The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
New York Begins Converting Stalled Projects to Affordable Housing
The City of New York has unveiled its Housing Asset Renewal Program, a plan to revive stalled projects as affordable housing.
Redefining Residential
The late columnist Emmett Watson set the tone in Seattle for keeping the small bungalow, suburban character of the city. Today, New Urbanists and others are working to redefine Seattle's landscape post-Watson with denser, affordable buildings.
A Musical Experiment in Public Space
This piece looks at a public art project that placed 30 pianos in public places throughout London in an effort to encourage more public interaction.
Lighting Fighting Crime
Fighting gang crime in Los Angeles is as easy as leaving the lights on at neighborhood parks.
White House Begins Urban Policy Creation
The White House is setting forth on its long-planned mission to craft a federal urban policy program. The effort kicks off with a daylong conference today.
New Orleans Debates Highway To Boulevard Project
According to a new draft master plan, the Clairborne Expressway may be the next freeway to join the nation's growing highway to boulevard movement.
The Promise of Portugal
The Portuguese Coast is one of the most energetic in the world, and is the first country to have a commercial-scale wave energy device in the water. Now, they're planning a "pilot zone" for expanding the technology.
Western States Trying to Get on the High Speed Rail Bandwagon
Officials in New Mexico, Colorado and Texas are pooling efforts to try to secure federal funding for a high speed rail link between their urban areas.
Emphasizing the Urban Angle of National Parks
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has said he wants to bring park programs back into the lives of urban dwellers. This piece argues that a good place for him to start is one of the few urban national parks at St. Louis' Gateway Arch.
Don't Fall in Love with Light Rail Yet
Light rail is seen as a golden opportunity to revive inner cities. Not so fast, argues Alan Hoffman.
FEATURE
Don't Fear the 'Dozer
Opinions are flying in the debate over whether or not ailing cities like Detroit should bulldoze their empty neighborhoods. John Kromer of the Fels Institute of Government adds a rational note with this op-ed, explaining what The Flint Model for shrinking cities actually entails.
Cities Creating Land Banks to Deal with Vacant Properties
Abandoned and foreclosed properties are plaguing many cities. Now some are trying to turn the blight into prosperity by creating land banks to hold, remodel or demolish the properties -- and pull in some revenue while they're at it.
Let's Take the Shweeb!
A New Zealand inventor has built a track for the world's first human-powered monorail called the Shweeb as part of an amusement park [Video]
London Buses Going Green
London's iconic red double-decker buses are going green.
Eating Healthy Now Required in San Francisco
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has issued a directive that seeks to mandate healthy eating and food production in the city.
The City That Killed Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson's life would have been incredibly different (read: more normal) and lasted longer if he lived in New York instead of L.A., argues Gigi Levangie Grazer. She says the isolating qualities of L.A. enabled the downfall of the King of Pop.
United States of Bankruptcy
Budget issues are causing major issues for a handful of states. Neal Peirce argues these budget woes are a sign that states are making the wrong investments and that they idea of a state may be out of date.
Keeping an Eye on License Plates
The posh San Francisco Bay Area town of Tiburon is planning to install cameras that record the license plate numbers of all cars coming into town. Police will use the system to apprehend criminals or investigate crimes.
The Battle Over the Microgrid
The "smart" grid powered by renewable energy sources is likely to be fundamentally different from the current electricity system in more ways than one. Some say it won't be as large-scale as it is now. That's not what utility companies want to hear.
The Fourth Urbanism
Columnist Frank Gruber seeks to define an urbanism separate from New Urbanism, Post-Urbanism, and 'Everyday' Urbanism: what he calls "Cityism."
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.
