The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The Good News that Almost Was for U.S. Offshore Wind Advocates
The anticipated approval of the largest proposed offshore wind farm in the U.S., a 90-megawatt facility off Montauk on Long Island, was unexpectedly delayed. But what will soon be the nation's first offshore wind farm did receive some good news.

Bertha Effect: Tunnel Project Delayed Until 2019, Plus $223 Million in Overruns
The chickens have come home to roost in Seattle, where the state has tallied up the cost and time overruns for the Highway 99 tunnel project.

Too Much Programming, Not Enough Protesting at Philadelphia's Dilworth Park
The Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer raises pointed questions about the purpose of public space such as Dilworth Park, which has been absent of protests since it was remodeled two years ago.
Tax Increment Financing Key to Redevelopment of Former Chrysler Plant in St. Louis County
A logistics park in Fenton, expected to attract $382 million in investment, will move forward with $50 million in tax increment financing.

Portland, Maine Is Ready to Tackle its Housing Shortage
Like many cities around the country, Portland, Maine is faced with rising costs for housing as demand outpaces supply.

Meet the 'Top 10 Private Sector Disrupters in Transportation'
Names like Zipcar, Uber, and Musk can be found on the list, along with names that aren't quite household…yet.

Friday Eye Candy: Tour Downtown L.A. Before Urban Renewal
The New Yorker has produced a video comparing the streets of Downtown Los Angeles on either side of a 70-year span of history.

Train Connection from Boston to Montreal Leaves the Station
An early approval from the Federal Railroad Administration has set the Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative in motion.

Bikeshare Goes Live in Portland
The long awaited arrival of bikeshare has become a reality in Portland, Oregon.
How Will L.A.'s New Inglewood Football Stadium Revitalize South Los Angeles?
The Los Angeles Rams COO details both the stadium's sustainable design and the positive impact the privately funded complex will have on Southern California.

4 Reasons Home Ownership Won't Close the Racial Wealth Gap
Homeownership is often promoted as a way for low-income and minority families to build wealth. But it is those very families who assume the most risk in buying a house.
The Part of Cleveland You Didn't See During the Republican Convention
WBUR's Here & Now ventures outside the Quicken Loans Arena to see a distressed part of the city and region, similar to parts of Detroit and Flint. Residents want abandoned homes demolished. Take the audio driving tour of East Cleveland.

California's Rural Communities Want Transit, Too
Parts of California’s rural, working-class Central Valley see virtually no transportation investment, leaving many residents stranded in the heat.

Grants Awarded to Boost Agriculture Projects in Conservation Districts
Forty-two conservation districts in 25 state received grants totaling $2 million this week. The funding will create technical assistance opportunities for urban agriculture and conservation projects.

Transportation Catching Industry as the Leading Cause of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A new study from University of Michigan researchers tallies, and then compares, the greenhouse gas emissions from different sectors of the U.S. economy.

Friday Funny: Seattle Street to Pay Homage to Pac-Man
The people's choice: Pac-Man.

A Portrait of the Nation's Inclusionary Zoning Policies
The number of inclusionary zoning programs is growing quickly around the country. A recent study by the National Housing Conference takes stock of this prominent affordable housing tool.

New York's Proposed 'Clean Energy Standard' Includes Nuclear
New York's Clean Energy Standard, if approved, would mark the first time a state put a price on carbon emissions.

Study: Bureaucracy Restricts Housing Supply
A recent study by Trulia concentrates on elasticity (i.e., the rate at which housing stock grows, relative to demand), and arrives at the conclusion that bureaucracy, not regulation, is responsible for rising housing prices.

Study: Land Use Regulation Restricts Housing Supply
A new paper studies the impacts both of specific land use regulations and land use regulations in the aggregate.
Pagination
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.