The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

<p>In a policy analysis for the Cato Institute, Randal O'Toole reviews plans for more than 75 of the nation's largest metropolitan areas reveals that virtually all of them fail to follow standard planning methods, and half of them are not effective.</p>

May 27 - Cato Institute

<p>The installation of a green roof and solar array on the rooftop of the new WGBH building in Boston is captured on video.</p>

May 27 - The Boston Globe

<p>Mayor Mark Funkhouser's new proposal calls for a regional transit system spanning 119 miles, though it relies on much less light rail than some transit advocates had hoped for.</p>

May 27 - The Kansas City Star

BLOG POST

<p> <span style="font-size: small; font-family: Times New Roman">A recent report by the libertarian Cato Institute, </span><a href="http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=9325"><span style="font-size: small; color: #800080; font-family: Times New Roman">Does Rail Transit Save Energy or Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions?</span></a><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Times New Roman">, claims that public transit service improvements are ineffective at conserving energy and reducing pollution emissions. But this conclusion is based on faulty analysis.</span> </p>

May 27 - Todd Litman

<p>This article from the <em>Las Vegas Sun</em> asks whether siting two blatantly different architectural styles right next to each other is necessarily a bad thing.</p>

May 27 - Las Vegas Sun

<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