The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

'Slumburbia': Exurban Decay Spurred By Mortgage Crisis

<p>The mortgage crisis is devastating many communities far from urban centers, while 'inner cities', regionally speaking, are weathering the financial storm far better thanks to their urban form that makes them attractive to those that can afford them.</p>

March 21 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Will The Atlantic Yards Project Go Bust?

<p>The slowing economy is causing Forest Ratner to re-think buildout plans for their controversial Atlantic Yards development. New York City history tells us it won't be the first time a large scale project goes the way of the economy.</p>

March 21 - The New York Times

Introducing Smart Growth To An Edge City

<p>A new master plan for Los Angeles's Century City attempts to undo some of the shortcomings that typically plague Modernist master-planned edge cities. Its goals include walkability, greening, and a more appealing public realm.</p>

March 21 - Planning Magazine

Domestic Migration Slows Even In Sunbelt Due To Housing Crisis

<p>The nation's housing downturn has spread to the fastest growing counties in the sunbelt, where most saw reduced domestic migration in the year ending July 1, 2007, while more rural counties experienced population losses.</p>

March 21 - USA Today

Rural County Population Nearly Doubled in Less Than a Decade

<p>With a growth rate of more than 75% over the last seven years, Kendall County, Illinois, is changing fast and the local farming community is struggling to adapt.</p>

March 21 - The Associated Press


Comprehensive Tolling Idea Meet Criticism in D.C.

<p>A proposal to place tolls on many of the highways around Washington D.C. is being blasted by critics, who say planners should place more emphasis on providing better transit services than charging commuters left with few options.</p>

March 21 - The Washington Post

Can the Corps Do Enough for New Orleans?

<p>The vast levee system under construction by the Army Corps of Engineers may not be sufficient to protect New Orleans as the climate continues to change.</p>

March 21 - Grist


Biking In Indianapolis Like 'Russian Roulette'

<p>High rates of accidents and few bike lanes make Indianapolis a dangerous place to ride a bike, according to this article.</p>

March 21 - The Indianapolis Star

The Pains of Popularity

<p>San Diego's downtown trolley service is becoming too popular, causing officials to propose equipment upgrades to handle the rising crowds. But the bigger trolleys will take out some car lanes and affect traffic lights, and many are unhappy about it.</p>

March 21 - San Diego City Beat

Oh No, Not Another L.A.

<p>Although Tucson has only about 6 percent of the population of metropolitan Los Angeles, residents of the Arizona city fear California-style sprawl and water problems. So where are Tucson residents looking for answers? That's right, California.</p>

March 20 - California Planning & Development Report

Will the Housing Bubble Swallow the Fed?

<p>J.P. Morgan's federally-back purchase of Bear Stearns holds billions in dubious "mortgage backed securities," and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are pumping hundreds of billions into the market. Time may be running out for the Federal Reserve.</p>

March 20 - The Huffington Post

1960s Lower Manhattan Tower Set To Receive Historic Designation

<p>New York City's 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill in 1961, is likely to receive historic landmark status by The Landmarks Preservation Commission.</p>

March 20 - The New York Times

The Limits of Bicycling in the Power Broker's New York

<p>A 70-year-old document sheds light on the attitude of master builder Robert Moses towards bicycling.</p>

March 20 - Streetsblog

Floodplain Development Plugs On in Missouri

<p>Flooding in the Mississippi River floodplain in Missouri caused federal officials to call for the removal of buildings and homes in the threatened area in 1993. But now, development is being allowed in the same flood-prone areas.</p>

March 20 - Grist

Citizens Hope to Kick Off-Road Park Off Track

<p>Controversy over noise and property values have pitted homeowners against city officials with plans to build an off-road vehicle park in Juneau, Alaska.</p>

March 20 - Juneau Empire

The Movie Star and the Power of Architecture

<p>Actor Brad Pitt's efforts to rebuild housing in New Orleans are not just flashy PR, but rather a reminder that architecture can make a difference, according to this article from <em>Metropolis</em>.</p>

March 20 - Metropolis Magazine

BLOG POST

FCC Rules for Telcos Against Landlords

<p> It's tough to say what the impact of a decision like this is for the US market, where there are already so many obstacles to making money on the last mile. </p>

March 20 - Anthony Townsend

Land Acquired for Flight 93 Memorial

<p>The families of victims of the hijacked September 11 Flight 93 have secured more than 900 acres of land in Pennsylvania for a permanent memorial.</p>

March 20 - The New York Times

Smog Follows Hungary's Appetite for Sprawl

<p>Sprawl around Budapest has created a major smog problem for the Hungarian capital.</p>

March 20 - The Christian Science Monitor

Improving Design Can Improve Interaction

<p>This piece from <em>The Chronicle of Higher Education</em> looks at the role design plays in encouraging interaction amongst academics and calls out for better planning.</p>

March 20 - The Chronicle of Higher Education

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