The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Mall Makeovers, For Better or Worse
<em>Chicago Tribune</em> architecture critic Blair Kamin reviews a few mall retrofits and finds that breathing life back into a dead mall can be a challenge.
A Driveable Future
An auto company has a new design competition to imagine a future city that is car-friendly.
BLOG POST
Enjoyable voice recognition, is it FINALLY here?
<p> Given today it the release date of the new iPhone, I want to talk about something else at Apple the really caught my attention -- their automated customer care. Last week I had to call Apple to find out how to get the sales tax removed from a purchase given our 501(c)3 status. It was a complicated set of questions I needed to ask -- and yet the conversation was as smooth as talking to a live person. It struck me I was getting a sneak preview of something that is going to radically transform how we use technology on a daily basis -- FINALLY. </p>
WSJ Editor Rethinks The American Dream
NPR's Steve Inskeep interviews Wall Street Journal economics editor David Wessel on aspects of the American dream of home ownership that apparently are not working. Not only does Wessel suggest eliminating the tax deduction, but pushes renting too.
Are You a Narrative or Spatial Navigator?
Jarett Walker finds out how many people can recognize north in the subway. The survey is used to explain the distinction between narrative and spatial navigation, which appear to be the two predominant forms of human navigation.
Jews and Transit: "Like a Bagel and Schmeer"
Joel Epstein at the Jewish Journal argues that Jews should support mass transit measures, and the 30/10 plan in particular. "Without 30/10, I fear my kids may be sitting shiva for me before I ride the Subway to the Sea," he writes.
Controversial BART to Airport Being Built Anyway
Back in February, the Federal Transportation Administration revoked $70m in funding from the proposed BART airport connector over civil rights violations. Streetsblog reports that BART is forging ahead anyway and looking for other funders.
The Dangers of Drinking and Riding
The perils of drinking and driving have been well documented - but what of drinking and riding the subway? While the latter only endangers oneself for the most part, crashes can still happen - in this piece, a $2.3 million award was overturned.
Vancouver's Laneway Homes Begin to Arouse Complaint
The idea was for the homes to be 'mortgage helpers' or cheaper way to house elderly parents. Since the citywide policy was passed last year, 89 laneways have been approved and some are already generating complaints.
Planning for the Future of London's Olympic Park
To ensure its longevity, developers of London's Olympic Park have made integration of its facilities into a larger urban renewal plan a priority.
Alternative Energy Booms in Rural Areas
The changing face of America's energy menu includes a variety of alternative sources, many of which are being developed in the country's rural areas.
City Data Visualization Tool Wins Journalism Prize
A visual city data mapping tool called CityTracking is one of the winners of this year's Knight News Challenge, a journalism competition that seeks out innovative communication ideas for the changing news media.
Suburban Decline and Urban Growth Predicted
According to the new book, <em>Foreclosing the Dream: How America's Housing Crisis Is Reshaping Our Cities and Suburbs,</em> development is shifting to cities more strongly than most Americans realize.
BP's Latest Victim: Coastal Real Estate
Half million dollar beach houses are going unsold and rapidly losing value as the oil slick -- and fears -- spread.
Buildings Alone Do Not Constitute Regeneration
The "Bilbao Effect" is the apotheosis of the notion that a struggling post industrial city can be regenerated through set-piece art and design. But Frank Gehry, the architect of the Guggenheim, suspects the gallery was only part of a larger gestalt.
Urban Activism 101
Alison Arieff talks with Jason Roberts Go Oak Cliff, a neighborhood advocacy group in Austin, Texas, about his techniques for advocating for better neighborhoods.
To Save a Glacier, Paint it White
Peruvians are painting mountains in the Andes white to try to slow down the melting of glaciers.
The Growth of Municipal Debt
Municipal debt is on the rise, as state and local borrowing has grown to nearly one-quarter of the U.S. GDP.
Study Shows Mixed Use Reduces Car Travel More Than Density
<em>Smart Planet</em> talks with transportation researcher Reid Ewing about a new study he co-authored about how different development patterns can reduce auto use.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
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.
