The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Large Park Expansion Coming to Seattle's Chinatown
A construction project seeking construction bids will double the size of Hing Hay Park, located in Seattle's Chinatown-International District.
Reports Surveys Property Tax Burdens in all 50 States
The annual "50-State Property Tax Comparison Study" offers a thorough resource for understanding the role of property taxes in fiscal responsibility at the municipal level.
Have You Spotted Any Rainbow Crosswalks?
These colorful crosswalks, recently installed in San Francisco's Castro District, are spreading. Latest city: Key West, Florida. Another aspect of their attractiveness is price: $4,000 for a four-crosswalk intersection. Guess who paid?
BLOG POST
Three Reasons to Use Livability as a Vehicle for Sustainability
Meghan Gough, assistant professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University, guest blogs about her work on balancing livability and sustainability.
'High-Rent Blight' on the Rise in Manhattan Retail Districts
Why are so many shops closing in New York's richest and best-known neighborhoods?
Neighborhood Activists Mobilize Against Mid-Rise Developments in Toronto
There are neighborhoods where residents are concerned about new developments raising prices, and there are neighborhoods where residents are concerned about new developments lowering home values. Toronto is currently dealing with the latter.
Proposed Atlanta BeltLine Budget Jumps 27 Percent
The improving economy will allow planners and city officials to expand work on the Atlanta BeltLine.
Chattanooga Mayor: No Chance for High-Speed Rail to Atlanta
A proposed plan to connect Chattanooga and Atlanta via high-speed rail, 17 years in the making, appears to be dead in the water. Chattanooga will now turn its attentions to a possible light rail system.
Ohio's Experiment in Public-Private Partnership Just Tripled in Cost
The Portsmouth Bypass will provide Ohio's first test case of public-private partnership on a major transportation project. As such, the news about the project's ballooning costs could have been better.
The Real Estate Rebound Comes to Southwest Denver
The Denver Post reports that a forgotten corner of Denver is showing signs of recovery from the foreclosure crisis.
On the Ground in the Effort to Save Detroit's Neighborhoods
As Detroit's efforts to stabilize its neighborhoods progress, valuable lessons and trends are emerging. One particularly bright spot was recently revealed: fewer homes are in need of demolition than originally thought.
Record Memorial Day Travel Due to Low Gas Prices, Improved Economy
In addition to record travel this Memorial Day, the U.S. DOT reports that March broke the record for the most vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Gas prices, though rising since late March, are predicted to drop and remain low through the end of 2015.
The Wisdom of Taxing Land for What It's Worth
Most cities in the United States tax land according to what an owner builds on it. That's great if you're an owner, but lousy if you're a city that wants something cool built on it. The solution: tax it according to what an owner can build on it.
MassDot Planning a New Bridge Into Cape Cod
A potential public-private partnership would add a third bridge into Cape Cod.
BLOG POST
Well Done Vancouver! Well Done Planners!
In Vancouver, British Columbia, dramatic reductions in automobile travel and resulting benefits demonstrate that integrated TDM and smart growth policies can help create cities that are healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Left Behind in Dallas' Suburban Boom: the Urban Core
Some planners and government officials in Dallas are concerned about the suburban boom occurring in counties north of Dallas. The reasons why are reminiscent of the Rust Belt in the 1960s.
Oregon Moves Forward With 'Unprecedented' Plans for Coastal Golf Course
Inside the deal that could open a huge swatch of highly protected Oregon coastal land to a developer with plans for a golf course.
Toronto Chief Planner Supports Gardiner Expressway Removal
Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat has broken rank from Mayor John Tory on the issue of whether to replace or remove an elevated highway along the city's waterfront. The cost to replace the expressway, $919 million, is more than removing it.
Why Raise Gas Taxes When Surplus General Funds are Available to Fix Roads?
In Michigan, after voters defeated a sales tax hike that would have triggered a gas tax hike, General Fund revenues are dedicated to roads. South Carolina legislators, eying a gas tax hike, may direct surplus General Fund revenues to roads instead.
Another Scary Example of Driving with Impunity
Seattle Bike Blogger Tom Fucoloro directed his ire at the Bellevue, Washington police treatment of a particularly horrendous pedal misapplication crash by a new driver that came within inches of hitting a nine-month old baby asleep in a crib.
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
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.
