The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Top 100 City Innovators Worldwide
To celebrate its first anniversary, Future Cities has assembled a list of the top 100 city innovators making the biggest difference across a range of industries and specialties.
Sipping from the Tea Party Cup: A Call for an Urbanist Revolt
Musing on the discussion at last week's Citylab conference, Jarrett Walker finds a surprising convergence with the ideology of America's Tea Party: "Big and active national government may not be the answer." Would cities be better off going it alone?
Seeking an Automotive Balance in Philly
The city continues to grapple with the practical implications of local planning legend Edmund Bacon's prescriptions for carless streets.
Despite Sandy Disruption, Amtrak Has Another Historic Year
For the tenth time in eleven years, Amtrak hit another historic high in ridership in FY 2013. While overall ridership was up one percent, revenues were up more than 4 percent.
Protecting San Francisco's Character Has Transformed It
By "protecting" San Francisco's physical character through down-zoning and NIMBY activism, the city has transformed its social character, as families, young adults, and others flee the city to find cheaper rents. A regional solution is required.
Answers on the Nation's First VMT Fee Law
With Oregon set to implement their vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) fee program, Streetsblog's Tanya Snyder provides answers to ten questions, including the privacy challenge, that she posed to ODOT’s Jim Whitty, architect of the program.
NYC Developers Prepare to Fight Inclusionary Zoning
Bill de Blasio, NYC's likely next mayor, has proposed passing inclusionary zoning regulations to increase the city's supply of affordable housing. Other cities have struggled with such regulations, raising questions about its effectiveness.
Why Have L.A. Officials Ignored the Dangers of Concrete Buildings for 40 Years?
Across Los Angeles, more than a thousand concrete buildings built before the mid-1970s are at risk of collapse during an earthquake. With the area overdue for a substantial shaker, time is running out to identify at-risk structures and save lives.
Making the Camera Your Friend
The role of photography in urban planning should not be underestimated. Visual communication is incredibly important and powerful. Michael Heater provides a guide to using photos to remember, inspire, and create.
Smell This: The History of Architecture, Told Through Scent
For those who think architectural history isn’t something to sniff at, a new exhibition at the California College of the Arts aims to convince otherwise.
England's Rust Belt Cities Struggle to Find Their Post-Industrial Footing
While London struggles with "supergentrification" and rising home prices, England's rust belt cities suffer from long-term decline and the withdraw of public spending. How can these places find their post-industrial footing?
The Next Big Thing: "Sit-able Cities"
Supported by imagery of human urban conduct, Chuck Wolfe argues that walkable is good, but sit-able is better—and that "it’s time for the next big focal point and the next big idea, the 'Sit-able City'."
What if the Smart Cities of the Future Are Full of Bugs?
In an excerpt on Places from his new book, Smart Cities, urban forecaster Anthony Townsend considers the inevitable glitches.
Toronto Asks: How Dense Is Too Dense?
A decade of high-rise condo construction has transformed Toronto's skyline. But it appears the sky's not the limit when it comes to more skyscrapers. A proposal to build three 80-story towers designed by Frank Gehry has sparked a debate over density.
One of the Nation's Fastest Growing Cities Wants to Gobble Up 8,000 More Acres
After waiting more than five years, Elk Grove, one of the fastest growing cities in California and the country, will soon learn whether it can expand its planning area by another 8,000 acres to accommodate more residents.
What a Rich Client and Complete Design Freedom Produces
In a slideshow of stunning photos by renowned photographer Iwan Baan, The New York Times shows the latest example of what spending an estimated $6 billion a year on architectural splendors will buy you.
A Hollywood Icon Becomes Overexposed
The Hollywood sign is a global icon and magnet for travelers to L.A., who seem unwilling to admire it from afar. For the residents of the neighborhoods underneath the historic sign, the hordes of tourists bring safety and quality of life concerns.
NYC's Open Data Rollout Collides With Reluctant Departments
The NYPD's failure to produce usable traffic crash data, or agree to change their data gathering and reporting procedures, is just one example of the obstacles confronting implementation of the city's landmark open data law.
Fracking Finds Few Takers in Europe
As hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, transforms America's energy sector and environmental policy, Europe has been reluctant to embrace the drilling technique. Will this reluctance harm the continent's economic growth and emission curbing efforts?
Roundabouts Win Again, This Time on "MythBusters"
“MythBusters” has put another urban debate to bed. According to a recent episode of the Discovery Channel show, roundabouts really are more efficient than four-way stops.
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.
