The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
BLOG POST
Electric Bus, Where Art Thou?
<p> Amid the stimulus-backed hullabaloo over high speed rail, perhaps efforts by municipalities to supplant old-school diesel with new era electric bus fleets have been overshadowed. Maybe it is still too soon, but there has been little media coverage on cities making the switch from diesel to hybrid or electric buses; however, with the money that is being pumped in, and the major shift in national perspective on the importance of sustainability, energy efficiency, and pollution reduction, now is the time to bypass the delays of a hybrid “stepping stone” and leap straight for all-electric transit systems. </p>
BLOG POST
Low Impact Development
<p> A grad student in our program at Ball State told me several months ago that he wanted to do his creative project (a thesis alternative) on “low impact development.” His particular interest was in what we called “natural drainage systems” when I worked with the planners and landscape architects at Rahenkamp, Sachs Wells in Philadelphia 30 years ago.<span> </span>I told him that it was a great topic and suggested some contemporary and older resources, including an excellent 1975 publication by the Urban Land Institute entitled <em>Residential Storm Water Management.</em> I also told the student that the big issue with such systems is maintenance. </p>
Vancouver Revisits View Preservation Policy
Amid growing concern that downtown Vancouver's mandated view corridors cost too much development while making too little sense, its planners are once again debating their necessity.
Reclaiming Milwaukee: John Norquist on the Politics of Urbanism
In the second part of this Streetsblog interview, CNU President John Norquist discusses his tenure as mayor of Milwaukee and the politics behind making cities more transit-oriented and walkable.
Affordable Housing Gets $32 Million
The MacArthur Foundation has announced it will give $32 million in grants and loans to preserve and create affordable public housing through HUD, in addition to the $4 billion allotted to the agency from the stimulus bill.
Urban Bicycle Theft, a Fact of Life
In this <em>City Room</em> post, J. David Goodman blogs about his observations on bicycle theft in New York City--arguably the bike theft capital of the world.
Washington Not Stimulating New Growth Patterns
For the first time since the Carter administration, Washington is in the position of paying for seemingly everything. But how will the federal government's spending affect growth in California? Not in the way you might think, says Bill Fulton.
Slow and Steady Survives the Recession
Pittsburgh's strategy of slow, steady growth has made it the front runner for sustainable building. The city now boasts the most LEED-certified square footage in the country.
The Lending Goes On in Midsize Cities
In midsize cities across the United States, consumer borrowing has actually increased, which often leads to higher employment levels and wages than average.
Recession a Bittersweet Thing for Preservationists
Ironically, buildings unable to get funded for preservation due to a recession can also benefit from it: as development overall comes to a stop, so does the wrecking ball.
BLOG POST
Doing the Conference Circuit
<!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial">The semester has kicked into high gear and I am drowning in a sea of reading, written assignments,map-making, and special projects.<span> </span>Once in a while, I manage to emerge and dock (I know, enough of the nautical metaphors) at a lecture – or as in the last couple of weeks – at aconference.<span> </span>It is great to stepout of academia once in a while and hear what is going on in the realworld.<span> </span>I had the opportunity to attend two conferences over the past month.<span> </span>One of them – <a href="http://cityfrombelow.org/main">The City from Below</a> Conference – I attended this weekend when I returned home to Baltimore for spring break.</span></p>
White House Urban Affairs Agenda Based on Late-Night Sim City Game
It has been revealed that the White House's Urban Affairs Agenda is entirely based on a late-night round of the computer game "Sim City", played by President Barack Obama and Urban Affairs Secretary Adolfo Carrion.
Closed Wal-Mart Re-Used for New Wal-Mart
The economic recession has caused a shakedown in the retail sector, and retail powerhouse Wal-Mart has been forced to close many outlets. One city has found an innovative solution to the empty big box building left behind: put in a new Wal-Mart.
One Acronym Too Many
While completing a DEIR for the CCC on a BRT for a TND TOD, environmental planner Linda Gorman, MURP, AICP contracted acronym poisoning and had to be rushed to the hospital.
High Speed Rail Funding Dedicated Solely to Disneyland Monorail Improvements
The entire $8 billion set aside in the federal stimulus plan for high speed rail has been dedicated towards improvements on the Disneyland Monorail, a 2.5-mile train system in Anaheim, California.
Hardcore New Urbanist Can't Stop Mixing Uses
Bradley Archer, a long-time champion of New Urbanist principles, spends nearly every waking hour finding a way to get two, maybe three, uses out of everything.
Foreclosed Homes To Be Counted As Race in 2010 Census
Officials at the U.S. Census Bureau announced today that foreclosed homes had seen such an increase in numbers over the past two years that they would be included as an official race in the upcoming 2010 Census.
City Officials Favor 'Stupid Growth'
Officials in Shelbyville, Kentucky are officially adopting a citywide "Stupid Growth" policy. The city plans to release the new Shelbyville Stupid Growth General Plan, which emphasizes "building whatever."
Greener Than Greeny-Green Sustainable Homes Debut
Chartreuse and Associates, a sustainable eco-planning firm, has announced a new suburban development that they say is greener than green. The 14,000 sq ft single-family dwellings feature the latest in eco-gadgetry.
Godzilla Named Tokyo Planning Director, Announces Broad Urban Renewal Plan
Legendary gigantic lizard monster Godzilla has been named planning director for the city of Tokyo. Shortly after his appointment, Mr. Zilla revealed his urban renewal program by smashing through buildings and stomping across entire city blocks.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.
