The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Buses Add Car Racks to Ease L.A. Drivers' Uneasy Transition to Transit
Rising gas prices have pushed many in L.A. to ditch their cars in favor of public transit. But the switch has been tough for some car-tethered Angelenos, so the MTA has added car racks to its buses for those not ready to leave their cars behind.
Smart City Accidentally Downloads Virus
A brand new city in South Korea -- wired with smart grid technologies, a real-time control platform, deep sensing, simulation, and advanced analytics -- has accidentally downloaded a major computer virus.
Sharing Burritos Across the Border
Architecture prof. Ron Rael redesigns the U.S./Mexico border to encourage interesting interactions rather than just exclusion.
Los Angeles' First New Office High Rise in 22 Years Approved
The skyscraper, developed by Thomas Properties and financed by Korean Air, required a new signage district and a TFAR transfer. The development will provide a link between the Financial District and the emerging Figueroa Entertainment Corridor.
Chinese Megamall 99% Empty
New South China Mall in Dongguan, China has been 99% vacant since it was built in 2005. Is Chinese development running amok? Sarah Goodyear looks at a recent documentary that explains why the mall was built.
The Tricky Business of "Taxing" Non-Profits
Payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) are a popular new way for cash-strapped cities to add to their revenue by swapping voluntary payments from nonprofits for property taxes. The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy evaluates this novel practice.
Shipping Containers for the Homeless
A project now being considered by the City of Vancouver, B.C., would overhaul a handful of shipping containers to provide housing for the homeless.
The Worst Cities for Traffic
INRIX, a traffic analysis company, recently released its 100 Most Congested Metros list. Los Angeles and New York predictably come out on top, but the more interesting finding is that traffic has increased significantly.
WalMart and Target: Your New Neighbors
Who ever heard of "small-box stores"? Retail experts say the Walmarts and Targets of the world should have great success with smaller stores in urban settings.
The Architecture of Openness
Critic Christopher Hume says that "an architecture of openness" is overtaking Toronto, foregoing individual personality for a greater sense of community and connectivity.
Caught on Camera: Deadly Traffic Crashes in China
Heze City police in the Shandong province of China recently aired accident footage from traffic cameras as a public service announcement to raise awareness for road safety.
The Return of the Gravel Road
The paved roads that finally brought rural America into the 20th century are starting to disappear across the Midwest in the 21st.
Google to Transform Kansas City into Broadband Wonderland
Google announced that it had chosen Kansas City, Kansas as the launching site for an experimental fiber-optic network with speeds of up to 1 Gb per second.
Next Great Investment? Electric Vehicle Chargers
Rocco Pendola discusses the potential for electric vehicles to emerge as a meaningful mode of alternative transportation in the United States.
Where Bike Commuting Happens
This series of graphics shows which states do the most for bicycle commuters, and which states have the most bicycle commuters.
Portland Streetcar Extension Plans Prompt Questions
Officials in Portland are keen to expand the city's streetcar system with a proposed $458 million extension project. But some questions about the project remain unanswered.
Giving Communal Housing A Shot
Seeing an unfilled niche in the housing marketplace, developers in suburban Seattle are trying to build a communal housing development.
Reasons and Options for Shrinking Cities
As cities like Detroit show major population losses in the enumeration of the 2010 Census, experts discuss why cities are shrinking on this episode of the <em>Diane Rehm Show</em>.
Truly Public Space Disappearing
As cities grow, the spaces within them that are truly public diminish, according to this piece. But even with few public spaces, public activities can still thrive.
Landscape Architects' Influence Grows
As green spaces and public areas increase in demand, more and more projects are being awarded to landscape architects rather than architects, some foresee a potential professional turf war.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
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.
