The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Uber Drivers Are Helping the Company Kill Their Own Jobs

Uber needs only a few more years to start its driverless mobility services. Meanwhile its million-plus self-employed drivers are providing the company with money, data, and future customers before their jobs get permanently ditched.

December 14 - Cities of the Future

Virginia Capital Trail Map

One Year After Opening, Virginia Capital Trail a Bike Infrastructure Success Story

The Virginia Capital Trail is transforming the state's middle peninsula, according to Mobility Lab.

December 14 - Mobility Lab

Englewood Southside Neighborhood

More $1 Vacant Lots for Sale in Chicago

With some 20,000 vacant lots located around the city, Chicago is expanding the Large Lots Program that allows property owners to buy nearby lots for $1.

December 14 - Chicago Tribune

Pedestrian Crosswalk

FEATURE

Thinking Beyond the (Autonomous) Vehicle: The Promise of Saved Lives

While car companies and federal regulators concentrate on the mechanisms of automated vehicles, they're still overlooking the ability for the car to connect with the outside world. The benefit of such a focus could come in lives saved.

December 13 - William Riggs

Paid Parking

BLOG POST

Charging for Parking to Finance Public Services

Donald Shoup, Quan Yuan, and Xin Jiang guest blog about their recent article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.

December 13 - JPER


The U.S. Treasury

It's Not Just HUD

Though the HUD choice seems an odd, unqualified one, we should be looking beyond HUD however: Here's why Mnuchin at Treasury is even more worrisome.

December 13 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Single Room Occupancy Hotel,

The Evolution of SROs and Supportive Housing for San Francisco's Homeless

The San Francisco Chronicle released a series of reports in a special "Beyond Homelessness" edition on San Francisco's attempts to address chronic homelessness. The city spends $112 million annually to operate 75 aging single-room-occupancy hotels.

December 13 - San Francisco Chronicle


Main Street

What Makes a Good Main Street Work?

What Makes a Good Main Street Work? Kaid Benfield uses Corning, New York, to illustrate five key elements.

December 13 - PlaceShakers

Bmorebikeshare

The Secret to Baltimore's Bikeshare Success: E-Bikes

Baltimore's still-new bike share system is off to a strong start, running 40 percent of its fleet on small electric motors.

December 13 - Greater Greater Washington

TOD Sign

Smart Growth America, FTA Offer Assistance in Making the Most of TOD

Technical assistance is coming to five U.S. cities thanks to the National Public Transportation/Transit-Oriented Development Technical Assistance Initiative.

December 13 - Smart Growth America

Pasadena's Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance Called Out as a 'Poison Pill'

Pasadena's accessory dwelling unit is designed more to prevent than accommodate accessory dwelling units. Planner and Pasadena resident Jonathan P. Bell implores the city's Planning Commission to reform it.

December 13 - UrbDeZine

Edmonton, Canada

Downtown Edmonton Hopes to Flip Parking to Parks

The Canadian city is working to take 18 downtown lots and convert them from surface parking to green space.

December 13 - CBC News

Amazon Fresh Truck

Amazon Weakening Communities and Local Governments, Report Finds

Amazon is placeless. The company doesn't have a physical presence, create jobs, or pay taxes in most of the places where it does business — and it's having a profound impact on the health of cities and towns, a new report finds.

December 13 - Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Presents for 'Plannerds'

The fourth annual edition of holiday gift ideas for that "plannerd" in your life, from L.A. County Planner Clement Lau.

December 12 - UrbDeZine

How To Turn a Contaminated Parking Lot Into a World-Class Public Space

Tulsa's Guthrie Green proves Tulsa, Oklahoma isn't just known for parking craters any longer.

December 12 - Modern Cities

Transit Rendering

Freedom and Liberty Through Public Transit?

In PlanPhilly, a discussion on Jarrett Walker's brand of humanities-infused transit planning. The wonky stuff is all well and good, but in the end it's all about simple access and freedom of movement.

December 12 - PlanPhilly

San Francisco Street

Op-Ed: San Francisco's New Urban Design Guidelines Could Backfire

John King argues that the city's new guidelines may leave too many loopholes open, potentially defeating their purpose: well-integrated new buildings.

December 12 - San Francisco Chronicle

California State Water project

California Water Plan Foretells Tension Between Cities, Farmers

Recognizing the ongoing drought's severity, Sacramento is set to adopt a new statewide conservation plan. But some say the regulations don't place enough pressure on California's agricultural sector.

December 12 - KPCC

One World Trade Center

How Should Lower Manhattan Handle Its Crowd Problem?

In the period since 9/11, Lower Manhattan has undergone a residential boom. With daytime professionals and tourists also in the mix, the strain is showing.

December 12 - The New York Times

Atlanta

Atlanta Hopes to Help Some Neighborhoods Stay 'Displacement-Free'

A motion in City Council would open the door to new protections for gentrifying areas.

December 12 - Atlanta Daily World

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.