The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Historic Land Use Bill's Steam Could Run Out
A California bill that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by controlling land use may be one of the most important land use bills in years, according to Bill Fulton. But if it passes, the progress it makes could be short lived.
Many Schools Located Next to Major Highways
New research from the University of Cincinnati shows that nearly a third of U.S. schools are located within a quarter-mile of major highways, posing a significant air pollution threat to students.
Denver Prepares For Democrats
Denver is generally ready for the Democratic National Convention, but city officials have taken heat for security preparations.
The Flood of 'Amenity Migrants'
Scenic resort towns are increasingly attracting older residents, creating a population boom that far surpasses growth rates in many cities and urban areas.
Oil Supply Crunch May Hit In Five Years
Using the term 'oil supply crunch' as opposed to 'peak oil', this British report indicates that the oil crisis will hit by 2013, with prices jumping to $200/barrel. It states that the problem is not insufficient oil but obstacles to its extraction.
BLOG POST
Infographics For The Rest Of Us
<p> <img src="/files/u2/20080820-sparkline-example.png" alt=" " title=" " hspace="20" vspace="20" width="291" height="29" align="right" /> </p> <p> An introduction to free tools for creating interactive information graphics. </p> <p> As professionals shaping the built and natural environment, we have to process and communicate complicated concepts and data to peers and the public. We often use visuals such as maps, charts, graphs, and diagrams to illustrate a concept or explore data. Such visual representations are called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_graphics">information graphics</a> or <span style="font-style: italic">infographics</span>. </p>
Hidden Housing: People Are Creating Their Own Idiosyncratic Solutions
Vancouver Magazine takes a look at the many ways people create their own housing solutions outside the norm, from mortgage sharing to garage renovations to illegal units.
Riding in Peace
'Quiet' cars on trains -- where cell phones and loud headphones are banned -- are widely popular. So why aren't more transit agencies making designated quiet cars?
Golden Gate Bridge Congestion Pricing Replaced With Parking Pricing Plan
The Feds won't agree to a $1 congestion peak bridge toll, so SF planners have proposed peak hour parking fees on corridors leading to the Golden Gate Bridge to satisfy the Urban Partnership Agreement terms to retain the $158 million grant.
How U.S. Infrastructure Crumbled
With America facing a $1.6 trillion infrastructure deficit, Joanna Guldi of the Commonweal Institute laments for the era the "infrastructure state."
The Meaning of 'Independence'
Jay Walljasper reflects on the historical meaning of American independence, and how today's meaning is leading people away from working towards the common good.
The New Urbanist Racetrack
Bay Meadows Racetrack in San Mateo,CA is being transformed into 19 blocks of office buildings, dense housing, parkland and plazas.
Bold Plans for Denver's Union Station
Denver's Union Station is poised to become a major transportation hub once more, but faces a lot of challenges before opening its doors.
The Rise of the 'House Cow'
With the price of food climbing, some families in the U.K. are taking to keeping small Dexter cows.
Olympic Games Not Performing For Beijing Businesses
The economic boost expected from Olympics-related tourism has fallen way short of predictions in Beijing. Many business people blame the government's stringent visa-granting policies.
Church's Development Arm Under Fire in Harlem
A powerful Harlem church that has expanded its reach into local real estate development is coming under fire from locals who say their projects are damaging Harlem's small-town character and encouraging gentrification.
Sprawlfighting in San Jose
San José, California, after decades of sprawl that left the region one of the least-dense cities in the state, is on track to densify their underused areas. As one planner put it, "The decision was, let's not build out anymore, let's build up."
City Tries To Curb 'Spite Landscaping'
A city in the midst of a revitalization effort has targeted landscape designs allegedly aimed at spiting the neighbors.
The Spread of Ciclovia
Temporary street closures for pedestrian use -- an idea that spawned in Bogota, Colombia -- are occurring in cities all over the world. The trend is expected to continue.
Electronic Signs May Need Different Rules
Officials in Abilene, Texas, are trying to pass an electronic sign ordinance "proactively" but are facing great resistance, as has been the case for other cities.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
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.
