature of the development landscape.
Beyond LEED: Buildings That Give Back
A handful of thinkers and architects are pushing past LEED requirements to design buildings that generate more energy than they use.
Where the Subway Ends
The New York Times surveys the end of every subway line in the city, from Ozone Park to Coney Island. At most stops, they find a gritty existence. A beautiful page of photos accompanies the article.
Should Industrial Neighborhoods Be Made 'Livable'?
With the success of livability efforts in Minneapolis, efforts are underway to do the same for the Hiawatha light rail corridor. But active industry and historically significant grain silos create a challenge for new development.
Concentrating Solar
Concentrating solar, or 'solar thermal', is an old technology getting an update as solar power spreads across the Southwest.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
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.
