The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

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The Fall of Planning Expertise
With increasing skepticism and conflict towards planners and planning projects, we must ask ourselves: Is the power and politics now vested in "community participation" undermining the planning profession?

Urbanists Soak Up Buffalo: PlaceMakers Empty Their Notebooks
Many of you attended CNU in Buffalo last week, but for those of you who couldn't make it, here's a quick collection of a few of the ideas shared.
The Lingering Consequences of Chicago's Parking Meter Privatization
An article examines "Exhibit A for bad public contracting"—a 75-year lease between Chicago a Morgan Stanley-led private consortium for 36,000 parking meters—as a cautionary tale about the lingering impacts of bad deals.
The Inside Scoop on Portland's Street Signal System
A new installment of the BikePortland podcast reveals the technical considerations in the city’s signal system that contribute to bike and pedestrian safety.
Addressing the Challenges of Houston's Exceptional Growth
Houston's incredible rate of growth since 2000 has created a demographic and economic milieu that presents a unique set of challenges, and potential, that is often ignored by federal policies.
Can an Algorithm Cure Gerrymandering?
Mapping congressional districts functions at a dynamic intersection of geography, politics, and community. Can technology, as with so many other issues at this intersection, improve the current system?
Los Angeles Paying Hollywood Community Plan Opponents $1.5 Million
Picking up the pieces from Los Angeles' failed attempt at implementing a community plan for Hollywood now involves paying off the lawyers who shot down the ordinance to the tune of $1.5 million.
Homeland Security Data Reveals the Origins and New Homes of Naturalized Citizens
Dara Lind provides insight on new data on U.S. naturalizations released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In all, 779,929 immigrants became U.S. citizens in 2013.
Transit Oriented Development Gaining Post-Recession Momentum in Maryland
A recent article describes the transit oriented development market in Maryland, where recession blues have given way to a boom.
Philadelphia City Council Moves Bikeshare Proposal Forward
A council committee has approved a bill that would pave the way for Bicycle Transit Systems to set up a bikeshare program in Philadelphia. The bill now moves to the full council.
'Innovation Hubs' Called a Manufacturing Silver Bullet
A recent Wall Street Journal editorial calls for "Topic-specific, industry-led, and place-based…public-private hubs" as the key to a manufacturing renaissance. The idea is already being tested in four cities.

Supply, Demand, and Affordable Housing
Bill Witte, president of Related California, one of the most active developers of residential and commercial properties on the West Coast, talks about real estate, affordable housing, and a squeezed middle class with The Planning Report.

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E-Commerce And The Future Of The City
Chinese cities have grown at an astounding pace over the past few decades, wholeheartedly embracing the automobile. The upcoming IPO of Alibaba and the rise of e-commerce heralds a new, possibly troubling chapter in China's urban development.
Green Light for Red Light Cameras in California
A decisive California Supreme Court ruling on June 5 made life easier for jurisdictions to enforce red-light laws using traffic camera technology by stating that the photos have the "same presumption of validity as other types of photos and videos."
Seattle Turns Streets to Play Areas
Seattle Department of Transportation launches "Play Streets" program to encourage some fun in the streets.

French Employees Get Paid to Bike to Work
French companies attempt to boost bike commutes by paying employees who cycle to work.
When Cleveland Gives Away Public Parking, the Browns Profit
The Cleveland City Council this week approved a new ordinance that gives away city-owned parking for free for the Cleveland Browns to use—and charge for—during games. High cost of free parking indeed.
Adaptive Reuse Driving San Francisco's Tech Boom
Tech firms have taken over more than three million square feet of existing office and industrial space in San Francisco—nearly the equivalent of New York City's new 1 World Trade Center building.
Will Obama's Climate Initiative Become the Obamacare of Regulations?
EPA's new Clean Power Plan Rule has taken on a political life of its own, with coal states adamantly opposed, helping those who allege that the administration is waging a "war on coal." We also look at the basis of the rule in the 1970 Clean Air Act.
'Structurally Deficient' Bridges on the Decline—Can States Continue the Trend?
All but nine states have decreased the number of "structurally deficient" bridges since the 2007 Minneapolis bridge collapse. That improvement, however, is far from permanent. Can the federal government and states maintain their progress?
Pagination
Municipality of Princeton
Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission
City of Mt Shasta
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.