The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Melanie Haiken shares insight into the findings of the American Fitness Index (AFI), which assesses the "Health and Community Fitness Status of the 50 Largest Metropolitan Areas."

June 4 - Forbes

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay released a wish list of projects that could be funded by a proposed sales tax to fund transportation projects.

June 3 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A Boston Globe editorial calls for the Massachusetts State Legislature to approve Bill H.4065 (An Act promoting the planning and development of sustainable communities).

June 3 - Boston Globe

HUD announced the winners of the Rebuild by Design competition yesterday, awarding $920 million to six projects in New York and New Jersey. $335 million will go toward the first phase of a 10-mile protective barrier for Manhattan.

June 3 - Next City

Los Angeles County planner Clement Lau makes a case for increasing the number of fields and facilities dedicated to a sport that is growing in popularity – soccer.

June 3 - UrbDeZine

A recent ruling that favored local homeowners over a developer in Houston had some wondering whether Houston's days as a "development free-for-all" were over. Fear not, says Stephen J. Smith.

June 3 - Next City

Esteban Bovo, chair of the Miami-Dade County Finance Committee, recently provoked the ire of transit advocates when he said that car culture is in the DNA of Miami.

June 3 - Transit Miami

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced $800,000 in funding for 15 "Great Streets" to be located around the city.

June 3 - Los Angeles Times

A recent article refutes arguments used to defend gentrification, and in so doing identifies a culprit in glossing over the negative effects of displacement in areas both urban and suburban: hipster economics.

June 3 - Al Jazeera

It's time to fund federal transportation like most other nations do—rely less on highway user fees that dedicate funds to highways and transition to funding roads from the general fund, perhaps in the same amount that they contribute to GDP.

June 3 - The New York Times - Opinion

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy announced on Monday the long-awaited proposed rule to reduce the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions. It calls for cuts of 30 percent by 2030, with the baseline year of 2005, to be finalized next year.

June 3 - The Hill

A recent study shows significant variation in commute times for students depending on where they live in New York City. The concern with the findings is that longer commute times have greater impacts on students already facing other obstacles.

June 2 - Chalkbeat New York

A writer examines what it's like to live in the suburbs and work in the city of Cincinnati—to "exist in the physical and social margins" yet still play an active role in shaping the city's identity.

June 2 - Belt Magazine

After postponing home purchases during the recession, people over the age of 55 have been the first group to return to the home buying market.

June 2 - New York Times

Spring brings out the romance in cities. Here's a bit of inspiration from Quebéc City...and Buffalo.

June 2 - PlaceShakers

The third annual rating of cities ranks the access, size, and spending of parks in the 60 largest cities in the country.

June 2 - The Trust for Public Land

Large companies are choosing cities rather than suburban office parks to locate. A recent article details how corporations can make the most of their urban environment.

June 2 - Quartz

BLOG POST

Public concern about gentrification is based on fears that out-of-control rents are pricing out the middle and lower classes. But rent is rising even in places where gentrification is not happening.

June 2 - Michael Lewyn

A high profile bill championed by California's environmental community that would have placed a moratorium on fracking and other well stimulation treatment and would have allowed more local control failed to get off the Senate floor on May 29 and 30.

June 2 - Daily Breeze

San Jose's attractive urban waterways, especially Coyote Creek, house over 1200 people living in about 66 illicit encampments, all without sanitation. It's clear that clean water and housing needs are connected. What that means is up for debate.

June 2 - California Planning & Development Report