The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Clean Water Rule Finalized—Clarifies Protection of Streams and Waterways

The Obama Administration has moved forward with "one of the most controversial environmental regulations in recent years."

May 27 - The Hill

$400 Million Needed for Oakland NFL Stadium Deal Lacks Political Support

One city is prioritizing fiscal sanity over a new football stadium—at least for now.

May 27 - SFGate

'Melting-Pot Suburbs' Growing in Prominence

Analysis from the Brooking Institution maps the so-called melting-pot suburbs, where demographics closely resemble the diverse population of the country as a whole.

May 27 - Brookings Institution

Ideas for Housing Opportunity: Some Sorta Oldish, Lots Very NUish

The latest in a list of tip-of-the-spear practitioners combining their own experience and expertise with the lessons of others who share similar commitments to the easy-to-grasp, hard-to-realize ideas driving new urbanism.

May 27 - PlaceShakers

New App Would Enable On-Demand Public Transit

As transportation network companies like Uber and Bridj make it easier for some to opt out of the public transit system, a new app would help transit agencies offer more user-centric services.

May 27 - Fast Co.Exist


Large Park Expansion Coming to Seattle's Chinatown

A construction project seeking construction bids will double the size of Hing Hay Park, located in Seattle's Chinatown-International District.

May 27 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Home For Sale Signs

Reports Surveys Property Tax Burdens in all 50 States

The annual "50-State Property Tax Comparison Study" offers a thorough resource for understanding the role of property taxes in fiscal responsibility at the municipal level.

May 27 - At Lincoln House


Have You Spotted Any Rainbow Crosswalks?

These colorful crosswalks, recently installed in San Francisco's Castro District, are spreading. Latest city: Key West, Florida. Another aspect of their attractiveness is price: $4,000 for a four-crosswalk intersection. Guess who paid?

May 27 - Miami Herald

Plaza Midwood Charlotte

BLOG POST

Three Reasons to Use Livability as a Vehicle for Sustainability

Meghan Gough, assistant professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University, guest blogs about her work on balancing livability and sustainability.

May 27 - JPER

New York Vacant Storefront

'High-Rent Blight' on the Rise in Manhattan Retail Districts

Why are so many shops closing in New York's richest and best-known neighborhoods?

May 26 - The New Yorker

Neighborhood Activists Mobilize Against Mid-Rise Developments in Toronto

There are neighborhoods where residents are concerned about new developments raising prices, and there are neighborhoods where residents are concerned about new developments lowering home values. Toronto is currently dealing with the latter.

May 26 - Toronto Star

Proposed Atlanta BeltLine Budget Jumps 27 Percent

The improving economy will allow planners and city officials to expand work on the Atlanta BeltLine.

May 26 - SaportaReport

Chattanooga Mayor: No Chance for High-Speed Rail to Atlanta

A proposed plan to connect Chattanooga and Atlanta via high-speed rail, 17 years in the making, appears to be dead in the water. Chattanooga will now turn its attentions to a possible light rail system.

May 26 - Chattanooga Times Free Press

US Highway 23 in Ohio

Ohio's Experiment in Public-Private Partnership Just Tripled in Cost

The Portsmouth Bypass will provide Ohio's first test case of public-private partnership on a major transportation project. As such, the news about the project's ballooning costs could have been better.

May 26 - The Columbus Dispatch

The Real Estate Rebound Comes to Southwest Denver

The Denver Post reports that a forgotten corner of Denver is showing signs of recovery from the foreclosure crisis.

May 26 - The Denver Post

On the Ground in the Effort to Save Detroit's Neighborhoods

As Detroit's efforts to stabilize its neighborhoods progress, valuable lessons and trends are emerging. One particularly bright spot was recently revealed: fewer homes are in need of demolition than originally thought.

May 26 - Next Ciy

Record Memorial Day Travel Due to Low Gas Prices, Improved Economy

In addition to record travel this Memorial Day, the U.S. DOT reports that March broke the record for the most vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Gas prices, though rising since late March, are predicted to drop and remain low through the end of 2015.

May 26 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

Los Angeles Skyline

The Wisdom of Taxing Land for What It's Worth

Most cities in the United States tax land according to what an owner builds on it. That's great if you're an owner, but lousy if you're a city that wants something cool built on it. The solution: tax it according to what an owner can build on it.

May 26 - Slate

MassDot Planning a New Bridge Into Cape Cod

A potential public-private partnership would add a third bridge into Cape Cod.

May 26 - The Boston Globe

Vancouver Skyline Bikes

BLOG POST

Well Done Vancouver! Well Done Planners!

In Vancouver, British Columbia, dramatic reductions in automobile travel and resulting benefits demonstrate that integrated TDM and smart growth policies can help create cities that are healthy, wealthy, and wise.

May 25 - Todd Litman

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.