The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The pending sale of historic industrial buildings in Alexandria is seen as crucial to spurring the Virginia city's waterfront redevelopment, and "fulfilling a new vision for the area."

February 7 - The Washington Post

Newark is pursuing an ambitious plan to revive its derelict Military Park, but that challenge is nothing new for Daniel A. Biederman, who was instrumental in transforming Manhattan's Bryant Park "from a forbidding drug haven to a jewel-box refuge."

February 7 - The New York Times

The District of Columbia is challenging the federal government on climate action, with lawmakers proposing to outlaw a local coal-burning power plant that powers Congress.

February 7 - The Washington Post

On Wednesday, President Obama introduced REI CEO Sally Jewell as his nominee to become the new head of the Interior Department. Philip Bump examines how her unconventional background makes her the perfect pick.

February 7 - Grist

Craig Chester describes the "unique partnership" between city leaders, local corporations and private developers that has helped transform Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood into "one of America’s greatest smart growth success stories."

February 7 - Smart Growth America

Planning for the $350 million Better Market Street project, which aims to transform downtown's main thoroughfare into a transit and people-oriented place, has expanded to encompass surrounding streets.

February 6 - San Francisco Chronicle

State and local governments across the United States are beginning to divert waste from landfills and promote organic composting.

February 6 - The Washington Post - Health & Science

This Big City reviews a new book by urban designer Julie Campoli that explores the elements crucial to creating walkable places. "Simply having shops, services and venues within walking distance is not enough."

February 6 - thisbigcity.net

Revitalizing downtowns requires appealing to all demographic and, specifically, age groups. Diversifying entertainment options will allow all groups to enjoy the activities associated with downtowns.

February 6 - Global Site Plans - The Grid

Two articles from non-profit organizations - a think tank and an advocacy group, seemingly arrive at the same conclusion: the future of the state gas tax is grim due to lack of political will to raise it. However, some states are bucking the trend.

February 6 - Stateline

With the opening last weekend of the city's first pilot parklet in the neighborhood of Eagle Rock, Los Angeles is hoping to join the ranks of cities hopping on the low-cost trend in public space creation.

February 6 - The Architect's Newspaper

Global leaders met last week in New Delhi to discuss climate change mitigation through sustainable development measures. For those on the front lines of climate change, the intransigence of the U.S. has sparked concern, reports Joanna Zelman.

February 6 - The Huffington Post

Charles Marohn derides the conflicted approach to creating "Safe Routes to Schools" in the United States. With new data linking transport to school to educational outcomes, is it time to rethink the federal government's popular program?

February 6 - Strong Towns

Howard Blackson's words of advice for San Diego's new administration are applicable wherever it is you call home. Neighborhoods first!

February 6 - PlaceShakers

Matt Flegenheimer reports that a bill making its way through the State Senate could ban the jughandle - New Jersey's "signature driving quirk."

February 6 - The New York Times

FEATURE

Urban planning professionals and researchers increasingly face information overload. Todd BenDor and Rob Goodspeed suggest three techniques for strategically monitoring the web for new research and ideas.

February 5 - Todd BenDor

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is out with its annual Urban Mobility Report. You'll probably hear a lot in the next day about how awful your city's traffic is. But you likely won't hear much about why that might not be so bad.

February 5 - Slate

Following the surge of “pacifying” missions in many of Rio de Janeiro’s famed favelas, Forbes’ Ricardo Geromel discusses the arrival of private sector investments and how they may evolve in the future.

February 5 - Forbes

Hydraulic fracturing may finally allow drillers to extricate oil from the Monterey Shale, creating a shale oil boom that could dwarf ones in states such as North Dakota. Environmentalists are digging in to limit the controversial practice.

February 5 - The New York Times

An announcement last week indicates that Wikipedia will become the newest player in the increasingly competitive effort to connect virtual information with physical places.

February 5 - The Atlantic Cities