The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
The Shaper of Boston
<p>The Boston Globe features an extensive profile of Kairos Shen, the city's new chief planner. Shen has had a hand in shaping most major projects in Boston already, and is poised to be a key player in Boston's future.</p>
Eight Options on Table for Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct
State, county, and city officials revealed eight new options for dealing with Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct, a damaged double-decker inner city freeway.
Mayors Oppose Attack on Iran, Cite Effect of War on Cities
<p>Citing the great burden America's cities are bearing due to the war in Iraq, a coalition of Mayors allied with anti-war groups tabled a resolution opposing military action against Iran at the recent Conference of Mayors.</p>
U.S. Infrastructure Crumbling
<p>The Economist reviews the state of America's crumbling civil infrastructure. With water, transit, bridge, and road systems failing, experts call for increased investment and careful planning.</p>
Fresh Food Financing
<p>Pennsylvania is putting its money where its mouth is with the Fresh Food Financing Initiative, a $120 million fund to encourage inner-city groceries.</p>
Fed Freezes Solar Power
<p>The Bureau of Land Management, with a pile of solar power plans on its desk, declares a moratorium on building on public land until they can do environmental impact studies.</p>
Is Urbanism to Blame For Social Alienation?
<p>This commentary from <em>ArchNewsNow</em> wonders whether urbanism is really the cause of social alienation, not the cure.</p>
Baltimore Neighborhood Looks to Transit for Revival
<p>West Baltimore residents and community groups see a new light rail project as their way up for their blighted neighborhood.</p>
FEATURE
Autograph Architecture
Architect John Field believes that signature buildings by celebrity architects are destroying the urban fabric and our sense of community.
GIS Solves Crimes
<p>Cops in Toronto catch a criminal through GIS plotting, and reporter Sara Barbour takes us on a tour of other unusual new applications of GIS.</p>
BLOG POST
Reflecting on Planning and the Planet: Summer Readings that Help You Think
<p class="MsoNormal">Lastmonth’s blog outlined how to find books recommended by many planners—important,classic, or accessible. </p><p class="MsoNormal">However,summer is also a time to push your viewpoint a bit further. For those wantingreadings that might push you tothink differently about planning, the following lists are useful startingpoints. (And a note to planners—we need more of these lists reflecting different placesand people and issues!) </p>
Delaware Wind Power Farm Gains Viability Through Major Investor
<p>A Delaware energy company has agreed to buy power from a proposed offshore wind power farm that could now be built by 2012. The agreement gives more clout to the proposed power farm, which has been debated in the state for years.</p>
Too Much Power
<p>High water levels are straining hydroelectric power generators in Oregon, where too much energy is being created.</p>
A Waterfall Under The Brookyln Bridge
<p>Artist Olafur Eliasson has installed a cascading waterfall directly under one of the towers of the Brookyln Bridge. In this excerpt, he reflects on the need for public space and the impact of art in public.</p>
Land Use Takes Back Seat In CA's Global Warming Plan
<p>Energy-efficient vehicles,buildings, appliances, low carbon fuels,and renewable energy took center stage in the Climate Change Draft Scoping Plan released June 26 by the CA Air Resources Board, a major step in meeting the landmark AB 32 climate goals</p>
The Green City of the Future
<p>This multimedia presentation from <em>Popular Science</em> offers a vision of future green cities and the technologies that will sustain them.</p>
Seizing Cattle to Fight Deforestation
<p>As part of a new strategy to prevent deforestation in the Amazon, government officials in Brazil have begun seizing livestock that graze on illegal ranches.</p>
Amtrak Struggles To Meet Skyrocketing Demand
<p>With unprecedented demand, Amtrak is hampered by years of neglect. The agency is unable to handle all the new customers resulting from high gas prices and plane tickets and is struggling to replace aged equipment and pay for increased fuel costs.</p>
Town Removes All Traffic Signals
<p>Bohmte, Germany is following the lead of an EU program called "Shared Space", which recommends that cities remove traffic signals and find ways to encourage cars to share their space with pedestrians and bicyclists.</p>
Nation Can Learn From Philadelphia's Housing Struggles
<p>Philadelphia has struggled to deal with its large supply of derelict housing, and it serves as a lesson for lawmakers when they try to find ways to stop neighborhoods from deteriorating.</p>
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.
