The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Traditional Cities and Towns: Incubators of Incompetent Children
With tongue firmly in cheek, Scott Doyon asks urban dwellers, "Are your enviable surroundings crippling the children?"
NYC Bike-Share Gets Delayed Again
On Friday, New York City announced yet another postponement for the launch of its long-awaited bike-share program. While faulty software was reportedly the cause for the initial delay, Superstorm Sandy can be blamed for the most recent problems.
Preeminent Climate Scientist Blasts Cap & Trade
Dr. James Hansen was awarded the prestigious Stephen H. Schneider climate award at the Commonwealth Club in S.F. on Dec. 4 and chose to trash CA's landmark cap-and-trade program, preferring a 'simple, clean carbon tax'. Gov. Brown was attending.
Rentals Drive Return of Residential Development
Across the country, even in metro areas more accustomed to single-family sprawl, multi-family housing is driving the residential construction recovery, report Shaila Dewan and Nelson D. Schwartz.
Detroit's Unreal Estate
On Places, Andrew Herscher of the University of Michigan challenges the usual view of Detroit's decline.
Don't Mess With CEQA in San Francisco!
Although the landmark but now controversial environmental law, the CA Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is state law, it is implemented by the 'lead agency' of a project which can be a city. S.F. Supervisor Scott Wiener hopes to reform that process.
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Better Living through Information: Big Data and Urban Systems
The emerging methods of urban governance, planning, design, and management made possible by technological advances in data collection, analysis, and communication promise to make our cities better, and more efficient, places to live. The Urban Systems Collaborative, a unique gathering of voices from academia and industry, is fostering a discussion about improving our cities through technology.
Friday Funny: 14 Designer Pooch Palaces
With 14 examples of pup houses designed by famous architects such as MVRDV, Toyo Ito, and, of course, Atelier Bow-Wow, Web Urbanist shows that avant garde architecture is, most definitely, for the dogs.
One of New York's Most Important Landmarks Plots its Own Destruction
A new column by eminent critic Ada Louise Huxtable is cause enough to pay attention. When the topic is a controversial plan to irreparably alter one of NY's most important landmarks - the New York Public Library - it's your duty to read on.
Obama Doubles Down on High-Speed Rail
Undaunted by Republican opposition, public setbacks, and budgetary constraints, President Obama plans to forge ahead with his ambitious plan to develop high-speed rail systems across the U.S.
Can Science Save Planning from Extinction?
In a recent paper, urban theorist Stephen Marshall rehashes Jane Jacobs's criticism of city planning as a pseudoscience built "on a foundation of nonsense." Can science and design be reconciled to provide planning a more stable foundation?
George Washington Bashes America's First Starchitect
A letter written by George Washington that is set to be auctioned by Christie's details the founding father's conflicting views of Pierre Charles L’Enfant, diva designer of the District of Columbia.
Invest in Public Transit to Slow Climate Change
Reflecting on the significance and impact of Superstorm Sandy, Bill McKibben and Lawrence J. Hanley propose a 3-step process focused on mass transit that America should pursue to promote community development, public health and the environment.
California's Alternative Energy Strategy, or Lack Thereof, Heads for a Reckoning
California has set a deadline of 2020 to rely less on fossil fuels and more on alternative energy, but a report finds this strategy could end up emptying ratepayers' pockets and damaging the state's environmental resources, reports Julie Cart.
Bloomberg Backs Beachfront Rebuild
In a speech Thursday, Mayor Bloomberg laid out his strategy for rebuilding a stronger, smarter New York in anticipation of future natural disasters.
Bicyclists, Not Drivers, are the Better Consumers
Familiar with the perception that bicyclists are generally kids with no money and too much time? Emily Badger discusses the findings of a study that shows riders out-consume drivers over the course of a month for all businesses except grocery stores.
Energy Fuels Growth in Zoning-Free Houston
The oil and gas companies clustered south of the central business district and in the Woodlands account for 3.4 percent of the city's employment, but the concentrated energy sector helps spread the wealth to other sectors in zoning-free Houston.
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Green Building in Affordable Housing Reaches Critical Mass
Green building has become a fundamental element of many states Qualified Allocation Plans (QAPs), which guide the distribution of the Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
NASA Gives Light to the Globe at Night
This week, scientists unveiled unprecedented images of the Earth at night, as captured by a new NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite.
Sand Dunes Prove Their Worth Along the NY Shore
Surfers, local businesses and residents alike rallied against kicking in $7 million for an Army Corps of Engineers plan to elevate beaches and erect sand dunes in Long Beach, NY six years ago. Post-Hurricane Sandy, most regret this choice.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
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.
