The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Big Density Plans for Toronto

Toronto is considering a broad new plan to encourage higher density.

September 5 - The Globe and Mail

Garbage Day Never Comes for Naples

Corrupt and inconsistent mob-controlled garbage collection in Naples, Italy, has left the city swimming in uncollected trash and with little hope of a resolution.

September 5 - The Los Angeles Times

Architecture Degrees Gaining Popularity

The U.K. is seeing a significant leap in students applying for architecture degrees, possibly due to the rise in interest in sustainability around the world. Some worry that growing programs could impact the quality of education.

September 5 - bd

Foreclosures Gone Wild

A foreclosed home in Lake Elsinore, CA has attracted some new residents- a family of bobcats.

September 4 - The Press-Enterprise

The Mall Comes to India

Malls are a newcomer to India, but designs that incorporate elements of the Indian marketplace are a hit.

September 4 - LiveMint.com


CA Senate Approves HOT Lane Legislation

The CA Senate voted to approve the HOT lane/transit investment plan of the LA MTA for two freeways, making LA eligible for $210 million in federal congestion pricing funds if the governor signs the bill.

September 4 - Los Angeles Times

'Collision Course' for Toronto's Competing Transportation Plans?

The City of Toronto and Ontario's transportation agency Metrolinx are offering competing long term transportation plans for the Toronto region.

September 4 - The Globe and Mail


BLOG POST

The Accidental Planner

I clearly remember the day that I received a call from MIT faculty notifying me of my acceptance into the Master of City Planning (MCP) program.  I could not believe that a department within the illustrious MIT (and I do not say that facetiously), the epitomic bastion of computer geeks, rocket scientists and the like selected me for its MCP program.  Moreover, the path that led me to that moment was somewhat accidental. My interest in urban planning, though earnest and fervent today, was not grounded in even the slightest exposure to urban planning or urban design in my pre-MIT life.  <br />

September 4 - Tamika Camille Gauvin

The Printable Home

Engineers at USC have developed a new technique for '3-D printing' houses.

September 4 - Boing Boing

Hong Kong Sprawls Into the Ocean

One man's personal quest to save the beauty of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor from rampant development.

September 4 - The Christian Science Monitor

School Closures Hurting Canadian Communities

Its birth rate declining, Canada is facing an unprecedented drop in school enrollments, leading to a wave of closures.

September 4 - The Globe and Mail

A Big Idea: Solar-Powered Cargo Ships

Toyota has hired two firms to build solar panels to augment the diesel engines on their car-carrying behemoths. The result will be a cut in CO2 emissions of 1 to 2 percent per year, or about 20 tons.

September 4 - Wired

Community Participation Shapes Katrina Recovery

Steven Bingler of Concordia Planning and Architecture discusses the process and thinking behind the Unified New Orleans Plan, which engaged large numbers of citizens to plan the recovery of their neighborhoods in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

September 4 - The Planning Report

The Middle East's 'Urban Prison'

In this article from <em>Progressive Planning</em>, Tom Angotti looks at Gaza and the land use regulations that have imposed an "urban apartheid".

September 4 - Progressive Planning

FEATURE

The Black Cloud: Using Games to Understand Air Quality

Human behavior and land use affect air quality, and those effects are very distinct at the local level. A new environmental game fusing public participation, air quality sensors and web technology shows how.

September 4 - Nate Berg

The Quest for the Perfect City

The director of the Design Museum in London reflects on the mostly unfortunate quest for perfection in city planning and architecture, as the museum's new exhibit, <em>Design Cities,</em> opens.

September 3 - The Times Online

China Takes Bus Rapid Transit Seriously

China is investing in complete Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in cities from Beijing to Kunming.

September 3 - chinabrt.org

Can Land Trusts Keep Housing Affordable?

At a time of extreme housing market volatility, community land trusts are seen as a more sustainable form of tenure.

September 3 - Yes! Magazine

Architect Says 'Stop Planning For Cars'

Columnist and architect Arrol Gelner comes to grips with the end of the automobile era.

September 3 - Inman News

The Disappearing American Barn

Historic barns are disappearing across the country, along with the way of life they represent. But a growing number of towns and citizen groups are working to preserve them.

September 3 - The Christian Science Monitor

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.