The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

<p>This piece from the <em>International Herald Tribune</em> discusses how the desire to preserve historic train stations is holding them back from being more valuable to commuters by catering to their needs and desires.</p>

May 5 - International Herald Tribune

<p>A 2014 goal of 30% farm ownership by blacks in South Africa is far from being met, as whites still control more than 80% of the nation's farmland. Many say the government's land reform laws are incapable of efficiently redistributing the land.</p>

May 5 - The Economist

<p>Researchers have surveyed the continental U.S. to create a map of all roadless areas. The survey revealed that a road is always within 22 miles of any point in the country, and that some areas have too many roads for the size of their populations.</p>

May 5 - Discovery News

<p>A 70,000-acre timber tract that spans the Low Country counties of Charleston and Dorchester in South Carolina will be developed by its corporate owner, MeadWestvaco, into an environmentally-sensitive community that emphasizes conservation.</p>

May 4 - The State

<p>Several new reports offer an analysis of shared equity strategies as an approach to reduce the cost of homeownership.</p>

May 4 - Center for Housing Policy

<p>Delaware is considering three proposals for new environmentally-friendly power plants, and many residents are supporting a plan to build a large offshore wind farm. A recent survey showed that more than 80% of residents favored the wind farm option.</p>

May 4 - NPR

<p>With little interest from the governor, Illinois transit officials are predicting that budget cuts will dramatically reduce transit service, especially in the suburban Chicago area. They have been unsuccessful in rallying lawmakers to boost funding.</p>

May 4 - The Chicago Tribune

<p>The culmination of a major statewide planning effort -- the new long-term plan calls for communities to build compact neighborhoods and coordinate regional development.</p>

May 4 - The Times-Picayune

<p>The city's 'segundo barrio' -- a historic Mexican-American neighborhood -- is the focus of a major redevelopment effort that opponents say is trying to 'white wash' the community.</p>

May 4 - The Texas Observer

<p>Citing rules made more than 100 years ago, railroad operators have dodged regulations being pressed by a California air quality board to prohibit locomotives from idling -- a highly polluting activity.</p>

May 4 - The Los Angeles Times

<p>Houses built from used shipping containers are an increasing popular affordable housing option.</p>

May 4 - MSNBC

<p>Could a 'green' makeover of one of China's most infamous public spaces help signal the country's shifting politics?</p>

May 4 - The Guardian Unlimited

<p>Federally-funded home rebuilding programs in New Orleans are having trouble keeping up with the demand of grant applicants, and the governor has cautioned that the budget shortfall may be in the billions.</p>

May 4 - The York Dispatch

<p>The Malaysian government is hoping its new mega-plans for an expansive 21st Century economic hub will bring more action to the country, where other big projects have not lived up to their economic potential.</p>

May 4 - International Herald Tribune

<p>The City of Winnipeg is trying to create incentives for downtown housing development in an attempt to increase the population density of its urban core.</p>

May 3 - Downtown Winnipeg Biz

<p>A freeway collapse in the San Francisco Bay Area dramatically changed commuter patterns this week, and also caused a spike in public transit ridership, giving BART a record-breaking tally of passengers.</p>

May 3 - The San Francisco Chronicle

<p>Snohomish County, Wash., officials are tussling with local city governments and fire-department officials over regulation of so-called "air condo" developments sprouting in the county's unincorporated areas.</p>

May 3 - The Seattle Times

<p>In this interview, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa talks about how to tackle the city's congestion and housing issues.</p>

May 3 - U.S. News & World Report

BLOG POST

<p>Locating residential development closer to city centers comes with a price: increased exposure to air pollutants.

May 3 - Diana DeRubertis

<p>Researchers have conducted observations in 32 world cities to determine where people walk the fastest. They've found that the world's fastest walkers are in Singapore. To the surprise of many, New York City's walkers are only the eighth-fastest.</p>

May 3 - ITV