The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Orange County Plans Hybrid Bus-Rail Line
<p>In the latest sign that the once suburban county is now increasingly urban, Irvine, California officials have approved plans for a new bus and streetcar line to connect the city's commuter rail station with several new and existing developments.</p>
Building Green? Move To The Front Of The Permit Line
<p>A San Mateo County supervisor is proposing that the county reward developers of environmentally-friendly projects with faster permit approvals.</p>
Friday Funny: Could This Be The End Of Naked Time?
<p>In the wake of a recent wave of people roaming naked in its streets, the Vermont town of Brattleboro is considering imposing a ban on public nudity. Vermont has no state laws against the act.</p>
What Is A 'Town' Anyway?
<p>While publishers of the recent list of America's Best Places to Live focused on small towns, it seems most places that made the list aren't so much towns but suburban outposts in the suburban sprawl of larger cities.</p>
The Best Places To Live For 2007
<p>For 2007, Money Magazine's annual survey focused on small towns with a sense of community. Topping the list? Middleton, Wisconsin -- population 17,400.</p>
Manhattan Pipe Explosion Symbolizes U.S. Infrastucture Crisis
<p>The steam pipe explosion in Manhattan is the latest evidence of the coming crisis that infrastructure experts have been warning us about for years.</p>
How Retiring Baby Boomers Will Transform Traditional Models of Senior Living
<p>The idea of aging in community honors the elder stage of life as one with gifts and challenges. It encourages creation of caring neighborhoods and networks that provide for affordable, quality housing to support future needs and new opportunities.</p>
The Story Of South Beach
<p>While South Beach today conjures images of upscale urban beach lifestyle and glorious art deco architecture, it has not always been that way.</p>
Bloomberg's Congestion Pricing Plan: What Went Wrong
<p>A detailed look at Mayor Bloomberg's ill-fated congestion pricing plan reveals a series of serious missteps by the normally adept mayor in dealing with the state legislature.</p>
Las Vegas Paying Residents To Remove Lawns
<p>With Lake Mead already down to two-thirds capacity, water officials in fast-growing Southern Nevada have spent over $80 million to 'encourage' residents to rip up sod and "xeriscape" their yards.</p>
Growth Is Not Inevitable In California
<p>Everyone assumes that California's population will continue to grow for decades to come. But even with current projections for growth, history tells us that this fact isn't inevitable.</p>
Canada's Suburbs Unfit For 'Demographic Tsunami'
<p>New Statistics Canada data suggests that a large number of seniors are going to be retiring in suburbia, which is poorly suited to meeting their needs.</p>
BLOG POST
How Do You Like Your Public Space, Grilled Or Fried?
<p><em>I am currently on charrette in Bryant, Arkansas. As a brief primer, Bryant is located approximatley 15 miles to the southwest of Little Rock and is currently the fastest growing city in the state. This is mostly due to a its proximity to major employment centers and its thriving LEED certified school system. Though I could regurgitate a slew of citizen comments regarding the city's lack of communal space and the recent impoverishiment of its public realm, the picture and brief explantation below says it all.<br /></em></p><p> <br /><img src="/files/u405-Bryant-Chick-Fil-A.jpg" alt="Bryant Chik-Fil-A" title="Bryant Chik-Fil-A" width="303" height="201" align="middle" /></p><p><em>Photo Courtesy of Matt Lambert</em> </p>
Are Women Better Planners And Architects?
<p>A survey by a British planning firm shows that most people think women would design and build more livable cities than men.</p>
Green Building Picks Up Steam In Idaho
<p>With gradual growth in the amount of plans for energy efficient buildings and a rise in applications for LEED certification, Idaho is joining with many other states in a push to build more environmentally-friendly homes and buildings.</p>
Townhomes Sprouting Up In Seattle
<p>Hundreds of new townhomes are being built in neighborhoods across Seattle. Neighbors want input into the new housing, but a loophole allows development to move forward under the radar.</p>
Portland's Smart Growth Pays Dividends, Literally
<p>A new study lays out the annual savings residents of Portland, Oregon enjoy because of the green choices they and their elected leaders have made over the past 50 years.</p>
Low-Income Residents Migrating From Cities In Search Of Public Housing
<p>Public housing residents in crime-ridden urban areas are migrating to outlying communities in hopes of securing better housing and living in a safer neighborhood.</p>
New Medical Study To Highlight Lack Of Walking/Biking To School
<p>A soon-to-be released medical study reveals fewer than half of children who live within a mile of their school walk or bike there, and the percentage is dropping. While safety is a factor, cultural values and number of cars in household play a role.</p>
Car-Sharing Growing In Atlanta
<p>Despite doomsayers' claims that low-density Atlanta would never take to car sharing, Flexcar, the largest car sharing company in the U.S., is expanding its presence in the city.</p>
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