The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

City Hall Philadelphia

Is the Millennial Political Revolution Beginning in Philadelphia?

Philadelphia Inquirer Architecture Critic Inga Saffron writes of a possible political awakening among Millennials in Philadelphia in response to the old guard's efforts to stifle progressive parking and zoning decisions.

July 8 - Philadelphia Inquirer

'Go Forward' Plan Would Expand Bus Service in Cincinnati

With 41 percent of the Cincinnati region’s 1 million jobs located in neighborhoods without public transportation, the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority is developing the "Go Forward" plan to lean on bus service to fill the gap.

July 8 - Cincinnati Business Courier

Grand Canyon Development Plans Opposed by National Park Service

Two projects proposed for the South Rim plateau of the Grand Canyon have raised alarms at the National Park Service, who see a serious threat from impacts to the views, water supply, and ecology of the canyon.

July 8 - Los Angeles Times

After Tragedy: Reject the 'Ready Made' Narratives of Urban Decline

G.M. Donley pens an impassioned plea to reject "ready made" narratives about the decline of Cleveland Heights, an inner suburb of Cleveland, after the murder of local bar and restaurant owner Jim Brennan.

July 8 - Belt Magazine

Stormwater Systems as Development Incentives

The GreaterPlaces website gathered information from the "Shared Stormwater Systems as Economic Incentives" panel at the 2014 APA National Conference to outline how shared stormwater systems can enhance the environment and retain business.

July 8 - GreaterPlaces


Famous Mexico City traffic

Why and Where Driving is a Rational Choice

A recently released tool for analyzing the efficiency of travel modes in cities around the country reveals that driving is almost always a better choice—at least in travel time—than transit.

July 8 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Celebrating Public Art: Chicago in the Summer

What's better than a great plaza in the summer? Some compelling public art to go along with it.

July 8 - PlaceShakers


Chicago Metra and Highway

BLOG POST

Transit, Density, and Congestion

The most transit-oriented metro areas often have lower levels of traffic congestion than one might expect based on their size.

July 8 - Michael Lewyn

North view

Detroit Reaping Economic Development Benefits from Urban Farming

Urban farming has taken root as Detroit transforms. Now, farmers and entrepreneurs must continue to find new ways to profit from the city's new farming business model.

July 7 - The Detroit News

California's 'Emergency' Drought Relief Funding Unspent

California has approved nearly $700 million in "emergency" drought relief funding, but much of it remains unspent, which begs the question: Are emergency measures an appropriate of effective response to the drought?

July 7 - Capital Public Radio

Residents Clamor for Expanded Notification of Affordable Housing Projects in Texas

Michael E. Young reports that residents are upset about notification regarding the approval of two subsidized housing projects in the city of McKinney, located on the edge of the Dallas metropolitan area.

July 7 - Dallas News

Clearwater Florida

Should Clearwater, Florida Give Up its Downtown?

The city of Clearwater in Tampa Bay has a "sleepy" downtown, much of which is owned by the Church of Scientology. Can investments by the city revive its downtown, as it did with $30 million worth of investments in Clearwater Beach?

July 7 - Tampa Bay Times

More Disincentives for Driving Required for Philadelphia to Achieve 'Greenest' Status

Philadelphia's Mayor Michael Nutter has set a policy goal of becoming the "Greenest City in America," but the city's lack of progress in reducing automobile use is a troubling obstacle to such a lofty goal.

July 7 - Next City

Arlington Virginia

The Suburb of the Future: Arlington, Virginia

The successes of Arlington, Virginia as a suburb have been discussed by planners and urbanists before, but the model has taken on new meaning as the current urban boom send ripple effect out into nearby suburbs like Long Island and Palo Alto.

July 7 - Salon

United States Overtakes Saudi Arabia as World's #1 Oil Producer

Bloomberg News shares news of a report showing that the surge in shale oil production has made the United States the top oil and natural gas liquids producer in the first quarter of 2014 and discusses its impact on domestic and global oil prices.

July 7 - Bloomberg News

Planners Express Frustration with Inertia in Los Angeles

"Whither planning in Los Angeles?" Sam Hall Kaplan seeks to find out.

July 7 - The Planning Report

Fire

BLOG POST

The Least Popular Posts of 2014

Through the first six months of 2014, some Planetizen posts proved less than enticing to our readers. Instead of dwelling on that distinction as ignominious, let's consider how these neglected few might provide insight into the planning discussion.

July 7 - James Brasuell

Amanda Burden

New Musical Glamorizes Urban Planning

If/Then, a new Broadway musical, describes two possible lives of a dynamic, intelligent, glamorous, detail-oriented, and somewhat wonky urban planner. The character is based on Amanda Burden, who recently-retired as New York City's planning director.

July 7 - If/Then The Musical

Downtown Phoenix

Phoenix Approves Complete Streets Ordinance

Phoenix's new complete streets ordinance, approved on an 8-1 vote, is a first step toward changing the city's reputation for car-centric planning.

July 6 - AZ Central

Lac-Mégantic One Year Later

July 6, 2014 marks the one-year anniversary of North America's most catastrophic energy calamity when a runaway oil unit train carrying Bakken crude exploded in this small Quebec town killing 47 people and incinerating ten blocks of its downtown.

July 6 - NPR

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.