The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

St. Louis' Multi-Family Market Ready for Takeoff
Permits to rehab existing multi-family buildings have skyrocketed in St. Louis.
Anchorage Considers Densification
In a city of sprawling surface parking, increased density may help close a serious affordable housing gap as Anchorage, Alaska, seeks ways to make development more affordable.
California's Population Now Tops 39 Million
New figures released by the California Department of Finance show that the state grew by 346,000 (to July 1, 2015). As in past years, the increase comes from natural births and immigration while more left the state than entered.
States React to Tax Impacts of Dropping Gas Prices
Certain states have had to scramble to restructure their gas taxes as gas prices have dropped—and kept dropping—lest transportation funds hit empty.
Facebook to Offer Cash for Employees to Live Closer to Work
Here's one way to improve jobs-housing balance: employers can incentivize short commutes by helping to pay for the cost of housing.
7 Finalists Chosen for Obama Presidential Center Design
Now we know who will compete for one of the most coveted design contracts in the country: the presidential library that will bear Barack Obama's name.
Which Fears Are Blocking Solutions in Your City?
A former planning commissioner recalls often being surprised at the passion and anger displayed toward small changes around the city of San Francisco, and attempted to get to the nature of the fear driving the opposition.
An Early Look at Seattle's Sound Transit 3 Ballot Initiative
Seattle is in the process of drafting a $27 billion transit funding initiative for the November 2016 ballot.
16 Case Studies of Workforce Housing Protection
A new report from the Urban Land Institute responds to what it argues is a housing crisis among lower- and middle-income workers.
Chicago Launches Loop Link BRT Service
Until this weekend, CTA buses in Downtown Chicago averaged a speed of 3 mph. The Loop Link is designed to improve those results.
Leasing to Spur Growth in Small and Medium-Sized Wind Turbines
Can wind power gain the popularity of rooftop solar? A Brooklyn start-up is betting it can with the leasing of turbines, particularly to farmers and rural residents.

Unique Garbage Challenges in Juneau
Juneau, Alaska's tiny capital city, is not accessible from elsewhere by road. Its isolation makes waste disposal problematic and expensive, spurring an aggressive recycling effort.

Los Angeles to Redesign Its 'Worst Public Space'
Josh Stephens reports on the Pershing Square Renew Design Challenge, an effort to redo one of the "world's worst squares and plazas." The new Pershing Square may hearken back to the years before its misguided 1992 redesign.
Cities Lead the Way in Meeting Paris Climate Goals
To meet the U.N.’s global warming targets, city leadership is critical.

Jakarta's Titantic 25-Mile Seawall
Indonesia's capital, population 10 million, is slowly sinking below sea level. To protect itself and drive the economy, the city is building a 25-mile bird-shaped seawall, to be topped with luxury development.

Soaking-Up New York's Filthy Water With a Sponge Park
A 2,100 square foot park on the banks of New York City's Gowanus Canal is part of a plan to catch pollutants from storm off from draining into the already polluted waterway.
New Delhi Restricts Diesel Cars; Beijing Issues Second Red Alert
It took an act of the Supreme Court for India to address the incredibly unhealthy levels of particulate matter in New Delhi. New rules are aimed at diesel cars, SUVs, and taxis. In Beijing, pollution triggered a red alert for only the second time.
Wastewater Treatment Plant to Produce Fuel for City Vehicles
With transportation the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in California, San Mateo will be the first city to reduce emissions by using biogas produced at its wastewater treatment plant for use in city vehicles.

Minor Tweaks and Major Advancements Suggested for L.A.'s Parking System
Responding to aggravated parkers in Los Angeles, a citizen's advisory committee has come up with a raft of recommendations to make parking fines fairer and to add technological innovation for finding a parking space and avoiding tickets.

Philadelphia Attempts Urban Intervention to Fix Its 'Most Boring Street'
Surrounded on all sides by glassy, modern towers, Philly's West Market Street has lacked the sort of attractions that have brought downtown workers to neighboring streets.
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.