The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Plan for Hollywood Densification Gets Final Approval
Yesterday, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a controversial new Community Plan for Hollywood, the first update since 1988, that allows increased density around transit stations, to the consternation of some neighborhood groups.
Smart Parking Meters at Work in Santa Monica
Thanks to new technology embedded in the asphalt, the days of left-over meter minutes are gone in this southern CA beach city. Depending on whom you ask, parking is now managed more efficiently or the city is just making more money.
The Woes of Young Working-Class Heroes
Young, educated city natives are being forced to pit their financial needs against their geographic desires in a battle against gentrification.
Which Cities Are Leading the Way in Integrating Food Planning?
Integrated food systems planning is a cornerstone of efforts to create healthy and sustainable communities across America. Kimberley Hodgson summarizes recent research conducted by the APA that evaluates which communities are leading the way.
Excuse Me, the Sidewalk is Trying to Tell You Something
Boyd Cohen reports on iPavement, an invention out of Spain that may be ominous or promising, depending on whether you see a benefit in every surface of a city becoming "intelligent."
What Will it Take to Grow the Silicon Prairie?
Businessmen and entrepreneurs want to build up new tech hubs in the middle of the U.S., but Midwestern humility and a lack of monetary drive hold them back.
Federal Transportation Agreement Seems Elusive
As yet another deadline for reaching agreement on federal transportation legislation approaches, Ben Goldman takes measure of the ominous signals emanating from negotiators.
Excellent Parking is Rewarded
While some may argue that an award-winning parking project is any that doesn't get built, the International Parking Institute has identified projects from across the country that have taken parking lot innovation to the next level.
Sprawl Hits a Wall
In an opinion piece for The New York Times, Allison Arieff considers the next phase of the "American Dream," as the notion of trading in the ideal of the home as fortress for the home as part of a larger whole gains widespread traction.
Planners Backtrack on Reform of Parking Standards
A bill in California that would reduce parking minimums in transit-oriented areas has drawn opposition from an unlikely group: the American Planning Association.
Baby Boomers Ponder Their Next Move
Recent studies on older generations' dwelling and travel patterns show that urban areas may provide more mobility and independence than suburban areas with less access to public transit.
Polls: Are You Listening?
What should planners take away from last week's barrage of polls about Americans' attitudes?
The Pied Piper of Public Pests
<em>Policy Matters</em> looks at a recent article in <em>The Washington Post</em> about Terry Lynch, the city's notorious "pest" who complains about all matters of urban blight, and argues why cities would be better off with more Terrys.
The Intellectuals That've Had the Biggest Impact on Cities
Zócalo Public Square has gathered together four accomplished planning and development professionals to give their opinions on which scholar or intellectual of the last 50 years has had the greatest impact on the cities we live in today.
Is Rio+20 a Lost Cause?
As world leaders gather in Rio this week to negotiate progress toward sustainable development, Thomas Lovejoy looks at the failures to comprehensively address global sustainability to date, and suggests some achievable goals for conference attendees.
Public Space, Interrupted
The Project for Public Spaces has compiled a "how-to" list for re-claiming your community's public spaces.
The More Cities Change...
Shelby Brown has collected a humorous and fascinating look at the common gripes of the ancient Roman city dweller. From from traffic jams to fashion requirements, many of these complaints will sound eerily modern.
Massachusetts Struggles to Retain its Young Talent
The Bay State is terrific at attracting the leading young minds from around to world to its prestigious institutions of higher education. But when those students graduate, high housing prices are forcing them out of the state, writes Edward Glaeser.
NYC's Progressive Parks Chief Heads for Greener Pastures
After a decade overseeing a historic expansion of the city's park system, New York City's longtime parks commissioner Adrian Benepe has announced he's stepping down, reports David W. Chen.
15 Surprising Cities Comprising the Nation of Innovation
<em>Fast Company</em> looks at America's lesser know tech hubs, "where some of the most innovative businesses and ideas are springing up in the least likely places."
Pagination
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
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.