The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Neglected for decades, a group of tenement buildings in New York City are set to be renovated to provide a new source of affordable housing.

August 31 - The New York Observer

Google Maps searches include a pinpoint of what the search engine has determined are the centers of cities. One artist has built sculptures of those pinpoints in their real-life locations.

August 31 - Architizer

Unlike a state gas tax, SB 791 calls for regional planning agencies to prepare a measure to go before voters in their jurisdiction that would place a new fee on fuel to improve mobility, called a "regional congestion reduction charge".

August 30 - LA. Streetsblog

New government efforts in South Africa are trying to improve mobility for those who rely on public transportation, walking and biking.

August 30 - This Big City

Community organizers in Philadelphia are leading an effort to convert a disused elevated railway into a park.

August 30 - The Philadelphia Daily News

Graphic designer Tor Weeks captures the essence of the bicycle culture in San Francisco by classifying the types of bikes by neighborhood.

August 30 - The Huffington Post

When city leaders proposed redeveloping the South Lake Union area of Seattle, they made big promises for job growth. Just a few years in, their expectations have already been exceeded.

August 30 - The Seattle Times

Minorities are becoming the majority in the United States, and the shift is most pronounced in populations under one year of age.

August 30 - The Brookings Institution

With a high rate of foreclosure, Cleveland instituted a land bank to rein in rampant vacancies. After two years, the program has made some headway.

August 30 - NPR

Two separate developments are planning to bring supertall "observation wheels" to Las Vegas in an effort to bring tourists to the city as it struggles through the recession.

August 30 - MSNBC

Cities across California are proposing new stadium projects in hopes of luring football teams and economic growth as a result of their new megadevelopments.

August 30 - The Architect's Newspaper

The annual Burning Man festival is underway in Nevada, and this piece from <em>The New York Times</em> looks at the urban plan that undergirds the event.

August 30 - The New York Times

Tea Party activists have spoken out at regional planning meetings in California to protest what some consider conspiratorial plans to crush civil liberties under the guise of smart growth.

August 29 - California Planning & Development Report

Florida Hospital has planned their new facility around the commuter rail project, which they hope will reduce their need for parking for patients and staff.

August 29 - Progressive Railroading

While most of the city's 22 subway lines resumed service on a limited schedule on Monday, the region's commuter rail lines didn't fare as well due to fallen trees and flooded tracks affecting some branches of MetroNorth and LIRR.

August 29 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

John B. Calhoun wrote in the 70s about studies he'd conducted that looked at how mice would react when "overcrowded". Since his utopias often turned ugly, he (and many others) extrapolated the results to humans, giving density a bad name.

August 29 - CABINET

Last year, developer KB Homes began putting an Energy Performance Guide (EPG) label on every home they build. Is this an idea who's time has come?

August 29 - Builder Magazine

Franklin, Massachusetts tied for last place in WalkScore's ranking of walkability in the state. Taryn Plumb says the city isn't taking the ranking in stride.

August 29 - The Boston Globe

The Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota has prepared a comprehensive report on the shortcomings of the fuel tax and how to transition to what they call a mileage-based user fee, a form of a vehicle-miles-traveled fee.

August 29 - University of Minnesota: ITS Institute

The village of Shamen, China lacks running water, and scarcity has created a lack of awareness of water health issues. A complex new bathhouse aims to curb health problems and create a gathering place in the process.

August 29 - Fast Company