The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

<p>Portland wants to expand its streetcar system, and is relying on federal funds to do it. But the Federal Transit Administration says it will give grants to only cost-effective proposals -- creating a heavy bias toward buses and away from streetcars.</p>

January 3 - The Oregonian

<p>The increasing populations of the world's cities have a large impact on energy use and global warming. These populations should be a major focus of efforts to address climate change, according to this article from <em>CNN</em>.</p>

January 3 - CNN

<p>This article from <em>Progressive Planning</em> calls on planners to more closely consider the way anti-terrorism planning affects the general practice of urban planning.</p>

January 3 - Progressive Planning

<p>Houston may lack zoning restrictions, but the city has taken a number of steps over the course of the year to limit the extent and flavor of development.</p>

January 3 - The Houston Chronicle

<p>Richard Florida's latest research shows that vibrant music "scenes" -- or a city's "audio identity" -- are good indicators of urban vitality.</p>

January 2 - The Globe & Mail

<p>India's Tata Group is preparing to launch The People's Car -- the world's cheapest car. The Rs 1-lakh will have an initial sticker price of 1000 rupees ($2,500).</p>

January 2 - AFP via Google News

<p>Around the world, urban areas have new names -- micropolis, aerotropolis and city-region. But are they cities?</p>

January 2 - The Financial Times

<p>Among Alternet's top 10 positive trends in 2007 are raised environmental consciousness; U.S. mayors taking the lead in climate change regulations and a "waste-free" plan for the Indian state of Kerala.</p>

January 2 - AlterNet

<p>In an academic journal article, noted geographer Michael Goodchild argues that user-generated content can profoundly impact Geographic Information Systems.</p>

January 2 - Science Daily

<p>Rules mandating higher energy efficiency in all new Portland buildings are slow to catch on in the city, but officials are hoping to gather support.</p>

January 2 - The Oregonian

<p>A string of droughts and a water-intensive invasive plant species have diminished water supplies in Northern Texas, requiring rationing for 11 cities in 2008.</p>

January 2 - The Houston Chronicle

<p>Once thriving, America's indoor shopping malls are on the decline, and many predict their death may finally come within the next few years.</p>

January 2 - The Economist

<p>Many economists are predicting the continued slowing of the commercial real estate market across the country.</p>

January 2 - The Washington Post

<p>The American Institute of Architects has come out against plans to include elevated tracks as part of the layout of Honolulu's proposed light rail system.</p>

January 2 - Hawaii Reporter

<p>St. Louis and Philadelphia are entering the final weeks of competition to become the host of a new Major League Soccer expansion team. One city has stadium plans, the other has investors. Neither has both.</p>

January 1 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

<p>Condo developers in Milwaukee are responding to the slowdown in the housing market by slowing down development.</p>

January 1 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

<p>1808 - 1908 - 2008, 2108. The New York Times looks at two centuries of predictions and invites ten New Yorkers to imagine New York City a century from today, in 2108.</p>

January 1 - The New York Times

<p>High design is entering the realm of affordable housing, with numerous projects around the country garnering acclaim.</p>

January 1 - The Wall Street Journal

<p>Israel has announced plans to require green building standards on new constructions, but some say the requirements don't go far enough.</p>

January 1 - Haaretz

BLOG POST

<p class="MsoNormal"> For students facing the end of their masters programs, an individual exit project, paper, or thesis is often part of the final semester. Over the years I’ve watched many very competent students struggle with this process and delay graduation for years because they could not complete their thesis or project “book”. Over the following months I am going to focus on the various parts of the process of writing these documents—from literature reviews and research questions to time management and creating informative illustrations. To help those currently near the end, in this entry I focus on key trouble spots for those a few months from graduation. </p>

December 31 - Ann Forsyth