The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Disturbing Similarities between Vegas and Pyongyang
Essayist and novelist Pico Iyer visits Las Vegas and Pyongyang in rapid succession to find that the capital of freedom and fun is not so dissimilar from the wan capital of the Hermit Kingdom.
Rotterdam Development Makes Energy Efficiency History
A 72-unit development in Rotterdam—the town in upstate New York, that is, not its namesake in The Netherlands, is one of the first in the United States to be called net-zero: it consumes as much energy as it produces.
Amtrak Becoming Bike Friendlier
It's still not bike-friendly, but it's getting better. The Capitol Limited from Chicago to Washington joins a small list of routes allowing for "roll-on, roll-off," though reservations and a $25 fee may apply.
What If Seattle Had a Century-Old Subway?
Virgil Bogue's 1911 Plan of Seattle called for a centrally-planned metropolis with efficient transit, parks, and a cap on building height. It was voted down, but remains an interesting study on planning for the long term.
Legal Marijuana Still a Challenge for Road Safety
The state of Washington is finding that more and more fatal car crashes involve drivers under the influence of THC. But legal limbo, lack of research, and spotty detection makes the question of what to do very hard to answer.
Gentrification and the Bay Area's Controversial Growth Management Plan
Is gentrification the inevitable result of land use planning that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by favoring infill development over auto-dependent sprawl? The Urban Displacement Project looks at the unintended effects of Plan Bay Area.
First Rail Link in a Over a Century Now Connects U.S., Mexico
Instead of building a wall separating the United States and Mexico, officials from both countries celebrated the opening on Tuesday of the West Rail Bypass International Bridge.
Using Vacant Property Registration Fee Ordinances to Fix Blight
Planners get involved with foreclosure by assisting residents threatened with foreclosure or addressing community impacts such as blight, vacancy, and property disinvestment. A look at vacant property fees as a tool for dealing with foreclosure.
Zaha Hadid Reimagines the Sidewalk Shed
Attempts to make over the conventional sidewalk shed are pretty but costly. Will Hadid's High Line canopy catch on?
Real Time Data Monitoring Salmon Populations in Drought-Stricken Pacific Northwest
Indian Tribes in the Pacific Northwest are using real time data to monitor and support salmon populations on rivers impacted by water and power infrastructure along with the region's ongoing drought.
Observation Decks Don't Sell Well in Hilly San Francisco
Steep views command steep prices in other big cities, but they can't seem to work in San Francisco, where there are plenty of beautiful views available for free.
On the Sudden Rise to Prominence of the Word 'Infrastructure'
At some point in the past 35 years, the word infrastructure became common in policy discussions and even in the common tongue. But why did we suddenly prefer the word "infrastructure" to other terms like "public works"?
Big Money Floods Venice Beach
Is a gentrified Venice Beach still Venice Beach? With median home prices topping $1.4 million, the area's eclectic characters can't afford to stay. Investors and the tech industry say the change is only natural.
San Francisco to Vote on Affordable Housing Bond
A ballot decision in November will determine whether San Francisco can sell $310 million in bonds to pay for affordable housing. The proposal coincides with Mayor Ed Lee's campaign for re-election.
'New Orleans Saved Itself': Cutting-Edge Community Planning Post-Katrina
Ten years ago, a number of architecture firms went to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina for a humanitarian "experiment"—rebuilding part of the underserved Lower Ninth Ward as an innovative, LEED Platinum, affordable community.
Two Narratives Collide in Post-Katrina New Orleans
“A narrative of rebirth, reform and success that coexists with a narrative of stasis, failure and unrealized dreams.”
FEATURE
What We Didn't Learn From Katrina
Cities are immensely complex self-organizing systems, not mere top-down designs—but they do need top-down interventions in strategic places. Unfortunately, we still have inadequate models and tools.
Los Angeles Sets Vision Zero Target for 2025*
The mayor of Los Angeles followed the lead of cities like New York and San Francisco in setting Vision Zero targets for traffic fatalities by the year 2025. The question remains: Will it be done?
Tacoma Residents Reject Up-Zoning Proposals
A suite of zoning changes under consideration by the Tacoma Planning Commission provoked its "most well-attended" hearing in decades.
Study Reveals a 'Bull Market for City Centers'
If housing prices were tracked like the stock market, urban cores would be soaring to new highs.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.
