The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

China's Property Bubble May Be Bursting

Years of price hikes and a booming real estate sector look to be coming to a close in China.

June 12 - The Wall Street Journal

Sneeze Cities

This post from <em>Mother Nature Network</em> lists the 12 cities that are the worst for allergy sufferers.

June 12 - Mother Nature Network

Three Model Cities Seattle Can Learn From

Los Angeles, Cincinnati and San Francisco are tackling major urban problems quickly and effectively. This post argues that Seattle can learn much from these efforts.

June 12 - Crosscut

Mega-Cities Team Up to Fight Climate Change

The mayors of the world's biggest cities convened in Sao Paolo recently to team up against climate change and sea level rise. Neal Peirce sees much promise in the effort.

June 11 - Citiwire

How Taxi Data Can Help Solve Public Transit Problems

Data on taxi pick-up and drop-off points can be a useful tool to better understand urban mobility, and how taxis can function as an aspect of public transportation, according to this post.

June 11 - Urbanophile


High Rises: One Size That Doesn't Fit All

Two big names are calling for more high rise development and less of the historic preservation efforts that have often prevented it in dense urban areas. <em>The Philadelphia Inquirer</em>'s Inga Saffron says they're wrong.

June 11 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Washington Towns Reimagine Waterfronts

A number of cities in Washington are embarking on waterfront redevelopment projects. The projects range from the relatively small to the complete makeover.

June 11 - Crosscut


Destroyed by Tsunami, Small Village Considers Move

A small community in tsunami-ravaged Japan considers a plan to move the entire village farther above sea level.

June 11 - MSNBC

Friday Funny: The Totalitarian Utopianism of Smurfs

A new book by researcher Antoine Buéno looks at the cartoon and comic book characters the Smurfs as an example of a totalitarian regime with utopian goals.

June 10 - Der Spiegel

The True History of America's Interstate Highways

The Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways was actually the idea of an earlier president, according to this history of highways posted on <em>The Infrastructurist</em>.

June 10 - The Infrastructurist

Rural Development Attempts Alternative to Suburban Sprawl

In rural Georgia, a New Urbanist style development is slowly materializing, andhoping to be a sustainable antidote to urban sprawl.

June 10 - Architectural Record

Sideways Train Bridges as Precursors to Skyscrapers

The early skyscrapers were inspired by the idea of turning steel train bridges on their sides. This episode of <em>99% Invisible</em> explains.

June 10 - 99% Invisible

Designers and Architects a Major Aspect of New York City's Economy

A new report focusing on design professionals and architects in New York finds that these industries are on a strong growth path and create a significant impact on the local economy.

June 10 - Urban Omnibus

Unfinished Nuclear Plant Converted into Amusement Park

A never-completed nuclear reactor in Germany is being converted into an amusement park. The project has been years in the works, and is still only partially converted.

June 10 - Der Spiegel

New Orleans to Explore Dutch Approach to Water Management

A local firm is leading an effort in New Orleans to manage the city's water more like the Dutch.

June 10 - Architectural Record

New Urbanism's Young Adherents Keep it Fresh

Writing on the recent Congress for the New Urbanism annual meeting, <em>Grist</em>'s Sarah Goodyear finds some new ideas in a field that's gradually integrated itself into the mainstream.

June 10 - Grist

Emergence in Public Parks

The sudden appearance of a ping pong table in a public park in Dallas is a perfect example of the concept of emergence in cities, according to this post on <em>Pegasus News</em>.

June 10 - Pegasus News

Touring the New Section of the High Line

Just before the second phase of New York City's High Line park opened this week, <em>Bloomberg</em> architecture critic James S. Russell toured the new addition with its architect and landscape architect.

June 10 - Bloomberg

Treasure Island Project Approved in San Francisco

A massive new neighborhood planned for the man-made former military site of Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay has been unanimously approved by the city's Board of Supervisors.

June 9 - San Francisco Chronicle

Philadelphia Adopts First Comprehensive Plan in 50 Years

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission adopted the Citywide Vision portion of a new comprehensive plan—the first such venture in five decades

June 9 - PlanPhilly.com

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An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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

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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.