The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

<p>A local commercial property developer has built two prototype units and announced plans to erect a 62 unit complex -- claiming the factory built units will cost 15 percent less then traditional housing.</p>

May 27 - The Seattle Times

<p>Critics worry that cities who require new developments to meet LEED-ND standards will sacrifice affordable housing for sustainability.</p>

May 27 - Washington Business Journal

<p>This segment from <em>NPR</em> looks at the city of Cleveland and examines how foreclosures have devastated the city and many of its neighborhoods.</p>

May 27 - NPR

<p>San Francisco city planners take a hard line on renovating the city's stock of historic homes. Homeowners, architects, and even preservationists are saying the department has gone too far.</p>

May 27 - The San Francisco Chronicle

<p>The Washington Post's car columnist, Warren Brown, writes about the U.S oil addiction using insightful references to alcoholism -- describing the role of the government, the auto and oil industry, and most importantly, consumers.</p>

May 27 - The Washington Post

<p>New Jersey struggles to develop fair rules on affordable housing. "The whole thing is madness at this point," says a Sussex County administrator.</p>

May 26 - New Jersey Herald

<p>Ham Lake, Minnesota, residents are torn over the best way to preserve the rural character of their St. Paul suburb.</p>

May 26 - Star Tribune, Minneapolis-St. Paul

<p>Mark Kingwell observes the sharp -- and deadly -- contrast between shining Shanghai skyscrapers and the poorly-built prefab concrete structures in China's rural areas that proved to be deathtraps in the recent earthquake.</p>

May 26 - The Globe & Mail

<p>Awareness is increasing of the evils of the ubiquitous plastic water bottle. Elizabeth Royte suggests a solution- the return of the public fountain, a neglected staple of yesteryear.</p>

May 26 - The New York Times

<p>The Pentagon Memorial, dedicated to the 194 people killed at the Pentagon on Sept. 11th, opened today to families and journalists. Architects Julie Beckman and Keith Kaseman sought to evoke individual memories but express a collective whole.</p>

May 26 - WJLA-TV

FEATURE

Planning and zoning commissions need to be diverse to make sure the broad range of issues and concerns are considered. That requires commissioners who are from different parts of town, different walks of life, different ethnic backgrounds, and now, different age groups.

May 26 - Wayne Senville

<p>One of Chicago's most famous streetscapes is threatened by proposed new towers.</p>

May 25 - The Chicago Tribune

<p>Scooter sales are on the rise, as Americans wake up to the effect of high gas prices on their pocketbook.</p>

May 25 - Tim Halbur

<p>The City of Stockton, California votes to impose a temporary moratorium on the demolition of potentially historic buildings to allow staff time to create a permanent ordinance.</p>

May 25 - The Stockton Record

<p>With gas prices rising beyond the comfort zones of many drivers, ridership on L.A.'s train system has seen record highs in the early months of 2008. For many in the city, the price is prompting a major paradigm shift in terms of mobility.</p>

May 25 - BBC

<p>San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is considering a plan to temporarily close down certain streets to car traffic, creating public space for pedestrians -- similar to the successful Ciclovia that takes place weekly in Bogota, Colombia.</p>

May 25 - The Examiner

<p>The New York Times looks across the nation and finds consumers reluctantly changing their habits to deal with rising gas prices.</p>

May 24 - The New York Times

<p>If you demolish a building, then recreate it exactly in a different spot, will it retain its original character? Atlantans may find out.</p>

May 24 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

<p>Falling revenues from real estate taxes could impact transit expansion plans as New York's MTA faces a sharp decline.</p>

May 24 - Tim Halbur

<p>Understanding and improving the Brazilian informal settlements known as favelas will require more information about the slums -- especially in the field of mapping.</p>

May 24 - Harvard Design Magazine