The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Oil Sands, Agriculture Depleting Alberta's Water Supply

Comprehensive watershed planning is needed to prevent a water crisis in Alberta, which a new study shows is facing significant reductions in water supply due to climate change and tar sands development.

April 8 - The Globe and Mail

Friday Funny: Detroit Bound For Scrapyard

Like so many of the cars it produced, Motor City is heading for the scrapyard, the Onion reports.

April 7 - The Onion

Massachusetts Town Bans Chain Retailers

Nantucket makes an effort to preserve its quaint, historic character.

April 7 - The Boston Globe

Anaheim, CA's 'Anti-Kelo' Approach

Anaheim, California, serves up an alternative to Kelo in the form of promoting competition, loosening business restrictions and lowering taxes, writes Steven Greenhut.

April 7 - The Wall Street Journal

New Study Cracks 'Broken Windows'

A new study with evidence from New York City -- plus a "five-city social experiment" -- claims that there is no evidence to support the popular anti-crime theory.

April 7 - University of Chicago Chronicle


Cities Vulnerable To Oil Shocks

SustainLane's recently released rankings of the largest 50 U.S. cities by preparedness for rises in oil prices leaves some cities, from Colorado Springs to Kansas City, room for improvement.

April 7 - Colorado Springs Gazette

Picking Up The Pieces: Organizing After Katrina

Displaced and overwhelmed, three major organizing networks provided immediate aid to Hurricane Katrina evacuees, and began working for long-term, equitable recovery. Will they be able to rise to the human and political challenges?

April 7 - Shelterforce Magazine


Superboxes: The End Of Sidewalk Newspaper Dispensers?

"Superboxes" may mean the days of seeing rows of newspaper boxes on sidewalks are numbered.

April 7 - The Globe and Mail

El Paso Moves To Redevelop Historic Downtown

El Paso is one of the last Southwest cities to turn its downtown around, but will the proposed plan work?

April 7 - El Paso Inc.

Five Ways To Fight McMansions

MSN Real Estate publishes a special on McMansionization, detailing the backlash, a new "less is more" movement, and ways to fight the trend.

April 7 - MSN Real Estate

Modernist Demolition For Venice Biennale

Demolition of the ostensibly failed modernist development Punta Perotti in Bari, southern Italy, was completed on April 2, to make room for the 10th International Architecture Exhibition (includes videos).

April 7 - La Biennale di Venezia

Who Is Rebuilding New Orleans?

Thousands from Mexico and Central America are rushing to New Orleans where work is easy to find and no one is checking illegal workers' documentation.

April 6 - The Los Angeles Times

Perform Building Inspections From Your Desk

While Pictometry's new mapping technology is being used for public safety, it's also being used by building officials who don't have to leave the office to see who's building without a permit.

April 6 - Wired Magazine

California's Economic Development Support MIA

Since the state dismantled its economic development agency, its piecemeal efforts compare poorly to other states' coordinated strategies, as shown in the state's poor showing at the biotech industry's largest trade show.

April 6 - San Francisco Business Times

Nagin Reneges On FEMA Trailer Park Site

Just months after approving the FEMA trailer site, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has riled federal officials by halting all construction in the Algiers neighborhood.

April 6 - The Boston Globe

California Plans To Cut Greenhouse Gases

California's governor and legislative leaders are backing a plan to cut carbon dioxide emissions 25% by 2020.

April 6 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Car-Free Development Proposal Seeks Supporters

A development of 1,000 homes designed for car-free living has been proposed for a 30-acre site in Hayward, California.

April 6 - Oakland Tribune (via reprint at cicle.org)

India Approves National Urban Transport Policy

The policy features sustainable development and public transit.

April 6 - Business Line

The Self-Parking Car

Sit back, relax, and parallel park with the help of Toyota's new Prius.

April 6 - CBS News

Wal-Mart Enters Cities

A new company initiative calls for over 50 new stores in blighted urban areas, with the promise of help for local businesses and chambers of commerce.

April 6 - The Washington Post

Post News

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.