The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

New President Could Slow Population Growth

<p>This op-ed form <em>The Christian Science Monitor</em> argues that a new president would most likely enact policies to encourage family planning throughout the country and across the globe.</p>

January 14 - The Christian Science Monitor

Houston Needs Plan To Soak It Up

<p>With a patchwork of building regulations, development can be difficult in Houston. This op-ed argues that what the city needs to guide itself to a more organized development pattern is a highly-defined plan to improve the city's permeability.</p>

January 14 - The Houston Chronicle

Chicago Suburb Removes Pedestrian Mall

<p>The Chicago suburb Village of Oak Park opens the Marion Street Mall to automobile traffic again for the first time since 1974.</p>

January 14 - Chicago Public Radio

Bringing 'The Projects' to Mumbai

<p>Mumbai, Istanbul and other cities in the developing world are launching ambitious slum redevelopment plans that seem doomed to repeat the "urban inhumanity" of western postwar urban renewal projects.</p>

January 14 - The Globe and Mail

Car Versus Bike: Point-Counterpoint

<p>Part of a week-long series, Randal O'Toole and blogger Will Campbell debate where fault should be placed in the often-unpleasant conflicts between driver and biker.</p>

January 14 - The Los Angeles Times


Political Climate Change?

<p>Sierra Magazine asks Matt Stoller, Michael Bocian, David Orr and Newt Gingrich to square off on how climate change will figure in the 2008 Presidential election.</p>

January 14 - Sierra

FEATURE

Planners Need To Work With Difference

There are many voices in the process of community planning. To create effective plans, planners need to welcome these many voices and their respective differences, not suppress them into consensus.

January 14 - Lewis D. Hopkins, Marisa A. Zapata


No Community Is An Island: Tributary and the Young & the Restless

<p>A new approach to urbanism in suburban Atlanta, the Tributary community is based on a mixed-use master plan integrating and interconnecting a range of residential neighborhoods, a village center, a town center, and more.</p>

January 14 - Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built & Natural Environments

'Affordable-By-Design' Recommended For San Francisco

<p><em>The Examiner</em> looks at the loss of middle-class housing in San Francisco, and how, based on a new report by a local urban think tank, allowing more flexibility in zoning would allow affordable, but market-rate housing to meet the demand.</p>

January 13 - San Francisco Examiner

Funding Bike Infrastructure: Point-Counterpoint

<p>Part of a week-long series, Randal O'Toole and blogger Will Campbell debate federal funding for bike infrastructure and question whether a broad bike system should be built before or after the demand presents itself.</p>

January 13 - The Los Angeles Times

India's 'Model T': Transport Revolution or Nightmare?

<p>Dubbed 'the world's cheapest car' and the 'People's Car', the Tata Nano promises either a transportation revolution or an environmental nightmare.</p>

January 13 - Associated Press

House the Homeless, Save Millions

<p>Building housing fro the homeless in Seattle is saving the city more than $3 million per year, according to this editorial from the <em>Seattle Post-Intelligencer</em>.</p>

January 13 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

A Case Study in 'UnSprawl'

<p>Located seven miles south of the town of Loreto in Baja California Sur, the Villages of Loreto Bay is an 8,000-acre new urbanist development that strives to be North America’s largest sustainable resort development.</p>

January 13 - Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built & Natural Environments

D.C. Preservationists Deny Ramp For Elderly Couple

<p>In Washington, D.C., the historic preservation office will not allow a ramp to the front door of a 1930s rowhouse, so elderly residents must live in the basement that has access to a back alley.</p>

January 12 - The Washington Post

Bikeable Cities: Point-Counterpoint

<p>Part of a week-long series, Randal O'Toole and blogger Will Campbell debate why some cities are good for cyclists, how they got there, and why L.A. is still far off.</p>

January 12 - The Los Angeles Times

High Speed Rail Reconsidered in Canada

<p>Canadian officials will revisit plans to create a high-speed rail system connecting Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.</p>

January 12 - CBC

Georgia May Walk Away From Toll Roads

<p>Citing staff inexperience, the head of Georgia's Department of Transportation has raised the idea of abandoning all of the state's toll road plans.</p>

January 12 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

BART Transit Village Idea Up In Air

<p>Plans to develop a transit village around one of the San Francisco Bay Area's BART stations is gaining support, but some local officials are voicing concerns over the increased load on city infrastructure and services.</p>

January 12 - The Contra Costa Times

Friday Funny: The 'Transcontinental Straw' and Other Urban Water Supply Strategies

<p>The satirical newspaper <em>The Onion</em> lists some dubious water conservation strategies being contemplated in American cities.</p>

January 11 - The Onion

Sprawl and Climate Change Force Sled Race to Evolve

<p>The infamous 1,100-mile Iditarod sled dog race course has been adjusted due to urban sprawl moving into the traditional course route.</p>

January 11 - The Seattle Times

Post News

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An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

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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.