The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

<p>The leadership of Canon City agrees that it would be better if there were no need for prisons. But if a prison must be built, Canon City, Colorado, wants to be the host.</p>

July 2 - Greetings From Route 50

<p>How the vice president intervened on behalf of businesses in cases such as the Klamath River dispute, the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, Clinton-era land protection measures, and the resignation of former EPA chief Christine Todd Whitman.</p>

July 2 - The Washington Post

<p>Members of Congress seek to close a loophole that enabled those buy gas-guzzling SUVs to claim a tax deduction of up to $25,000. Auto makers and dealers oppose the idea calling it a "tax increase".</p>

July 2 - ABC News

<p>Auto makers are set to launch new cars priced at $3000 in India. Andrew Buncombe reports on the massive social, economic, and environmental impact of the new affordable vehicles.</p>

July 2 - The Independent

FEATURE

Smart growth isn't an attack on the middle class, and those who argue as such are simply misrepresenting facts to distract from the real issues that planners are trying to mitigate.

July 2 - Michael Dudley

<p>Mayors are becoming more active -- and more visible -- beyond their jurisdictions. This article looks at how the role of the mayor is changing.</p>

July 2 - The Economist

<p>The cost of living in California keeps on rising. Who is paying for it?</p>

July 2 - Abhijeet Chavan

<p>Five African nations met recently to approve the creation of a game reserve that will be the world's largest protected land area. The countries are hoping the park will serve as a major tourist attraction and source of jobs.</p>

July 2 - BBC

<p>BART has ambitious plans to improve its stations to handle a predicted increase in ridership, but it doesn't know where its going to get the money to implement them.</p>

July 2 - The San Francisco Chronicle

<p>A long-discussed plan to link Denmark and Germany with an 11-mile bridge is finally moving forward, as both countries recently came to an agreement on what will be one of the largest European infrastructure projects in history.</p>

July 2 - Der Spiegel

<p>A new United Nations report highlights the problems of prosperity and poverty in world's most livable city.</p>

July 2 - The Vancouver Sun

<p>Ordinances in several Maryland counties that limit development were schools and sewers are in short supply may thwart the state's efforts to focus development in built-up areas.</p>

July 1 - The Washington Times

BLOG POST

<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana">I’m not basing this quick observation on any specific historical research or book, so bear with me.<span> </span>Cities grow and shrink; in effect they change rapidly (although sometimes it doesn’t seem rapidly enough and at other times all too rapidly).<span> </span>Where we operate in that continuum I think shapes much of how we see our role as professionals.<span> </span>Planning to address either shrinking cities or growing ones can seem, at times, like totally different professions.<span> </span>A colleague of mine remarked that planning for shrinking cities is definitely a niche market.<span> </span>With so much discussion surrounding growth and how we grow, there is much less dialog that defines the opposite.<span> </sp

July 1 - Scott Page

<p>The death of a major river in India is a symptom of unchecked urban growth and a lack of sanitary infrastructure.</p>

July 1 - The Globe and Mail

<p>Several neighborhoods in the southwestern corner of the city are hoping that the city will clamp down on monster homes, but builders and Realtors aren't going down without a fight.</p>

July 1 - Minneapolis Star Tribune

<p>Commentator Barbara Ehrenreich laments the 'luxurification' of every scenic spot in America.</p>

July 1 - The Huffington Post

<p>Duany Plater-Zyberk and Company is on charrette designing three different sites in Houston, a city well-known for its homogeneous suburban development. Plans include a TOD, sustainability, brownfield redevelopment, and of course walkability.</p>

July 1 - The Houston Chronicle

BLOG POST

<p>Last week I was up in Vancouver participating in a &quot;Roundtable&quot; discussion focused on whether Vancouver&#39;s politicians should pass policies to &quot;protect&quot; commercial activity downtown from displacement caused by the red hot residential condo market. At this roundtable, I had the opportunity to meet Brent Toderian. He is the City of Vancouver&#39;s Director of Planning. I was very impressed with him. It now strikes me that &quot;free market&quot; enviro/urban economists (such as myself) and urban planners should talk more often. Permit me to generalize based on 2 data points!

June 30 - Matthew E. Kahn

<p>As of July 1, Virginia drivers have lots to fear if they break traffic laws –- huge traffic fines, so as to help pay for the roads they drive on.</p>

June 30 - USA Today

<p>After recently losing out on federal dollars due to a lack of congestion pricing plans, local transportation officials have overcome their reluctance for "Lexus Lanes" and agreed to begin planning for tolls.</p>

June 30 - The Los Angeles Times