The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Housing activists in Vancouver are criticizing the city for only offering a small portion of the Olympic Village built for the 2010 Winter Olympics as affordable housing.

December 29 - Straight

As the Tea Party prepares to move into its new seats in the Congress, many are left wondering what impact they will have on urban issues and legislation.

December 29 - Next American City

At Disney World, getting millions of visitors through the lines of their desired attractions faster is a huge logistical challenge. The theme park is taking a high-tech approach to the problem.

December 29 - The New York Times

Cities around the world are applying business-style techniques to planning and encouraging economic development.

December 29 - Citiwire

A new free online tool, developed by the Center for Neighborhood Technology for the US Green Building Council, adds the effect of transportation and indirect emissions to the sustainable building equation.

December 28 - Chicago Tribune

Jonathan Lerner gives an extensive analysis of the benefits of turning failed commercial properties, or "redfields", into strategically-picked park land for revitalization purposes. Some conversion would be permanent, some just land banking.

December 28 - Miller-McCune

Poverty is high and rising in rural areas across America. But there are also significant differences in the extent of that poverty, depending on the region.

December 28 - The Daily Yonder

Urban explorer dsankt offers an in-depth look inside abandoned sections of the Metro system of Paris.

December 28 - Sleepy City

With a recent murder, a shootout-turned-suicide, and a high rate of foreclosure, the reality of Celebration, Florida, is less ideal than appearances would suggest.

December 28 - Next American City

The tiny city of Hamtramck, Michigan, is edging closer to bankruptcy, as budget woes grow.

December 28 - The New York Times

IBM is partnering with the city of Rio de Janeiro to build a massive "citywide control room" to monitor and respond to emergencies.

December 28 - Fast Company

The federal government set aside $5.5 billion in stimulus funding to retrofit its huge fleet of buildings. $4.5 billion is to be spent on green building projects, some of which have already been launched.

December 28 - National Geographic

Cities are commonly thought of as dangerous places for kids to grow up. But a new study challenges that perception.

December 28 - Grist

Reviving a city like Detroit requires small steps, writes Roberta Brandes Gratz, who looks at block-level projects in the city.

December 28 - Citiwire

Everyone wants the gourmet grocer in their community. The secret to getting one? Density, says David Alpert.

December 27 - Greater Greater Washington

California's Governor-elect Jerry Brown will be living part-time in the first modern mixed use project in Sacramento. Jerry's new neighborhood has a WalkScore of 95 and is walkable to the Capitol building.

December 27 - California Planning & Development Report

New Census numbers show that Ohio is now less than 4% of the total U.S. population, which hasn't been the case since the Census of 1810.

December 27 - The Columbus Dispatch

FEATURE

In this highly readable volume, Witold Rybczynski makes a fresh argument for rethinking the field of planning. Lynn Vande Stouwe has this review of one of our selections for the Top 10 Urban Planning Books for 2011.

December 27 - Lynn Vande Stouwe

Builder Magazine picks their 10 Residential Design Trends for 2011, which include smaller houses, green building, a farm-to-table influence in the kitchen, and a walkable, village feel.

December 27 - Builder Magazine

A new Independence Mall stands in the historic heart of Philadelphia, a decade after the old mall's demolition. According to <em>The Inquirer's</em> Inga Saffron, the new space has been a major boon for tourists but has alienated many city residents.

December 27 - The Philadelphia Inquirer