The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Neal Peirce argues that despite negative reports in the press, the Katrina rebuilding process is shaping up to be a superlative planning effort, a unique opportunity to rid New Orleans of corruption and involve more citizens.

January 23 - National Academy of Public Administration

Hank Dittmar, Director of the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, a nonprofit organization founded by Sir Charles, The Prince of Wales, discusses the balance of tradition and innovation in urban design.

January 23 - David Gest

Meier, Piano, Calatrava, oh my! A host of starchitects have descended on Hotlanta, spicing up downtown's skyline.

January 23 - Creative Loafing Atlanta

Philadelphia's Civic Coalition on Slots hopes not, seeking to force future casinos in the neighborhood to pay for millions of dollars worth of community improvements.

January 23 - Philadelphia Weekly

Former chiefs of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -- five Republicans and one Democrat -- criticise the Bush administration's response to global warming.

January 22 - The Guardian Unlimited

New Urbanism pioneer Andres Duany says the movement could change affordable housing and predict growing demand for experts.

January 22 - Orlando Business Journal

Light rail may be the answer to the transportation crisis in Sydney, Australia, argues chief executive of City of Sydney council, Peter Seamer.

January 22 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Alec Appelbaum urges New York City to develop a "bike-safe" network.

January 22 - MetropolisMag.com

The Connecticut home of the gun manufacturing giant has been dead for decades, but Colt Gateway, a tax-increment financing project, could give it new life.

January 22 - Hartford Advocate

BLOG POST

A few months ago, when I was still taking the bus to work - and walking from San Francisco's Transbay Terminal to my office - my favorite shortcut got strange. And I'm glad it did, because it helped me crystallize one of the necessary qualities for a great city: surprise.<br /> <br /> I'd taken to shaving a few minutes off the march by cutting down a narrow walkway between two skyscrapers. Tall brick on one side, tall concrete on the other. And at the end: pop. The backend of a simple plaza, bits of crummy retail and a Starbucks guarding the front.

January 21 - Anonymous

An editorial argues that the D.C. government has confused "economic development" with true "public benefit" in its expensive quest to build a new baseball stadium.

January 21 - The Common Denominator

A proposal to haul old ships to Oregon for salvage and recycling presents a classic case of economic development versus environmental protection.

January 21 - The Christian Science Monitor

The new headquarters of pre-eminent think-tank RAND received a LEED Gold certification for a building design that reflects the ideals of the institution.

January 21 - GreenBiz.com

As baby boomers begin to retire, many homebuilders look to create resort and retirement communities to fit their needs in Mexico.

January 21 - The Wall Street Journal

Boise, Idaho, is no longer the center of population in Treasure Valley, as density shifts west to Meridian.

January 21 - The Idaho Statesman

The L.A. Department of Water and Power is providing the free installation services in an effort to reduce energy consumption citywide.

January 20 - Los Angeles Daily News

Federal regulators have cleared two national banks to develop office and hotel properties -- actions long barred by the Treasury Department. What does this imply for the development environment?

January 20 - National Real Estate Investor

Across the nation, developers and city officials warn that weakening eminent domain could undermine rehabilitation of cities.

January 20 - The New York Times

In recent decades conservation easements—promises to restrict land development—have become enormously popular, but now they are in trouble.

January 20 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Los Angeles needs to use zoning, land swaps, tax breaks, and imagination to ensure green space for its residents says Patt Morrison.

January 20 - The Los Angeles Times