The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Alex Steffen at WorldChanging turns the climate change problem inside out to reconsider whether the form of energy is the true issue, rather than how much is wasted and how we use it.

January 1 - WorldChanging

A NYT editorial and NYT columnist Thomas Friedman both arrive at the same conclusion - some type of gas tax is essential for both the auto bailout and Obama's goal of greening the U.S. economy.

January 1 - The New York Times

Controversy surrounds a $20 million redesign of New York City's Union Square Park.

January 1 - The New York Times

Developer Amir Ziv thought he'd received all the approvals he needed for a controversial affordable housing development in Columbia, MO - but failed to count on storm water regulations.

January 1 - The Columbia Tribune

The deepening of the housing market crisis is certainly a big deal in California. But the land use story of the year was the Legislature's passage of a measure mandating regional planning.

January 1 - California Planning & Development Report

FEATURE

January 1 - Abhijeet Chavan

The Washington Post has uncovered that the $6 billion, 25 yr. old program to clean up pollution in the Chesapeake Bay has produced little-to-no results -- and the EPA greatly exaggerated their progress.

December 31 - Washington Post

Five years ago, the Central Valley became the first area of California to ban indoor wood burning when an 'alert' was called by the air district; other air districts followed in 2008. This study, released in Nov. shows that "no burn" days save lives.

December 31 - The Fresno Bee

A new study in Houston reveals that the number of crashes at intersections with new red-light cameras has doubled from the time before they were installed.

December 31 - Houston Chronicle

The Globe and Mail remembers James Strutt, one of Canada's foremost modernist architects.

December 31 - The Globe and Mail

This brief profile in <em>Time</em> offers a look at newly-appointed Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, in his own words and in the words of others.

December 31 - Time

After 4 years of construction, the first light rail line has opened in Phoenix. NPR looks at the new transit option for the sprawling desert city.

December 31 - NPR

Obama has compared the size of the stimulus package he wants to the 1956 National Highway Act. If the states have their way, it may be just that -- a new highway bill with little left for transit.

December 31 - Bloomberg

Housing prices are falling across the country. But the decline has been relatively small in New York City, America's "Resilient City" according to Edward L. Glaeser. He says this bodes well for the city's future.

December 31 - The New York Times

Brooklyn residents have built a makeshift detour sign in an attempt to redirect drivers away from their street. A new bike lane was implemented in the fall that has removed stop signs and, according to residents, made their street unsafe.

December 31 - Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The political climate in San Francisco might seem likely to approve the city's congestion pricing plan, but opposition is strong.

December 31 - Los Angeles Times

BLOG POST

<p> Single-family detached homes typically epitomize sprawl, while 4 or 5 story apartment buildings now seem to be the utopian ideal for livable neighborhoods. But some of the most livable and walkable neighborhoods I know are largely comprised of single family homes. </p>

December 30 - Diana DeRubertis

Seattle has been allowing developers to build higher buildings in exchange for contributing to a fund for affordable housing. But with few units built, officials are hoping to rewrite the legislation to remove restrictions and get more housing built.

December 30 - The Seattle Times

Mayor John Fetterman of Braddock, PA struggles with the challenges of reviving a former steel town that has lost 90% of its peak population.

December 30 - Monthly Review

Adoption of American lifestyles abroad and a downturn in the U.S. economy are contributing to American design firms exporting suburbia around the world.

December 30 - Huffington Post