The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Imagining a Future Without Lake Mead

<p>This article looks at what could happen if Nevada's reservoir Lake Mead actually does dry up by 2021 as some scientists have predicted.</p>

March 31 - The Alternative Consumer, via Environmental News Network

Los Angeles' Brawl With Sprawl

<p>Officials in Los Angeles were successful in implementing high-density growth policies to curb sprawl. However, a disconnect between culture, transportation policy, and the real estate market may have disastrous consequences.</p>

March 31 - The Economist

Tribe Plans Wind Power Plant in Arizona

<p>The Navajo Nation has announced plans to build wind turbines and generate electricity in the windy high mesas of Northern Arizona.</p>

March 31 - The Arizona Republic

Embracing Alleys in San Francisco

<p>Alleys are a major part of the character of San Francisco, and many parts of the city are trying to embrace these unique aspects of the urban makeup.</p>

March 31 - The New York Times

British Columbians Ditching Cars

<p>More people in British Columbia are responding to higher gas prices by ditching their cars and rising bikes, taking transit and walking, according to a recent survey.</p>

March 31 - The Vancouver Sun


BLOG POST

Pearl River Downturn

<p> China's economic boom has often been compared to the West's industrialization, only running in fast-foward. IT looks as if the decline of Western industrial regions may be playing out in the China on the same accelerated time frame. BusinessWeek Asia is reporting on "<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_14/b4078078846220.htm?link_position=link1">China's Factory Blues</a>" this week on how a perfect storm of recent developments - from the decline in the US housing market to soaring commodity prices and new labor regulations - is shuttering factories in the Peal River Delta at an alarming rate. </p>

March 31 - Anthony Townsend

Federal Disaster Response Plan Revised

<p>The federal government has issued an updated strategy plan for responding to natural and man-made disasters.</p>

March 31 - Washington Technology


The Densest Cities in America

<p>The blog post features a list of the top five densest cities in America, and looks at the conditions that have made them that way.</p>

March 31 - Environmental Graffiti

Jean Nouvel Wins Pritzker Prize

The French architect will be awarded the Pritzker Prize Monday -- the top prize in the field of architecture.

March 30 - The New York Times

A Look Inside Beijing's Mind-Boggling Development

<p>This article from <em>Metropolis Magazine</em> features a tour of Beijing as it prepares for the Summer Olympics. The scale of development is almost overwhelming, according to author Philip Nobel.</p>

March 30 - Metropolis Magazine

Regional Approach Lauded as Key Stretegy for Economic Development

<p>The greater Toledo area needs to think harder about creating regional development if it wants to compete in the globalizing economy, according to this editorial.</p>

March 30 - The Toledo Free Press

Calling for Statewide TOD in New Jersey

<p>This editorial calls on the state of New Jersey to take advantage of the fact that it has one of the country's largest mass transit network and to better site homes and development near transit.</p>

March 30 - The Times (New Jersey)

Funding Bureaucracy Highlights L.A.'s Parks Deficit

The city of Los Angeles is currently sitting on more than $130 million dollars intended to build parks. But those funds are tied to council districts high in development, leaving districts with little development high and dry.

March 30 - LA Weekly

Is a Bronze Fonz Public Art? Aaaaay!

<p>A proposed public art piece featuring a bronze statue of the "Happy Days" character Arthur "the Fonz" Fonzarelli has many up in arms about the process creating and approving public art.</p>

March 29 - The Next American City

Americans Are Flocking to Texas

<p>Sixteen percent of all American moving between July 2006 and July 2007 headed to Texas according to Census data released March 27. Four Texas regions were among the top ten destinations, mostly in the South and West.</p>

March 29 - Associated Press via San Francisco Chronicle

Irvine, Former Subprime Capital, Struggles in Wake of Meltdown

<p>While housing markets in the rest of the country reel from the mortgage crisis, Irvine, the city that was once home to 18 subprime lenders, is seeing its local economy suffer as the effects of high profile bankruptcies ripples to other businesses.</p>

March 29 - CNN Money

San Francisco's New PD Talks About City's Challenges

<p><em>Architect Magazine</em> talks with San Francisco's new planning director, John Rahaim, about the urban planning challenges and issues in the city.</p>

March 29 - Architect Magazine

The New Global Warming Pariahs - Pushing Adaptation and Land Use Changes

<p>Is CO2 buildup responsible for the enormous hurricane damage, or is it overdevelopment? Should we be spending so much attempting to reduce carbon emissions, or could it be better spent reducing problems that will be exacerbated by global warming?</p>

March 29 - The Los Angeles Times

BLOG POST

Celebrate (Transportation) Diversity!

<p class="MsoNormal"> Every person is unique. Every day is unique. Every trip is unique. As a result, an efficient and equitable transportation system must be <a href="http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm65.htm">diverse</a>, so people can choose the best option for each trip. For example, today you might prefer to walk or bicycle, but tomorrow find it best to use public transit or drive. </p>

March 28 - Todd Litman

Friday Funny: China Celebrates Status as World's Top Polluter

This <em>Onion TV news segment highlights Chinese pride in the country's status as the world's top producer of air pollution.

March 28 - The Onion

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