The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Renovation of Ruined Castle Selected Britain's Best Building
This year's Stirling Prize, the highest honor awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects, has gone to Witherford Watson Mann architects for their deft renovation of historic Astley Castle, which was destroyed by fire in 1978.
One of America's Most Influential Landscape Architects Dies at 78
Innovative landscape architect James van Sweden, who along with Wolfgang Oehme created the “New American Garden” style of design, died last week at his home in Washington D.C.
Are Montreal and Toronto in Danger of Losing Their Bike Share Systems?
Montreal's Bixi is one of the most replicated bike-sharing systems in the world, but the publicly backed company has struggled with financial troubles since debuting in 2008. Outstanding payments due to Bixi are the latest threat to the company.
How Do You Grow One of the World's Densest Cities Without New Land?
Singapore has built skywards and taken back land from the sea to accommodate its booming population. But as the city-state runs out of options for future growth, it's looking underground to build infrastructure, offices, and even public spaces.
A Fight Over the Future of "America's 'Most Livable' Community"
LA's trendy Silver Lake neighborhood "is going through a full-blown, divisive identity crisis." Amid trendy boutiques and million dollar homes are bastions of poverty and crime. Activists are divided on how to define, let alone address, its problems.
Yes, CDCs Must Do it All
Communities are complex. And the truth is, CDCs are in key positions to bring all the moving parts together, so they must work comprehensively. All the elements of a good neighborhood—schools, retail, housing, jobs, food—are strategic to each other.
Bill Fulton On What It Will Take to Rebuild San Diego's Planning Department
Bill Fulton, noted Smart Growth advocate and Director of Planning for the City of San Diego, looks to rebuild a department and pass community plans in the wake of San Diego's leadership crisis. In this interview, he describes the path ahead.
From Bust to Boom: Bankrupt City's Home Prices Skyrocket
Before Detroit's bankruptcy, Stockton held the ominous title of largest city in the U.S. to go bankrupt. Unlike Detroit, it was largely tied to the foreclosure crisis. Home prices have jumped 30% in the last year. What caused the turnaround?
Can Bill Gates Provide America's Next 800 Years of Electricity?
He's transformed the personal computer, health outcomes in the developing world, and education opportunities in the U.S. For Bill Gates's next act, the Microsoft founder is trying to turn atomic trash into treasure.
Will Portland Lose its Status as America's Bike Commuting Champion?
While bike commuting is gaining nationwide, it's actually dropping in Portland which has held the enviable title of tops in bike commuting for large cities since 2005. Minneapolis and Seattle, #2 and #3 respectively, are gaining, warns BikePortland.
Why Transit Is Only Marginally Important to Transit-Oriented Development
In addition to some interesting findings regarding the relative benefits of investment in bus rapid transit, a new report from ITDP reached some fascinating conclusions concerning the factors most important to maximizing transit investment.
Will Anyone Hire Santiago Calatrava After this Exposé?
While many of Santiago Calatrava's anatomically-inspired designs are lauded, in Valencia - the architect's birthplace and the city where he's built the most - Calatrava is reviled for cost overruns, exorbitant fees, and inexplicable design errors.
Not So Fast Feds, Say D.C. Planners, We Want Major Changes to Height Limits
In D.C.'s ongoing height limit saga, the other shoe has dropped. Just two weeks after the federal government recommended minimal changes to the limits, their partner in the study - D.C.'s Office of Planning - has come to a very different conclusion.
Why Affordable Housing is an Environmental Issue
Improving our cities and suburbs is just as important to environmental sustainability as regulating pollution or conserving undeveloped land, argues Kaid Benfield.
In Five Short Years, High-Speed Rail Revolutionizes Chinese Transport
Five years after it opened, it looks like China's bet on high-speed rail is paying off. The system has increased mobility and worker productivity and stimulated development in areas near stations. The country will continue to expand the system.
Copenhagenizing Moscow
A new report by Danish firm Gehl Architects presents recommendations for transforming car-cluttered Moscow. A compact city center along with a strong desire for change are potential building blocks for a human-friendly and sustainable city.
Can Chicago Ride Its Rails to Economic Growth?
Chicago's position as a central hub for manufacturing and shipping helped establish the city as the economic powerhouse of the Midwest. A new report recommends the city update that infrastructure to grow the region's economy.
Finally, California Has a Safe-Passing Law!
Good news for all cyclists riding on Calif. roadways came from Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday when he attached his signature to a bill making it law that drivers give bicyclists at least 3 feet of space when passing from behind - only took him 5 years!
Are Planners Responsible for America's Obesity Epidemic?
Many factors have contributed to America's obesity crisis, but the design of the built environment has had an undeniable role. A new study shows that living in a smart growth community can increase physical activity among children.
10 Cities Most at Risk From Natural Disasters
Natural disasters affect millions of people each year, and cost between $60 billion and $100 billion worldwide. Here are the 10 global cities most at risk.
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.
