The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

A Personal Reflection On Jane Jacobs

Jane Jacobs and her impact on amateur urbanists and urban observers, in a piece entitled "How Jane Jacobs Changed My Life".

June 5 - Maisonneuve

Reframing New Jersey's Competitive Challenge

New research by the Brookings Institution ties New Jersey's troubling economic position to multiple forces, including rising housing costs, persistent race, class and place disparities, and unbalanced development patterns.

June 5 - NJBIZ Journal

Philadelphia's Navy Yard Turns Commercial

Philadelphia's Navy Yard provides a suburban office park environment, and historic fabric, at the edge of the city, with opportunities from dog walking for office employees to a future 2016 Olympic site.

June 5 - The New York Times

'Smart Card' Technology Proving Troublesome To Bay Area Transit Operators

Once hailed the transit-pay mechanism of the future, the cards have become one of Bay Area transit's biggest flops. Yet the money keeps flowing while the costs keep rising.

June 4 - The Contra Costa Times


National Jazz Center Park Planned For Central New Orleans

Strategic Hotels & Resorts has proposed a plan to build a 20-acre national jazz center and park in the center of New Orleans, to be designed by Pritzker Prize winner, Thom Mayne.

June 4 - New Orleans Times-Picayune

The 'Inconvenient Truth' About Canada's Oil Industry

Extracting oil from Canada's tarry sand has lead to large incomes and huge environmental tolls for the holder of the world's second-largest oil reserves.

June 4 - The Washington Post


The Selling Of A Failing State Toll Road

Indiana's governor explains how he solved his state's transportation budget gap using private capital rather than public funds -- by leasing the 157-mile Indiana Toll Road for $3.8 billion to a foreign consortium.

June 4 - The New York Times

Frustrated New Orleans Public Housing Residents Plan Return To Destroyed Development

Displaced residents tell the City Council that they will return to their 7th Ward housing complex this weekend and will tear down any fences in their way, refusing to wait any longer for official action on permission to return.

June 4 - The Times-Picayune

Even in Sprawling Arizona, Downtown Condos Are Now Hip

Phoenix and Tucson are building up, not out, but is it enough to slow desert development?

June 3 - The Christian Science Monitor

Faux Suburban Downtowns Challenge Traditional City Centers

The popularity of mixed-use suburban town centers is threatening the viability of older, traditional downtowns. While many tout their urban-style amenities, the suburban centers often lack transit and -- sometimes -- even sidewalks.

June 3 - The Wall Street Journal

U.S. Government Approves 'Highway Of Opportunity' In D.C. Suburbs

The federal government has granted permission for construction of Maryland's Intercounty Connector (ICC) outside the nation's capitol.

June 3 - The Baltimore Sun

How Trains Can Preserve 'America the Beautiful'

Alfred Runte, author of "Allies of the Earth: Railroads and the Soul of Preservation", calls on the United States to revive its passenger rail service in order to conserve energy and preserve the natural landscape.

June 3 - The Seattle Times

Chicago Fair Housing Agency Closes Its Doors

Formed with the help of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and legions of African Americans discriminated against during the Civil Rights era, the agency that helped pass the federal Fair Housing Act will close.

June 3 - Chicago Sun Times

Friday Funny: The Committee To Save Big Ugly Things

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has produced a spoof political ad to mock the preservation of the city's controversial Alaskan Way Viaduct, although he may run into ethics violations for using a City Hall production crew.

June 2 - Seattle Weekly

Problems With Water Privatization

Water privatization brings a flood of problems in U.S. cities. Is this a preview of a global issue?

June 2 - The Los Angeles Times

The Evolution Of Online Mapping

Interesting mapping applications are emerging from museums and other organizations dedicated to education and conservation.

June 2 - The Christian Science Monitor

Chicago Considers Living Wage For Big Box Stores

Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and other big box stores could pay Chicago employees a "living wage" as early as next month.

June 2 - The New York Times

Should Illinois Sell Its State Tollway?

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Ralph Martire says that the project warrants careful analysis before the state decides to sell-off a profit-making asset to reduce deficit.

June 2 - Chicago Sun-Times

Miami Attracts Starchitects

Frank Gehry, Herzog and de Meuron, Cesar Pelli, Richard Meier, and Enrique Norton are all working on projects in Miami.

June 2 - The New York Times

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.