The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Canada's Constitution Fuels Urban Crisis
Formed as a primarily agrarian nation, Canada is now seeing its cities crippled by constitutional arrangements that leaves its cities underfunded and with only minimal support from the federal government, writes John Macfarlane.
An Understandable Zoning Guide
New York City has released a new handbook of its zoning regulations in an illustrated, easily-comprehensible guide.
The Case Against Billboards
Ed McMahon of ULI talks about an article he's writing that will make the argument that billboards and other outdoor advertising deserve to be eliminated.
Wind Farms Buoyed By Obama Administration
The Obama administration yesterday announced that it would put $50 million dollars into speeding up the process to get offshore wind farms built along the Atlantic coast.
Corruption of Small Cities in L.A. County Reflect a Failure of Governance
The city of Bell made news in 2010 with rampant misappropriation of public funds, but the problem is still (as ever) more widespread than anyone realizes.
A Free Ride for the Homeless
A transit program in California is intended to be a lifeline for the homeless population, allowing for easier access to medical services and employment opportunities.
EPA to select 20 communities for Sustainability Program
Interested communities are invited to apply until February 23, 2011. The purpose of the program is to help interested communities adopt sustainable planning methods.
Abandoned ARC Tunnel May Become Amtrak Gateway
NJ's two U.S. Senators collaborated with Amtrak to propose an alternative to the Access to the Region's Core tunnel that N.J. Gov. Chris Christie canceled in Oct. 7. Unlike ARC, the Gateway tunnel will lead directly into Penn Station.
iPhone App Puts World in the Palm of Your Hand
"Open Buildings" App lets you discover the built environment with the touch of a screen.
Temecula Mosque Plan Approved Unanimously
The City Council of Temecula, CA decided that a proposed mosque met all zoning requirements and voted to approve its construction, despite opposition that supporters claim was fueled by religious reasons and not concerns over traffic and parking.
More Evidence that City Living is the Greenest
Ever since David Owen's book Green Metropolis pushed forward the idea that cities are better for the planet, people have been debating if it's really so. New evidence says yes.
The 40 Tools You Need to Build Your Own Civilization
The Global Village Construction Set is a group of farmers and engineers who are developing an set of open-source designs for the forty tools one would need to create a self-sufficient life living off of the land.
Religious Freedoms vs. Land-Use Laws
A Vermont couple is challenging the decision of a state zoning commission that limits their right to illuminate a 24 foot cross on their own property to several weeks around Christmas.
Religious Freedoms vs. Land-Use Laws
A Vermont couple is challenging the decision of a state zoning commission that limits their right to illuminate a 24 foot cross on their own property to several weeks around Christmas.
Green Buildings in Demand
A new poll of real estate experts reveals that businesses seeking office space are increasingly seeking buildings built with sustainability in mind.
FEATURE
Considering the Tiny Car
Transit Projects Create More Bang for the Buck
A new report from Smart Growth America finds that stimulus spending on public transit produced 70% more jobs per dollar than road spending.
Transit Can Drive Growth
Yonah Freemark dives into the 2010 Census, and finds clear evidence that focusing dense development around transit works to focus development.
Sprawling San Francisco Apt. Complex May Densify
Plans are afoot to densify one of San Francisco's biggest, most suburban apartment complexes, the 152-acre Park Merced constructed in 1941. If the Planning Commission approves the plan, the existing housing could be tripled, adding 14,000 units.
Andres Duany Says LEED and Optimization Driving Up Costs
Speaking at the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference last week, Duany said that he fears developers will give up on building sustainably because of overly onerous infrastructure costs required by LEED and other systems.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
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.
