The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Triangular Plazas: Flexible, Outdoor Rooms With Meaningful Uses
We often think of plazas as rectangular spaces, but unique geometries can create unexpected delight when a few simple criteria are met.
National Trust's 'ReUrbanism' Initiative Puts Adaptive Reuse Front and Center
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's ReUrbanism initiative has hit the ground running.
Editorial: A Compelling Case for a Carbon Tax
With record amounts of gasoline burned by America's passenger vehicle fleet which is increasing composed of light trucks rather than cars, and with Americans driving record distances, The Washington Post argues it's time for a carbon tax.
A Changing of the Parking Guard in Dallas
The city of Dallas is rolling out a new "parking-meter app" this week, but larger changes could be looming in the future.
The Mega-Project Game Has a New Player in Brooklyn
A proposal by AECOM would transform the Red Hook waterfront with 25-45 million square feet of residential.
FEATURE
The Bicyclists' Manifesto for an Autonomous Vehicle Future
"Policy goals" won't be enough to protect bicyclists once the cars start driving themselves. Strong standards will be necessary to govern the interactions between cars and bikes in an autonomous future.
Federal Subsidy for Private Sports Stadiums Since 2000: $3.2 Billion
Are you ready for some football…stadiums to receive massive subsidies from the federal government?
Condo Developments Trending in Boston
When more people start looking to buy a home in downtown areas, developers start to build condos. Boston provides the latest case study of this market tendency.
Smart Street Modifications Lead to a Revitalized Downtown
Lancaster, California's investment in it's primary downtown thoroughfare has sparked a renaissance in its once ailing downtown.
A Twitter Feed that Sings About Placemaking
"My twitter stream is alive with the sound of placemaking," writes Chuck Wolfe. While preparing for this week's Placemaking Week in Vancouver, he explains the importance of PPS-led programming and hopes for various panels, proceedings and events.
Finally, a Breakthrough for the New Urban Agenda
A marathon negotiation forged the compromises necessary for the New Urban Agenda to be adopted next month at the Habitat III summit in Quito, Ecuador.
Hispanic Population Growth and Dispersion Slowed Since 2007
A comprehensive study on Latino population growth in the U.S. has been released by Pew Research Center based on a study of 2007-2014 census data. Two factors are responsible for the slowing growth: reduced fertility and immigration rates.
How 9/11 Inspired Public Service as an Urban Planner
The account of how the terror and tragedy of 9/11 led an urban planner from working for a private consulting firm to working in the public sector.
High-Speed Rail: What's Good for Texas Is Good for California
It's becoming clear that Texas will beat California to having the first all high-speed train on the continent. Ethan Elkind suggests three ways that success for Texas Central's Dallas-to-Houston line will benefit the struggling California project.
Indicators of a Sustainable Urban Future.
Parking lots hurting for cars, garages being converted to storage, corporate headquarters moving from edge city to center city—these are some of things happening in U.S. cities that hold promise for change, writes former SPUR ED Jim Chappell.
The App That Puts Street Design Powers Into the Hands of Children
For the first time ever, Norway is crowdsourcing public safety information from kids—made possible through the powers of smart phones and gamification.
Taking Stock of New York's Changing Skyline Post-9/11
Fear that skyscrapers might be a persistent target of terrorist attacks did not last long beyond the days and months following 9/11. Neither terrorists nor the Great Recession have stopped the city's skyline from continuing to reaching skyward.
Seattle's 'Pathway Home' Initiative Seeks Housing First Strategy for Homeless
'Housing first' has become a policy buzzword of sorts to describe an approach to homeless services. A pair of new reports on the homelessness situation in Seattle finds consensus on the need for a housing first policy.
Los Angeles Adds New Developer Fee to Pay for Parks
The city of Los Angeles has been improving its parks resources for several years, and a new funding mechanism should help continue that trend.
Another Transit Lesson for New York (and Other Cities) from Toronto
Just as Toronto's subway cars provide an example of the benefits that await New Yorkers when their new 'open gangway' cars arrive in 2020, Toronto's extensive streetcar network also provides an example for New York — of what not to do.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.
