The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Funding Strains Dampen the Views at America's National Parks
America's national parks are as popular as ever. But, as the national park system approaches its 100th anniversary in 2016, years of strained budgets and deferred maintenance are conspiring to spoil the celebration.
Madison Avenue Changes its Attire
After several years of soul searching during the Great Recession, "conspicuous consumption has made a resounding return to Madison Avenue." But, as Eric Wilson discovered, a new Avenue has emerged.
Where are America's Biggest Givers?
A new study breaks down charitable giving by zip code, revealing the great variety in donations by area and economic group. Pam Fessler shares the results.
How Obama Bungled the Housing Crisis
President Obama can rightfully claim that many of the initiatives his administration pushed through in his first years in office helped reverse the acute economic slide he inherited. His efforts to cleanup the housing crash were far less successful.
NYC's Taxis Offer Rare Insights into City Driving Patterns
With New York's fleet of more than 13,000 taxi cabs transmitting Global Positioning System (GPS) data, the city's Department of Transportation has been able to develop a highly detailed picture of traffic patterns in the Big Apple.
Airports Reinvent Themselves as Destinations
Bill Hooper looks at the global effort to reinvent the airport as a place where people will actually <em>want</em> to spend time.
New South Korean 'Mini-Capital' Aims to Rebalance Country's Development
With South Korean officials set to move into their sparkling new "mini capital" next month, Chico Harlan examines plans for the new city that "will either drive growth outside the overpopulated capital or end up as an ill-conceived waste of money."
Florida Celebrates Florida
In an indication that the "creative class" era may have finally jumped the shark, the city of Miami is reveling in the arrival of Richard Florida <em>himself</em> as a sign of the area's arrival as a "Creative City."
Uneven Haitian Rebuild Leaves Many Behind
Despite billions of dollars in reconstruction aid, with no overarching housing policy, Haiti's recovery from a devastating earthquake in 2010 has become a protracted humanitarian crisis, especially for hundreds of thousands remaining in tent cities.
Obama Urges States to Spend Transpo Funds
"Use it or lose it" is the message being delivered to states by an Obama Administration eager to put people to work improving the nation's transportation infrastructure. $473 million is up for grabs, reports Alex Goldmark.
In L.A., Pollution is Down Dramatically but Bad Air Remains
A new study by NOAA scientists and colleagues shows a stunning reduction in vehicle-related air pollutants in the Los Angeles basin over the past several decades. Despite the gains, unhealthy air remains.
Do Big Events Mean Big Bucks?
In the quadrennial competition to secure mega-events such as the Olympics and political conventions, the economic benefit to host cities is regularly flaunted. Carl Bialik looks at why big events may not mean big bucks for their host cities.
Can Bid for NID Save Hudson River Park
Running out of options to help pay for spiraling maintenance costs at the park that runs along Manhattan's western waterfront, Friends of Hudson River Park (FOHRP) have begun floating the idea of establishing a Neighborhood Improvement District.
Help Slow in Coming for Atlanta's Pedestrians
With pedestrian deaths on the rise in Georgia, despite falling automotive fatalities, Andria Simmons and Jeremiah McWilliams look at what is being done to make the Atlanta region's streets safer for those on foot and in wheelchairs.
High-Speed Rail May Bring New Station to Philly
Amtrak is considering where to build stations in Philadelphia for high-speed rail. One of the options is a new station in Market East, an underdeveloped part of downtown. Leadership sees the project as a potential catalyst for new building.
Apartment Building Boom In Portland - Without Auto Parking
OPB investigates the flood of new apartment buildings going up in downtown Portland and finds that two-thirds lack any motor vehicle parking - which is great for renters without cars seeking affordable housing, but can anger the neighbors.
Indian Town Struggles to Balance Architectural Heritage and Living Heritage
Recent events in the southern India town of Hampi, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, expose the struggle to balance the needs of historical tourist sites and those who make their livelihood from them, writes Rachel Proctor May.
Historic Drought Offers Historic Opportunity
Charles Fishman pens an opinion piece for <em>The New York Times</em> arguing that America's worst drought since the 1950s offers "an opportunity to tackle long-ignored water problems and to reimagine how we manage, use and even think about water."
What Canadian Towns Have to Teach us About Great Urbanism
When we think urbanism, we often think cities. But small towns embody many of the elements of walkability that are illegal in most places. This pictorial review offers some palatable insights.
One Hundred Miles
County of Mendocino
planning NEXT
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
