The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Architecture and Development Best Practiced Together

An interview with architect and developer Marcel Wisznia on why architects should develop their own projects.

October 7 - AIA

No More McMansions for Studio City

With the help of Councilmember Paul Krekorian of the Los Angeles City Hall, Studio City residents developed an anti-mansionization ordinance called the "Residential Floor Area" to limit the size of residential construction on existing lots.

October 7 - The Patch

What! A Subway Entrance On Our Street?!

Plans by the MTA to renovate the 68th St. Station on the Lexington Ave. station received an angry reception from upper East Siders, some of whom said the justification for the renovation, the American with Disabilities Act, was a "charade."

October 7 - New York Post

The Future Of Residential Interaction

Terry Kerby speaks to professionals about the trend toward redeveloped and landscaped city center living and the re-evaluation of the merits of slums and suburbia that has sparked a resurgence of interest in high rise living and public space.

October 7 - The Guardian

California and the Northeast Corridor are Key to High-Speed Rail's Success

Anthony Flint of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy says the way to save high-speed rail policy is to focus on getting the two trains with the best chance of success on track.

October 7 - The Infrastructurist


Coloradans are Least Obese, But Still Gaining Weight

Colorado has been heralded as the trimmest state in the country, but NPR reports that residents' weight is still on the rise.

October 7 - NPR

What Would Happen If All Public Transportation Stopped?

The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) released its 2011 Urban Mobility Report, which shows how many additional hours in traffic each commuter would be subject to if public transportation were discontinued.

October 7 - Urbanophile


Habitat for Humanity Releases Disaster Planning Report

Drawing examples from a vast supply of disasters in recent years, this 30-page report emphasizes planning and policy for not just housing, but also land tenure and community input, with long-term perspectives.

October 7 - Habitat for Humanity

A Place for "Potentially Offensive Place Names"

What's in a name? Apparently, reports Kim Severson, some not-so-subtle reminders of a segregated American landscape. And changing them is not easy."The United States Board on Geographic Names, the federal agency that maintains the official names of m

October 7 - The New York Times

Is The Creative Class Fading?

Scott Timburg labels Richard Florida overly optimistic and blames the media for not portraying the 'fading creative class,' because their recession pain has not been sufficiently dramatic.

October 6 - The Atlantic

Steve Jobs Advocates Planning In Final Public Appearance

In his last public appearance, Steve Jobs assumes the role of a land use advocate seeking to double the number of trees, move parking underground, and provide a self sufficient energy source for Apple's new campus in Cupertino.

October 6 - The Atlantic

Preserving Land For Future Generations

An easement often grants a third party, mainly a utility company, limited rights to properties not belonging to them. In North Fork, Colorado, conservation easements do the opposite by preserving the "heaven here on earth," says Kathy Browning.

October 6 - Delta County Independent

California HSR Authority Delays Business Plan Release

Bowing to increased opposition in the Central Valley, the struggling rail authority asked for an additional 2 weeks before releasing its business plan, a key document the legislature has requested. Deadlines loom.

October 6 - Los Angeles Times

Will Extreme Engineering Save The Planet From Climate Change?

More precisely, will "geoengineering" or "climate remediation" be able to reduce carbon dioxide levels in the earth's atmosphere? A new panel of climate experts will investigate.

October 6 - The New York Times - Environment

One-Way Car Sharing Debuts in Paris

Combine ZipCar-style checkout with the flexibility of bike sharing and you get Autolib', Paris' new car sharing system.

October 6 - the transport politic

Rivalry Brews Between Parking Reformers, Affordable Housing Advocates

Bill to lower parking requirements in transit-oriented districts in California faces opposition from housing advocates who don't want a parking density-bonus provision to be undermined.

October 6 - California Planning & Development Report

Local Workers Hard to Come By in Colorado

Farmers face more uncertainty, as costs of labor increases and reliability decreases.

October 6 - The New York Times

"In Limbo," Foreclosed Apartments Lack Maintenance

Until the foreclosure process is finalized, apartment buildings are the responsibility of no one in particular. Around New York City, writes Chris Opfer, foreclosing banks are increasingly being given the task of maintaining and repairing them.

October 6 - Gotham Gazete

Looking to Catalyst Projects to Revitalize Cities

Atlanta's BeltLine is a great example of a big "catalyst project," writes Ryan Gravel, which repurposes a 22-mile railroad into a linear park. Other cities can follow suit.

October 6 - Fast Company

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.