The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Kotkin and Florida Duke it Out Over 'Limits' of the Creative Class
After a decade of debate, Richard Florida's theories on the 'creative class' have been championed by many, and challenged by others (perhaps none more forcefully than author Joel Kotkin). In recent articles, the two are battling it out once again.
On-Site Parking Requirements Stifle D.C. Redevelopment
Business owners, city leaders, and community members would love to see the struggling Anacostia neighborhood transformed into a bustling retail zone. But onerous parking requirements in DC's outdated zoning code are stifling the city's own ambitions.
Los Angeles Kicks Coal to the Curb
This week, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio announced that the city will wean itself completely from using coal as an energy source by 2025, when it will become "the largest municipal utility in the country to be coal free."
“Reinvent Phoenix” Seeks to Cultivate Change Along the City's Light Rail Corridor
A multi-agency planning effort is hoping to boost Phoenix's sustainability by creating a new model for urban development around the city's emerging transit corridor.
A Ride Through Berlin's 'Underground Art Gallery'
The variety of designs found in the Berlin subway's 173 stations imbibes each one with its own unique identity. Cataloging this 'underground art gallery' has been the mission of photographer Kate Seabrook.
Gehry's Controversial Eisenhower Memorial Comes Under Congressional Attack
On Tuesday, several members of Congress overseeing the approval of Frank Gehry's design and the budgetary requirements for the Eisenhower Memorial expressed their disapproval at a subcommittee hearing.
Design and Construction Errors Render New D.C. Area Transit Center Unusable
A long-awaited report on the problems preventing the opening of a longer-awaited $112 million bus-and-train hub in the D.C. suburb of Silver Spring has revealed design and construction failures that will prevent it from opening indefinitely.
Atlanta Looks to Expand New Streetcar Line
With Atlanta's first new streetcar line in a century set to be completed next year, transit advocates are putting recent defeats behind them and studying how to expand the system.
NYC Subway Stations to Deploy Giant iPads
Mark Wilson looks at the NY MTA's plan to install 90 touch-screen kiosks at subway stations around the city beginning this year. The innovative kiosks will offer rider information, interactive maps, and will even be able to run third-party apps.
Build a Better Democracy Through Public Participation
In the first entry in a series exploring the connection between the processes and products of Placemaking and city governance, PPS explores how "Place Governance" can increase leadership, equity, and cohesion among citizens.
How the U.S. Became an Unlikely Leader in Reducing Carbon Emissions
Emissions of CO2 in the U.S. have fallen almost 13 percent since 2007 - "perhaps the biggest decline among industrial countries." Rather than the result of an enlightened policy shift, the drop has resulted from market forces, says Eduardo Porter.
State Gas Taxes: What a Difference a Year Makes!
Fox News ran two articles on the climate for increasing state gas taxes, almost exactly a year apart. The 2012 article is pessimistic about the ability to increase gas taxes while the March 14th one is decidedly upbeat. Why the change, what happened?
Mapping March Madness Fandom
On the eve of round 2 (the real start) of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, Facebook has analyzed the more than 1 million "likes" entered for each of the 68 teams in the tournament to create a comprehensive geography of March Madness.
Study Shows that Electricity Consumption Differs by Political Party
Here's a news item that's sure to make for interesting conversation at your next dinner party. A new study has found that liberal homeowners tend to use at least five percent less electricity than conservatives.
Chicago to 'Facilitate and Accelerate' Growth in Seven Promising Neighborhoods
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has identified seven city neighborhoods as "Opportunity Planning Areas" where public resources will be directed to help shape and accelerate nascent redevelopment efforts, reports Fran Spielman.
Great Placemaking Begins with Acknowledging the Obvious
Our brains simply tune out anything that might suggest that our behavior is in some way complicit in our problems. Scott Doyon zeros in on the obvious, but often overlooked, problems with our auto-oriented culture.
New Pavilion Reflects Marseille's Revitalization
A sleek new pavilion made of reflective stainless steel, designed by Foster + Partners, is helping to reshape the image of France's rough-and-tumble port city as a destination.
FEATURE
Top Trends 2012-2013
Over the course of the year, the editors of Planetizen review and summarize thousands of articles, books, studies and editorials related to planning and urban development. Here are our picks for the most notable planning trends of the past year.
America's Next Subway System Won't Carry Passengers
If the U.S. Air Force has its wish, America's next subway system won't be built in a city and won't carry passengers (not human ones anyway). Robert Beckhusen reports on plans for a "mobile doomsday train."
What Can Northern Europe Teach Us About Building Livable Communities?
In narrative and in images, Luis Rodriguez discusses the findings of a recent study tour to Germany and Scandinavia to discover the secrets to creating more livable communities.
Municipality of Princeton
Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission
City of Mt Shasta
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.
