The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Detroit Vacant Properties

Federal Agencies Investigating the Rising Costs of Detroit's Blight Program

Detroit's aggressive blight reduction strategy, to demolish vacant homes by the thousands, is coming under scrutiny for rising costs. The FBI and the U.S. Inspector General are investigating.

May 31 - Detroit Free Press

Bike Path

A Chicago Bike Path Goes Underused

While a federally-funded network of bike paths is in the works elsewhere in the city, the Major Taylor Trail gets little use from Chicago residents. The main problems are a lack of awareness and the South Side's fearsome reputation.

May 31 - Chicago Tribune

Florida - Hurricane Frances Approaching (2004)

Op-Ed: Talking Resilience Isn't the Same as Being Resilient

Resilience, as such, isn't a problem. But Alex Beam takes issue with the current flood of resilience-related jargon. Can you blame him?

May 31 - The Boston Globe

Los Angeles

Los Angeles' Ballot Box Planning and Development Initiatives Leaders Discuss Impacts

Two major ballot initiatives would change the state of planning and development in L.A. As the housing and planning crisis reaches new levels, initiative leaders and land-use experts discuss how to create a viable path forward.

May 31 - The Planning Report

Pont Neuf

In Paris, Tough Talk on Income Segregation

As is so often the case worldwide, many Parisians live in communities distinguished by class. The city government wants to change that by inserting thousands of public housing units in wealthy central districts.

May 31 - CityLab


405 Traffic

Women Spend More Time in Traffic Than Men

On average, women spend longer in traffic than men—perhaps because of the gendered division of labor that still exists in many households.

May 31 - Pacific Standard

The fronts of three double-decker buses in London

What If Buses Could Pass Over Cars?

The latest from China: a concept for street-straddling buses that cars could pass underneath. The giant vehicles could improve worsening traffic and already-dire pollution levels, taking the place of many conventional buses.

May 31 - CityLab


Elderly Walking

10 Ways to Make Cities Livable for the Elderly

How can the New Urban Agenda respect the elderly—and make cities better for all of us in the process?

May 30 - Next City

Fort Lauderdale

Broward County, Florida to Select from Four Sales Tax Options on November Ballot

They could opt for a one percent, 30-year infrastructure tax, a .75 percent, 20-year transportation sales tax, approve both, or reject both. The two competing measures arise from differences between the county's 31 cities and county commissioners.

May 30 - Sun Sentinel

Highest Gas Prices are Lowest in 11 years

Yes, gas prices are both lowest and highest. When compared to past Memorial Day weekends, it's the lowest since 2005, and by no coincidence the highest amount of travelers will take to the roads since the same year. Guess what that is doing to VMT?

May 30 - Daily Fuel Gauge Report (AAA)

Seattle Apartments

Seattle May Follow San Francisco in Tossing Conventional Level of Service Standards

Mayor Ed Murray released a 20-year growth plan, Seattle 2035, that retains LOS, but rather than measuring vehicle congestion, measures mode share, consistent with his vision for a green and sustainable city, but rattling The Seattle Times.

May 30 - The Seattle Times

Wheelock Parkway

Inside the Mysteries of St. Paul's Wheelock Parkway

An exploration, historical and geographic, of St. Paul's Wheelock Parkway reveals the twists and turns of transportation infrastructure.

May 30 - MinnPost

A New Children's Book for Teaching Green Urbanism

Next City shares news of a colorful new book for children that introduces the objects of a environmentally-friendly build environment.

May 29 - Next City

Citi Bike Rack

Meet Citi Bike's Top Users—Some Have Pedaled More than 4,000 Miles

Some users accrue more data than others.

May 29 - New York Post

Arts District

The Arts District and the 'Missed Opportunity' of Planning in L.A.

Downtown L.A.'s Arts District transformed from an industrial sector to a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood. Now, the community's attempts to protect their vision from haphazard development illuminate Los Angeles's broken planning process.

May 29 - The Planning Report

Soup Kitchen

Talking Point in D.C. Homeless Housing Debate: 'Homeowner Lives Matter'

An already controversial proposal to disperse homeless shelters and service around Washington, D.C. is finding new ways to be controversial.

May 29 - Greater Greater Washington

Sports Authority

This Month's Bad News for Retail Could Be of the Fundamental Variety

The retail sector got a wake up call this month.

May 29 - The Record

Japanese Knotweed

One Reaction to an Invasive Plant Species: Eat It

When it comes to one particularly invasive plant species in Pittsburgh, some food retail businesses are saying, "if you can't beat it, eat it."

May 28 - The Wall Street Journal

Multnomah Falls

New Bus Service to Alleviate Congestion Between Portland and Multnomah Falls

Even natural attractions outside of urban areas have parking shortages and congestion problems.

May 28 - The Oregonian

Huge Drop in California Cap-and-Trade Revenues—Could Market Be Collapsing?

'Huge' is an understatement. Revenues were less than 2 percent of what was forecasted. The uncertainty of the continuance of the program may be responsible. The plummet in revenues to high-speed rail adds to uncertainty of the $64 billion project.

May 28 - The Sacramento Bee

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