The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

CA Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg’s bill to ease the judicial process for Sacramento’s proposed arena sails through legislature--needs final approval from governor.

September 16 - Sacramento Bee

While the alternative outlined in a long-awaited U.S. Army Corps of Engineers feasibility study envisions a major reshaping of an 11-mile stretch of the L.A. River, the recommendation falls far short of what local leaders and activists had preferred.

September 16 - Los Angeles Times

As part of Toronto’s tower renewal effort, new zoning allows for the integration of commercial and community uses into post-war tower neighbourhoods while a loan program offers up capital for energy-efficient upgrades.

September 16 - The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

The Federal Highway Administration's recent support for the use of an ITE/CNU authored walkable urban thoroughfares guide as a companion to the widely used AASHTO "Green Book" gives local transportation engineers more tools to create livable streets.

September 16 - DC.Streetsblog

Successful parks require good design in both the physical and the social realms. However according to Los Angeles County Planner Dr. Clement Lau, the former too often overshadows the latter.

September 16 - UrbDeZine

If the small city of Otsego, located 30 miles from Minneapolis, is a guide, sprawl may be poised to make a comeback as the housing market roars back to life. But larger indicators point to a withdrawal from sprawl.

September 16 - The New York Times

BLOG POST

Good planning requires clear problem and goal statements. Calling a problem an “issue” is ambiguous, which is a real problem.

September 15 - Todd Litman

Sydney's public transport system has long been criticised for its scant network, aging infrastructure and long journey times. Nicole Hasham reviews whether a new route through the city's northern beach-side suburbs will address these issues.

September 15 - Sydney Morning Herald

Amsterdam has sent its first family to go live in a ghetto on the east side of the city, now commonly known as "scum village."

September 15 - Future Cities

Did you know that sweet potatoes are only produced in a small area of North Carolina? Or that flaxseed is only grown in the country's remote northern reaches? Crop maps published by the USDA paint an interesting picture of American agriculture.

September 15 - Wired

At Franklin Park, a group of Washington city planners and their team of consultants are seeking to succeed where others have failed - revive an old D.C. park - and provide a model for similar spaces in the process.

September 15 - The Washington Post

America’s water infrastructure is behind the times. With over 240,000 water main breaks annually, and only 3.8% of wastewater being reused, the country’s water systems scored a D from the American Society of Civil Engineers on its 2013 report card.

September 15 - The Atlantic Cities

With construction cranes dotting downtown Denver's skyline, the area's growth is apparent to anyone gazing skyward. A new report released this week on the "State of Downtown Denver" quantifies the area's "unprecedented growth".

September 14 - The Denver Post

Rather than bringing a powerpoint presentation and ritzy renderings to a meeting with neighborhood residents, developer Omar Blaik brought blank sheets of paper. The result? A process devoid of the usual rancor and a denser design than zoning allows.

September 14 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Remember those recent articles in respected national news organizations that reported a million baby boomers had moved to America's 50 largest cities between 2000 and 2010? According to Wendell Cox, they had the story backwards.

September 14 - New Geography

From permeable paving to green roofs, a number of cost-effective and sustainable strategies have emerged for managing water closer to where it falls, rather than directing it into pipes. SPUR explains 8 promising tools for managing stormwater.

September 14 - SPUR Blog

According to a study by U. of Minn's Jason Cao published in the journal, Transportation, there is a positive correlation between living near light rail transit and satisfaction with life. He based it on the Hiawatha light rail line in Minneapolis.

September 14 - Salon

In the decade before George Eastman developed film, photographer John Thomson and journalist Adolphe Smith published a series of influential magazines and books exploring London's street life. PetaPixel has collected some of the images.

September 13 - PetaPixel

What Hurricane Sandy couldn't sweep into the sea a devastating fire ravaged yesterday in Seaside Park and Seaside Heights, NJ. More than 20 businesses, Funtown Pier, and a historic carousel were destroyed just months after renovations were completed.

September 13 - The New York Times

ESRI's CityEngine software enables 3D modeling of urban environments. The forthcoming version of the software will enable developers to use the 3D city modeling technology in their own software.

September 13 - ComputerWorld