The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Nextdoor—the 'Facebook for Neighborhoods—Catching on with Investors and Users
As social media platforms evolve into specific niches, the Nextdoor platform is quickly expanding its online version of neighborhood-level interaction.
Critiquing Plans for Cleveland's New 'Opportunity Corridor'
As local officials claim that all is ready for work to begin on Cleveland's $330 million "Opportunity Corridor" road construction project, one writer critiques the plan's remaining shortcomings.
'Center for Opportunity Urbanism' Think Tank Launched in Houston
A new think tank to promote suburban growth has been established in Houston by arguably the media's highest-profile supporters of suburban growth.
BLOG POST
How Not to Evaluate Public Transit Risks
Randal O'Toole claims that light rail transit is more dangerous than bus or automobile travel, but he fails to account for exposure or overall safety benefits. This is a good example of bad statistical analysis.
Plastic Bag Ban to Be Decided by Referendum in California
Thanks to a vigorous signature gathering effort bankrolled by the American Progressive Bag Alliance, a bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last September that outlawed single-use plastic bags will be decided by the electorate in November 2016.
America's Best Bike Lane May Finally Earn the Title
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency voted 6-0 on March 3 to approve a controversial plan to redesign 1.3 miles of Polk Street, one of the most dangerous corridors for biking and walking in The City. It only took 2.5 years.
We're All Complicit in Change—Now What?
Be a citizen, not just a consumer.
Below Average Snowpack Sparks Drought Concerns in Washington State
It might be hard to believe if you're in Boston right now, but the entire West Coast is suffering a poorly timed dearth of snow, a critical source of drinking water and hydroelectric capacity for the region.
Colorado Development Spells Demise for Local Prairie Dogs
Castle Rock, located between Denver and Colorado Springs, has approved a massive shopping and residential development. The project will be built on top of a prairie dog colony.
Austin Master Plan to Transform Municipal Cemeteries
Could it be that places for the dead might be a new source of urban innovation? Austin provides an example of new thinking regarding urban resting places.
On the U.S. Transportation System's Structures of Inequality
The tendency of transportation planning of the 20th and 21st centuries to negatively impact poor and minority populations received deep attention on national media outlets over the past few days.
Atlanta Announces Bikeshare Plans; Targets 2016 to Double Bike Commuters
The contract is signed, after years of planning, Bikeshare is coming to Atlanta as part of an ambitious goal to double the number of bike commuters in the city by 2016.
Designers Envision a Better Future for a Notorious Tulsa 'Parking Crater'
Sometimes a public shaming can be good for less-than-desirable land uses. Case in point: designers mobilizing to remodel a notorious parking crater in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Dallas Residents Gather for a 'Festival of Ideas'
A huge crowd braved un-Texas-like weather this weekend in Dallas to participate in the "Festival of Ideas." The Dallas Morning News hopes the citizens of Big D will keep up their momentum in working to improve their city.
Palo Alto Stalls on Controversial Measure to Cap Commercial Development
In some places, it might be hard to imagine even considering a cap on the development of commercial development. Palo Alto, home to Stanford University and a hot bed of California's tech industry, did just that in City Council earlier this week.
California Turns Toward the Sea for Drought Relief
The Wall Street Journal examines desalination efforts on the Central and South Coasts, starting with the reactivation of a Santa Barbara plant. Notwithstanding criticisms on costs and environmental damage, eight plants have been built since 2006.
Op-Ed: Terrorism Fears Cloud Los Angeles Stadium Debate
With as many as a half-dozen groups vying to develop an NFL stadium in Los Angeles, things were bound to get ugly. And they did. A report warns of a possible terrorist attack at one stadium site. The report's publisher? Backers of a rival stadium.
Cleveland Commences James Corner-Designed Remodel of the Public Square
A sweeping remodel of Cleveland's Public Square (designed by James Corner Field Operations) will begin construction later this month, to be complete in time for the 2016 Republican National Convention.
A Modest Proposal: A Scientific Method for the Beauty of Cities
Alain de Botton has an idea that beauty is not in the eye of the beholder, when it comes to cities anyways. He also proposes a system for evaluating the beauty of the world's cities (spoiler: most cities don't qualify).
FEATURE
Book Review: Zoned in the USA
"Zoned in the USA: The Origins and Implications of American Land-Use Regulation," by Sonja Hirt, describes the exceptional characteristics, compared to European land use regulations, that make U.S. zoning laws so conducive to sprawl.
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
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.
