The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Vision for Chicago Riverwalk Set to Get Big Check from Feds
An ambitious vision for transforming a six-block segment of the Chicago River into six themed recreation areas looks almost certain to become a reality now that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has promised the project a $100 million federal loan.
Chinese Cities Take Steps to Tame the Housing Dragon
According to Michael Pettis, who teaches finance at the University of Beijing and is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, China "is awash in cash and credit," stoking fears of an out of control housing bubble.
In Bloomberg, NYC Preservationists Find a Friend
During Michael Bloomberg's time in office, New York City has protected more historic sites than under any of his predecessors. The 41 new or expanded historic districts have developers fuming over what they see as planning overreach.
Transportation Secretary on Spending Binge Before Leaving Office
Bus rapid transit projects, separated bike lanes and a collection of streetcar systems are being unexpectedly funded by outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who's relishing his final days in office with an unprecedented spending spree.
IBM Toughs Destroy Cleveland's Traffic Lights After City Pirates Smart City Technology
The tech giant discovered an illegally obtained version of its smart city application running in the beleaguered Ohio city, optimizing traffic signals. IBM's Enforcement Division responded immediately.
Crumbled Skyscrapers Found Floating in Chinese River
Just days after the carcasses of thousands of dead pigs were found floating down two different rivers in China, residents along the banks of the Pearl River are reporting huge chunks of crumbled skyscrapers floating downstream.
New Study Finds Asthmatic Children Cause Inner City Traffic Congestion
In the face of countless scientific studies showing that areas with large amounts of car congestion can lead to higher rates of asthma in children, a new study finds the correlation to be flipped: asthmatic kids are creating congestion in cities.
Hoping to Lure Natural Gas Industry Money, Pennsylvania Town Creates 'Fracking Zones'
Officials in the small town of Plainton, Pennsylvania are hoping that a new zoning designation and loosened permitting rules will convince energy companies to come search beneath their town for the new black gold: natural gas.
SimCity Imposes Congestion Pricing
Game developer Electronics Arts has implemented congestion pricing for playing the newly-released version of its popular city-building game SimCity.
Urban Issues Prioritized as Politicians' Children Come Out as City-Dwellers
In a week when the children of three separate members of congress revealed publicly that they are living in cities, lawmakers are shifting their ideologies about where federal resources should go and how to effectively target new policies.
APA Launches New Citizen Certification Program
Following the success of it's professional certification program called American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), the American Planning Association (APA) has announced a certification program for selected citizens as well.
Transit-Riding Pope Mothballs Popemobile, Opts for Pope Bus
Eschewing the opulence and excess of more recent pontiffs, the newly elected Pope Francis has decided to decommission the bullet-proof single-passenger Popemobile in favor of a Pope Bus.
Florida Concedes to Kotkin: 'You Were Right'
In a stunning turnaround, longtime advocate of the importance of urban economies Richard Florida has reversed his stance on the suburbs, finding them as economically essential and appealing as urban theorist Joel Kotkin always said they were.
Kotkin Concedes to Florida: 'You Were Right'
In a stunning turnaround, longtime sprawl apologist Joel Kotkin has reversed his stance on Richard Florida's "Creative Class" theory, finding it to be a true example of the way clusters of creative people can synergize and catalyze a vibrant economy.
IMF: Cut Subsidies to Cut Emissions
A new IMF report recommends cutting energy subsidies globally to reduce overall fossil fuel emissions, reports Brad Plumer.
10 Hot Urban Careers
Cities are cool again! The increased interest in urban issues, and rapidly evolving technological landscape, have multiplied the ways in which professionals can create more livable places. Nicole Ferraro looks at ten such positions.
Is a New Cobblestone a Better Cobblestone?
In Brooklyn's Dumbo neighborhood, NYCDOT is looking to replace the area's historic cobblestones with artificially aged new ones to improve accessibility and bike-friendliness. Preservationists and residents are aghast at the "phony urbanism."
Is This America's Next Great Train Station?
Remember this past week when we asked where America's next generation of grand transit hubs would be built? It turns out one may be destined for San Francisco.
Canada's 'Slab Farm' Blind Spot
In Canada, more people live in suburban high-rise apartment buildings than any other housing type. Doug Saunders looks at the country's belated recognition for its "elevator suburban" identity.
Santa Monica Battles Itself, and Consultants, Over Parking
In this supposed progressive paradise, the recent removal of a transportation consultant reveals the conflicting agendas of residents that want to reduce congestion and those who want to build more parking. Then there are those that want both.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Clovis
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
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