The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
BP Disaster Endangering Coastal Cultures
The Gulf Coast is home to diverse ethnic and racial communities that have already endured decades of pollution from chemical and petroleum industries. The BP leak may be the "nail in the coffin" for many of these communities, writes Jordan Flaherty.
Sustainably Retrofitting a Mid-Century Skyscraper
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) were brought on board to bring a 1958 SOM skyscraper up to LEED standards. Architects found that the original plans, which weren't implemented, looked pretty good by today's standards.
Struggles with Urban Farming
A ring road that has been on the books for decades is being revived in Urbana, Illinois - and would run right through a popular urban farm.
The Most Agressive Mayoral Transit Advocacy in America
Jarret Walker writes on Mayor Villaraigosa's 30/10 plan and why Los Angeles is a "smart long term bet" as a sustainable city.
Build America Bonds May Be Bad Deal for Cities
Build America Bonds, part of the economic stimulus package that are intended to help cash-strapped cities building roads and schools, have been found to cost cities and taxpayers more over the long-term.
Cisneros: Not the Government's Fault
Former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros says the housing crisis is the fault of brought unscrupulous business people, not the government.
As Developing Countries Urbanize, Food Booms
A new study shows that agricultural output in the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China will be three times as great as those in the developed world. Increasing urbanization is seen as one of the drivers of this growth
India's Transportation Infrastructure Not Keeping Up
Aging and under-maintained rail and transportation infrastructure in India could severely stifle the country's development, according to some critics.
Mega Development or Mega Disappointment?
CityCenter in Las Vegas is the most expensive development in U.S. history. As it settles into it surrounds, will the project attain visionary status, or will it be just another casino?
Visualizing New Orleans' Shifting Population
A new infographic from <em>GOOD</em> tracks population shifts in New Orleans, giving a visual representation of the changes underway in the troubled city.
BLOG POST
Parking Garages Are So Last Century
<p> The parking “epidemic” in Hoboken is so bad that no parking garage conceivable by man can contain our demand. So this week, Hoboken ventures where no city has gone before; we are <a href="http://www.hobokennj.org/news/hoboken-and-hertz-launch-first-city-wide-car-sharing-service-in-america/">rolling out</a> the nation’s first city-wide on-street car-sharing program as a public-private partnership between Hoboken and Connect by Hertz. </p> <p> <img src="/files/u20603/Corner_Car_5_Minute_Walk_Map.jpg" width="503" height="539" /> <img src="/files/u20603/cornercars_sign.jpg" width="415" height="531" /> </p>
Urban Theorist William J. Mitchell, R.I.P.
William J. Mitchell, dean of the school of architecture and planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, died last week. He was a pioneer in the use of computers for design and planning.
Vancouver Debuts Two-Way Bicycle Lane
The new bike lane is fully separated from car traffic and runs downtown on Dunsmuir Street, and is being tested for the next six months for viability.
Auckland's Privatized Transit a Warning for Toronto
As part of their "free advice" to Toronto's next mayor, that city's business lobby group the Board of Trade is recommending that the city privatize its public transit services. Bad idea, says Jim Stanford.
Does 'Grand Theft Auto' Make People Bad Drivers?
A new study says that videogames like Grand Theft Auto that encourage reckless driving may make it more likely that one would drive recklessly in the real world.
Los Angeles Finds a Communal Way to Enjoy The World Cup
Jeremy Rosenberg of Next American City examines how the people of Los Angeles get together to watch the world cup, in the absence of any primary public meeting space.
Goldman's New Headquarters in New York Conveys Sobriety
Goldman Sachs' new headquarters in New York is "modern but nowhere near the architectural cutting edge; neither cheap nor extravagant; and efficient without seeming merely functional." Paul Goldberger dissects the new Henry Cobb design.
Strife in the City of the Future
Joel Kotkin describes the plight of a Los Angeles economy that has lost "one-fifth of all its employment since 2004." Once a hopeful generator of new jobs and technology, the area has suffered the most of all the Sunbelt metros.
Living in a Jumbo Jet
A new home in Malibu, CA is being constructed using the parts from a Boeing 747. The client asked the architect to use recycled materials as much as possible, and the plane parts were relatively affordable.
City Logos for the Entire World
<em>GOOD</em> points to a new project that's trying to create and collect city logos for every city on the planet.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
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.
