The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Unanimity Over Density in Vancouver

The Vancouver City Council voted unanimously to approve the creation of a new high-density, mixed-use community on land left over from Expo 86.

November 19 - The Vancouver Sun

Rethinking Sixty Years of Sprawl

There's no looking back now in the shift away from suburbs to a more sustainable urban model, writes Andre Shashaty, president of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

November 19 - Salon.com

More Passengers And Less Funding Threaten To Cripple Transit Agencies

The recession has made many commuters more transit-dependent while shrinking the public coffers that may for the bulk of transit service. Without further subsidies, agencies face tough choices because of this "incredible paradox."

November 18 - InTransition Magazine

Buffett and Beyond

This article takes a look at the past and future of rail in America, with an emphasis on one surprise success story.

November 18 - BBC News

The "Nightmare" of Hebron

Sarah Lazare and Clare Bayard visit Israeli-controlled Hebron and find the city marred by barbed wire, barriers and homes and shops sealed with concrete and metal.

November 18 - Dialogues Against Militarism


The Park Prescription

One doctor has begun advising her patients to simply take a walk in the park to improve their overall health. And as she describes in this article, she's not alone.

November 18 - The Washington Post

Small Cities Struggle Through Recession

Smaller cities are showing signs of struggle, as the amount of college-educated residents continues to drop. Coupled with the economic recession, smaller cities seems to be taking a harder economic hit than their larger counterparts.

November 18 - Kansas City Star


Large Homebuilders Handed Millions in Tax Breaks

Large homebuilders, including Pulte Homes and Hovnanian Enterprises, will recieve hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars under the recently passed Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009.

November 18 - The New York Times

Suburban Utopias?

This article from the <em>Guardian</em> argues that despite years of derision, suburbia is gaining a more positive reputation as "utopia in a big way".

November 18 - The Guardian

LA, Orange Counties Collide on Freeways

As traffic congestion has worsened, so has the philosophical divide between LA and Orange counties in terms of how to address it.

November 18 - Los Angeles Times

Iraq, Tourist Destination?

With its rich history and wealth of artifacts, palaces, and natural beauty, some wonder if tourism could help Iraq to recover.

November 18 - BBC News Magazine

LA's Newest Rail Meets Skepticism

The Gold Line extension served 75,000 riders for its grand opening, but ridership dropped by over two-thirds for its first weekday operations.

November 18 - Los Angeles Times

England's Most Dreadful Railway Stations

As Transport Secretary Lord Adonis tours railway stations most in need of help, the BBC News Magazine asks, "what makes a bad railway station?"

November 17 - BBC News Magazine

Architecture From Algae

UCLA's cityLAB sponsored a competition to envision new ways public works projects could be used to improve the country's infrastructure. The winning idea: algae-based urban parks connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn.

November 17 - Fast Company

Mapping: Not Just For Geographers Anymore

Citizen volunteers are democratizing the field of online mapping, spreading out to document neighborhoods and streets worldwide.

November 17 - New York Times

Whither American Infrastructure?

Bob Herbert wonders why the United States appears to have forgotten about the importance of its built infrastructure, and imagines what the future could hold.

November 17 - New York Times

Small Town Relents in Epic Airport Battle

Bensenville, Illinois has been fighting an O'Hare airport expansion tooth and nail for decades. A new mayor signaled a change of heart (and a $16 million settlement).

November 17 - Chicago Tribune

Is Starchitecture Over?

The Nottingham Contemporary, a stark new museum building in London, exhibits none of the architectural excess of the past several years in contemporary architecture, says critic Tom Dyckhoff.

November 17 - The Times Online

Minneapolis-St. Paul Residents Get A New Commute

$320 million dollars and 13 years after construction began, the Northstar commuter rail began running today between Big Lake and Minneapolis.

November 17 - Star Tribune

A Look Back at the Urban Impact of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz

As termed-out Mayor Manny Diaz leaves office in Miami, <em>The Miami Herald</em>'s Andres Viglucci takes a look back at the impact Diaz had on the city's growth.

November 17 - The Miami Herald

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

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

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.