The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Review: Smithsonian South Mall Master Plan
Writing for The Dirt, Jared Green takes a critical eye to the proposed master plan for the Smithsonian's South Mall campus, designed by high-profile Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group.

Managing the 'Uneven Growth' of the Urban Boom
A new exhibit at the New York Museum of Modern Art examines the growing pains of urbanism's ascendance.
Portland to Evaluate Neighborhood Greenway Program
Portland will launch an effort to evaluate and improve its influential neighborhood greenway system of bike friendly residential corridors.
Bridging the Gap in the Los Angeles River Greenway
A new trail segment along the Los Angeles River breaks ground in a park-poor neighborhood as part of the countywide Los Angeles River revitalization.
Focus on Scale-Up, Not Start-Up
Jose Corona of Inner City Advisors urges: to truly transform local neighborhoods, we must shift our attention to invest in enterprise scale, not start-ups, as a long-lasting solution for creating good jobs.

What Can Vancouver Teach Melbourne?
Melbourne has topped numerous global lists for its quality of life, but it certainly has room to improve. Former Vancouver Planning Director Brent Toderian sees lessons from his hometown for the world class city down under.
Restructured Gas Tax, EV Fees Proposed in Wisconsin
Gov. Scott Walker's transportation secretary is proposing a four-part tax, fee, and transfer plan to raise $750 million over the next two years. It would lower the gas tax while adding a wholesale sales tax and charge EVs and hybrids an annual fee.
Crowdfunding Civic Spaces
Although crowdfunding initially developed to support artists and entrepreneurs, crowdfunding sites are funding a growing number of public space projects.
Nike Doubles Down on its Suburban Headquarters
A plan to add 1.3 million square feet of office space at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon would more than double the company's original plans. Washington County will consider the plans for approval early next year.
Pop-Up Park Shifts Planning Attitudes in San Diego
The short-term Quartyard pop-up park in San Diego's East Village reflects the changing attitudes of the oft conservative San Diego Planning Department.
Inglewood Mayor Rebrands a City Once Known for Crime
James Butts is committed to turning Inglewood around, with economic investment and property development now on the rise.

North Carolina Planners: Where to Build Light Rail (and Should it Be Built)?
This week residents in the North Carolina Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) will provide input on key segments of a future regional light rail system. The project has been analyzed for 15 years, yet the question of whether to build it remains.
Friday Eye Candy: SPUR's Urban Cartography Exhibit
Allison Arieff provides a glimpse to the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research's new exhibit featuring interesting maps of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Reflections on Urban Public Art
Ken Lum, Professor in the School of Design, the University of Pennsylvania and Penn IUR Faculty Fellow, writes about the promise—and pitfalls—of urban public art today.

How to Marginalize the Automobile
In a column for Fast Forward Weekly, Steven Snell explores the complexities in lessening the domestication of the automobile and its perceived necessity in our day-to-day lives.

BLOG POST
Land for Vehicles or People?
Automobile-oriented planning requires that cities devote signifiant amounts of space to roads and parking—under many conditions each vehicle requires more land than is devoted to housing per capita.
The Litterati Impact: Cleaning the Planet One Instagram at a Time
#litterati. That's the hashtag. See a piece of litter, post it on Instagram, then throw the trash away. Simple.
Selling Urbanism: Don’t be an Aristarchus
As urban planners, we must not only innovate, but make our innovations count in the marketplace of ideas. We must make the benefits of livability easily understood, with a clear path for making them happen. Scott Doyon encourages rooted innovation.

Goodbye Two-Car Household; Hello Rideshare and Carshare
A new study from KPMG predicts that the U.S. will go from a majority multi-car household to one where only 43% of households have more than one motor vehicle by 2040, and rideshare and car-share, along with demographic changes, will play key roles.
Los Angeles Prepares for its Next Major Earthquake
Dr. Lucy Jones advises the city known for seismic activity on how to avert economic disaster when a natural disaster inevitably strikes.
Pagination
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
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.