The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Anchorage Considers Densification

In a city of sprawling surface parking, increased density may help close a serious affordable housing gap as Anchorage, Alaska, seeks ways to make development more affordable.

December 23 - Next City

California's Population Now Tops 39 Million

New figures released by the California Department of Finance show that the state grew by 346,000 (to July 1, 2015). As in past years, the increase comes from natural births and immigration while more left the state than entered.

December 23 - California Department of Finance Press Release

States React to Tax Impacts of Dropping Gas Prices

Certain states have had to scramble to restructure their gas taxes as gas prices have dropped—and kept dropping—lest transportation funds hit empty.

December 23 - Governing

Facebook to Offer Cash for Employees to Live Closer to Work

Here's one way to improve jobs-housing balance: employers can incentivize short commutes by helping to pay for the cost of housing.

December 23 - Bloomberg Business

7 Finalists Chosen for Obama Presidential Center Design

Now we know who will compete for one of the most coveted design contracts in the country: the presidential library that will bear Barack Obama's name.

December 23 - Chicago Tribune


Which Fears Are Blocking Solutions in Your City?

A former planning commissioner recalls often being surprised at the passion and anger displayed toward small changes around the city of San Francisco, and attempted to get to the nature of the fear driving the opposition.

December 22 - San Francisco Chronicle

An Early Look at Seattle's Sound Transit 3 Ballot Initiative

Seattle is in the process of drafting a $27 billion transit funding initiative for the November 2016 ballot.

December 22 - Publicola


16 Case Studies of Workforce Housing Protection

A new report from the Urban Land Institute responds to what it argues is a housing crisis among lower- and middle-income workers.

December 22 - Urban Land

Chicago Launches Loop Link BRT Service

Until this weekend, CTA buses in Downtown Chicago averaged a speed of 3 mph. The Loop Link is designed to improve those results.

December 22 - Chi.Streetsblog

Leasing to Spur Growth in Small and Medium-Sized Wind Turbines

Can wind power gain the popularity of rooftop solar? A Brooklyn start-up is betting it can with the leasing of turbines, particularly to farmers and rural residents.

December 22 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

Juneau Alaska Houses

Unique Garbage Challenges in Juneau

Juneau, Alaska's tiny capital city, is not accessible from elsewhere by road. Its isolation makes waste disposal problematic and expensive, spurring an aggressive recycling effort.

December 22 - Pacific Standard

Pershing Square

Los Angeles to Redesign Its 'Worst Public Space'

Josh Stephens reports on the Pershing Square Renew Design Challenge, an effort to redo one of the "world's worst squares and plazas." The new Pershing Square may hearken back to the years before its misguided 1992 redesign.

December 22 - Next City

Cities Lead the Way in Meeting Paris Climate Goals

To meet the U.N.’s global warming targets, city leadership is critical.

December 22 - Next City

Jakarta Skyline

Jakarta's Titantic 25-Mile Seawall

Indonesia's capital, population 10 million, is slowly sinking below sea level. To protect itself and drive the economy, the city is building a 25-mile bird-shaped seawall, to be topped with luxury development.

December 22 - Quartz

Gowanus Canal, Dirty Water

Soaking-Up New York's Filthy Water With a Sponge Park

A 2,100 square foot park on the banks of New York City's Gowanus Canal is part of a plan to catch pollutants from storm off from draining into the already polluted waterway.

December 22 - New York Times

New Delhi Restricts Diesel Cars; Beijing Issues Second Red Alert

It took an act of the Supreme Court for India to address the incredibly unhealthy levels of particulate matter in New Delhi. New rules are aimed at diesel cars, SUVs, and taxis. In Beijing, pollution triggered a red alert for only the second time.

December 21 - The New York Times - Asia Pacific

Wastewater Treatment Plant to Produce Fuel for City Vehicles

With transportation the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in California, San Mateo will be the first city to reduce emissions by using biogas produced at its wastewater treatment plant for use in city vehicles.

December 21 - San Mateo Daily Journal

Parking Meter Fail

Minor Tweaks and Major Advancements Suggested for L.A.'s Parking System

Responding to aggravated parkers in Los Angeles, a citizen's advisory committee has come up with a raft of recommendations to make parking fines fairer and to add technological innovation for finding a parking space and avoiding tickets.

December 21 - KPCC

Philadelphia

Philadelphia Attempts Urban Intervention to Fix Its 'Most Boring Street'

Surrounded on all sides by glassy, modern towers, Philly's West Market Street has lacked the sort of attractions that have brought downtown workers to neighboring streets.

December 21 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Dallas Arts District

Help Has Arrived for Dallas' Aging Arts District

With sidewalks in disrepair and shabby looking trees, Dallas has turned to planning and design firm NBBJ to create a new master plan for its Arts District.

December 21 - The Dallas Morning News

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