The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Tampa Bay's New Cookie Cutter High Rises
With more than ten new residential towers rising around Tampa Bay, development is booming, but why aren't the new buildings more reflective of the community and environment?
Chicago Cubs Begin Renovations on Historic Wrigley Field
The controversial 1060 Project to renovate the Home of the Chicago Cubs broke ground over the weekend on a renovation proposal that will allow a mix of uses on the ballpark property.
Bicycle Collisions, Fatalities Increasing in Boston's Suburbs
The Boston Globe crunched the numbers in a recent Massachusetts Department of Transportation report.
New York Department of City Planning Releases Flood Retrofitting Manual
As federal law shifts to address resilience in post-Hurricane Sandy New York, the Department of City Planning has released a new manual to help residents and landowners understand options for retrofitting their buildings to prepare for floods.
FEATURE
Advantages and Disadvantages of Three Online Engagement Approaches
With advancements in the infrastructure and design of websites comes new ways to engage the public. In this article, Karin Brandt, CEO and co-founder of coUrbanize, details what to consider when launching a civic engagement platform.
Seattle's Bikeshare Opens Today!
Expect to see 500 new green-and-blue shared bikes on Seattle streets or docked at 50 stations on October 13. A press conference at Pioneer Square's Occidental Park will launch Pronto Cycle Share, largely sponsored by Alaska Airlines.
More Evidence that a Fully Funded MAP-21 Reauthorization is Possible
Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is the second powerful congressman to state that a fully funded, five to six year reauthorization bill can be done, acknowledging that funding challenges lie ahead.
Looking at 'Data-Driven Government' from Inside City Hall
"Metrics" has become a buzzword in local government, but how do municipalities actually harness data to improve city services, operations, and accountability?
Beijing's One Million Underground Urban Dwellers
The October issue of Land Lines reveals the remarkable story of how an estimated one million people came to live in subterranean apartments in Beijing.
Can the Bus Be Sexy?
Transit agencies are increasingly turning to branding and advertising to improve their images. But can conservative bureaucracies embrace what it means to be "cool"? More importantly, can they attract riders?
How to Solve the Looming Water Crisis
David Sedlak, author of "Water 4.0: The Past, Present, and Future of the World's Most Vital Resource," explains how the deepening obsolescence of our water infrastructure is reaching crisis status.
Trees In Urban Design: Are You Planting a Liability or Growing an Asset?
Trees are a vital element of urban design, one that must considered at every stage of planning, design and development.
Urban Amenity: Pick Up UPS Packages at the Dry Cleaner or Pharmacy
Tired of coming home and seeing the "We Missed You" slip hanging from the door of your apartment building rather than receiving the package you had ordered online? UPS has an app for that.
Creative Placemaking: Preserve, Repair, Intensify
Many cities have long been investing in art and culture, marrying it to placemaking, and generating extraordinary local transformations. Hazel Borys offers up a little inspiration from an art opening this week, and a few pointers for urbanists.
How the Federal Government Can Support Innovation Districts
A new report by Bruce Katz of Brookings Institute discusses the federal government’s role in spurring and aiding the innovation districts found in many cities across the country today.
Study Rates Car 'Infotainment Systems' for Levels of Distraction
A study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety assessed the mental demands required of six hands-free, in-vehicle systems dialing phones and changing radio stations.
Star Apartments Offer Starchitect Treatment for L.A.'s Skid Row Homeless
The new 100-unit, $40-million Star Apartments opened in Skid Row earlier this week is part of Los Angeles County’s Housing for Health initiative to house 10,000 of the most vulnerable homeless people.
Study: 'Leaky Pipeline' Diminishes the Role of Women in Architecture
Although more women are studying architecture, equal footing is quickly lost as they progress through their careers according to a new study by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture.
De Blasio Announces $130 Million Park Equity Plan
In response to criticisms of the large investments in "big ticket" parks in wealthy neighborhoods during the Bloomberg Administration, New York City announced a park equity plan this week.
The Best Sentences of the Week
By no means authoritative or comprehensive, here's a collection of noteworthy phrases, paragraphs, commentaries, observations, and more from the recent week in the planning and urbanism discussion.
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.
