The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Questioning the Power Structure of Downtown Las Vegas’ Revitalization
Has the power and influence of Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh spoiled the good intentions of the Downtown Project in Las Vegas?
Mapping Life Expectancies in the World’s Cities
“While average life expectancy for many cities far outstrips the non-urban regions of their country, there are others such as Johannesburg where it comes in way below,” according to an interactive feature on the Guardian’s Data Blog.
Evaluating Bloomberg’s Massive Rezoning Efforts
While the rezoning of neighborhoods like West Chelsea garnered plenty of attention, less analysis has been devoted to the impacts of zoning changes enacted by the Bloomberg Administration in places like Ozone Park.
How Public Space Enables, or Prohibits, Protest
With the provocative title “A Dictator’s Guide to Urban Design,” a recent article in The Atlantic examines the revolutionary capacity of public squares like Ukraine’s Independence Square.
Gentrification: We’re Both the Problem and the Solution
As cities become increasingly desirable, gentrification becomes increasingly prevalent. The best places moving forward will be those willing to commit the best of themselves in working together.
Mapping GDP—Urban Areas and Everything Else
An intrepid Reddit user has produced a striking visualization for the economic importance of the country’s urban areas by splitting the nation’s GDP into two—the top 50 percent and the lower 50 percent.
The Dark Side of Big Data
In a long read for Metropolis Magazine, Alex Marshall describes the implications of the “Smart City” movement, including the risk of turning over massive data collection operations to large corporations.
Los Angeles Reinvests in 'Family Solution' to Homelessness
Los Angeles County has allocated an additional $10.2 million to expand the Family Solutions Centers program, which supports some of the estimated 7,391 homeless families living in the county.
The Inequality Problem of America’s Cities
A new report by Brookings confirms that “big cities remain more unequal places by income than the rest of the country.” Where is the gap between wealth and poverty the greatest?
New Google Mobile Device Creates 3D Maps
Google's Advanced Technology And Projects (ATAP) group has released information about the new Project Tango—a mobile device that tracks 3D motion, using the data to map user environments.
Successor Bill to California's Landmark Climate Change Legislation Introduced
AB 32, California's landmark climate change legislation, expires in 2020. Senator Fran Pavley (D-Calabasas), co-author of AB 32 in 2006, has teamed-up with Senator Ricardo Laro (D-Long Beach) to write a bill to continue emission reductions to 2030.
Why Privatizing Transit Won’t Get Toronto Anywhere
Full or partial privatization of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) would likely result in diminished service and a less expansive transit network.
U.S. Energy Secretary on CBR: 'Switch to Pipelines'
Ernest Moniz weighs-in on the exponential, and at times, explosive (literally) growth of moving crude oil by rail (CBR). His main point: pipelines are safer than rail. Science magazine editor Marcia McNutt points to pipelines' environmental benefits.
Minneapolis Scales Back Healthy Food Program
Minneapolis’ Healthy Corner Store Program launched with lofty ambitions in 2009—to help corner stores market and sell fresh food—but lackluster performance has required the city to reduce the scale of the program.
Detroit's Bankruptcy Plan Accelerates Blight Reduction
To drastically increase the rate of Detroit’s ongoing transformation, the city's bankruptcy plan, recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, would spend $520 million on its ongoing blight reduction efforts in the hopes of razing 400-500 homes a week.
BLOG POST
Urbanists Left and Right
Conservatives are becoming more visible within the smart growth movement; they differ in some ways both from liberal smart growth activists and from conventional conservatives.
Fact Checking Oregon’s Timber Harvest Debate
Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) has proposed a bill that could double harvests on more than two million acres of federal forests across Western Oregon. The timber management conversation has also spread to the state’s gubernatorial campaign.
Dallas Needs $900 Million in Street Repairs (Or Lower Standards)
A recent report to Dallas’ Transportation and Trinity River Project Committee estimated the cost of bringing its streets to its minimum standards at $900 million.
Tampa Considers How to Invest $100 Million in its Downtown
With the bonds from the Tampa Convention Center to be paid off in 2015, Tampa will soon have $100 million to spend in its Downtown Community Reinvestment Area. How should the city invest in its downtown?
Shipping Container Farms Save Water, Enable Year-Round Growth
Shipping container houses are all the rage right now. So why not a shipping container farm?
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
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.
