The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

As the U.S. military infuses smart growth principles into the planning for its bases, leaders can learn from one facility located south of Washington, DC that's been able to accommodate dramatic growth with smart planning and innovative initiatives.

August 9 - DC.Streetsblog

BLOG POST

Any leader is only as good as their team, and supporting your team's work while earning their trust and respect is the number one responsibility of a good leader. Here are six additional thoughts on what makes a good municipal leader.

August 8 - Brent Toderian

We hear a lot about the next leap forward in transportation, whether it be Elon Musk's Hyperloop or Tel Aviv's floating pods. But in focusing on the latest fantasy, are we harming our ability to address the problems of the present?

August 8 - The Atlantic Cities

The U.S Department of Labor is holding up the distribution of billions of dollars in transit funding destined for San Diego, Sacramento, Los Angeles and other California cities due to a new state pension law's impact on transit workers.

August 8 - Los Angeles Times

In the Stapleton neighborhood of Denver, developer Forest City has recognized the growing interest in urban gardening by partnering with The Urban Farm Company to offer ready-made raised-bed gardens to homebuyers.

August 8 - The Denver Post

The results of a recent survey indicate the primary reasons for the steady decline in the number of young Americans getting drivers' licenses. Hint: the top reason isn't that it costs too much to own a car.

August 8 - The Washington Post

FEATURE

Until gated community ownership organizations are held accountable for the actions of their residents and security agents we will see the use of "stand your ground" arguments as veils for deeper racial and socioeconomic profiling.

August 8 - Edward J. Blakely

The group, Bay Area Citizens, worried about loss of property values and quality of life, will be represented by the libertarian Pacific Legal Foundation, which will use CEQA as the basis of the lawsuit against regional agencies MTC and ABAG.

August 8 - San Francisco Chronicle

With 174 stations in DC, and more than 200 throughout the region, Capital Bikeshare has logged almost 5 million rides since it launched in 2010. The program's immense popularity has caused some problems however, with demand often outstripping supply.

August 8 - The Washington Post

This week, the Illinois DOT kicked off a set of public meetings to "redefine" Chicago's Lake Shore Drive. At the first meeting, a decidedly pro-car and anti-bicyclist sentiment crept into the comments.

August 8 - Chicago Tribune

Besides its beautiful gorges, Ithaca is famous as the home of Cornell University (and Ithaca College). Could the way they've insulated the city from the economic troubles that've plagued upstate New York provide a model for other struggling cities?

August 8 - The New York Times

The term "sustainability" carries so much baggage that we're no longer able to talk about what we actually need to talk about. What can we do to depoliticize it?

August 8 - PlaceShakers

As D.C. debates the value of subsidizing the construction of a soccer stadium on a site in Buzzard Point, Dan Malouff argues that such facilities should be judged as cultural amenities, rather than business investments.

August 8 - Greater Greater Washington

In a speech yesterday, President Obama announced his long-awaited proposals for reforming America's housing and mortgage markets in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Observers criticized his mixed message on renting and homeownership.

August 7 - The New York Times

In a bit of political deja vu, opponents (many from his own party) who once derailed Gov. Jerry Brown's Peripheral Canal waterway plan have lined up to defeat his latest proposal for meeting the state's future water needs.

August 7 - Los Angeles Times

In a recent column in The Times, Thomas Friedman exalted America's metropolitan revolution. But in cities like Chicago, the 'most exciting innovations in governance' have failed to improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of residents.

August 7 - Chicago Reader

Could the Hamptons have a new rival for New Yorkers seeking a little fun in the sun? With $7 million allocated, plans to transform Lower Manhattan's desolate, trash-strewn waterfront into a 'premier staycation destination' are moving forward.

August 7 - New York Daily News

While Angie Schmitt doesn't ask this question in her article on the movement behind these lanes, she writes that cities without them "are being left behind". They're popular because they effectively address the #1 reason for not riding: safety

August 7 - Momentum Magazine

The mixed successes of Britain's post-war 'new town' and 'expanded town' developments offer some valuable lessons for those seeking to solve the country's acute housing shortage.

August 7 - The Economist

As the State of Illinois and City of Chicago begin envisioning the future of North Lake Shore Drive, a coalition of 15 local advocacy groups have put forth a plan to return the artery to the original vision put forth by Daniel Burnham.

August 7 - Chicago Sun-Times