The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Westside Village, a failed pet project of former Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell, has been given a new lease on life through public incentives and private investment. Officials hope the revitalization of its downtrodden neighborhood will follow.

April 29 - Creative Loafing Atlanta

The Ara Pacis Augustae (Latin for "Altar of Augustan Peace") is covered by a Modernist building, designed by American architect Richard Meier.

April 29 - INTBAU News

Dam builder Dennis Messner has overanalyzed his upcoming construction project, calling himself an "integration-minded postmodernist". Pretty advanced thinking for a beaver.

April 28 - The Onion

Bryan Finoki tackles the spatial and socio-economic problems of shantytowns, focusing on recent tragedies in the Philippines. (Includes photos.)

April 28 - Inhabitat

Los Angeles Times readers respond to Frank Gehry's plans for downtown Los Angeles' Grand Avenue project.

April 28 - The Los Angeles Times

Jane Jacobs had no college degree in architecture or urban planning. How did she defiantly challenge influential figures such as urban-renewal "czar" Robert Moses?

April 28 - The Los Angeles Times

A columnist who has advocated for the division of California into several states takes the idea a step further, examining potential political and demographic conditions as he divides California into fourths.

April 28 - The Lookout

Researchers study the effectiveness of growth management laws in the Smart Growth pioneer state.

April 28 - The Baltimore Sun

Her focus on the literal building blocks of cities inspired countless leaders in the field, many of whom are mentioned here.

April 28 - The New York Times

Plenty of senators are criticizing America's addiction to oil and the need for greater fuel efficiency, yet what are they driving?

April 28 - The Washington Post

In 2004, U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases increased by 1.7 percent -- the largest rate of increase ever recorded for any country.

April 28 - Environment News Service

Urban historian Christopher Klemek discusses the significance of Jane Jacobs' writings and activism.

April 28 - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Renowned urban theorist Jane Jacobs was also an energetic community activist. (Includes links to obituaries published by several news sources.)

April 27 - The Los Angeles Times

BLOG POST

Chris' last posting is big news!<br /> <br /> Imagine a google earth world where millions of enthusiastic users build replicas of their homes and the stores/ buildings in their neighborhood and then they become veiwable by anybody else. Wiki style, people can work collaboratively to improve and constantly update buildings. What would normally cost billions of dollars for 3D design company to make available then become part of a 3D vitual town/yellow pages. And it would be built for free and rapidly.<br /> <br /> Like <a href="http://secondlife.com/whatis/">Second Life</a>

April 27 - Ken Snyder

<p>A critical aspect of the property tax, but one that is rarely addressed in public debate, is its 'economic incidence,' or who actually bears the burden of the tax, as opposed to its statutory incidence, or who literally pays the tax.</p>

April 27 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

BLOG POST

<img src="http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/download?mid=f2991e0c12644c9ff87d99a411d2b1c5&rtyp=t" alt="USC Tower / 3-D Warehouse - Google SketchUp" align="right" /><a href="http://www.publish.com/">Publish</a> is <a href="http://www.publish.com/article2/0,1895,1954625,00.asp">reporting</a> that Google has released a free version of the popular 3-D drawing program, SketchUp, <a href="http://www.planetizen.com/tech/archives/2004/07/09/111/">reviewed so well</a> on TechTalk earlier by Ken (Snyder).

April 27 - Chris Steins

Slate publishes a series of articles on human waste, descending to the depths of London's massive and mysterious sewer system and visiting a restored 1865 sewage works, a "sewage school", and the polluted Thames.

April 27 - Slate

The Victoria Transport Policy Institute, a Canadian land use and transportation think tank, offers a review of planning principles and practices.

April 27 - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

Housing prices have begun to fall as condo supply continues to grow in Miami.

April 27 - The Miami Herald

East Bay Assemblyman Johan Klehs has written a bill calling for new Bay Area vehicle registration fees, in the form of two $5 fees: one for local transportation needs and the other for a regional air and water quality mitigation project.

April 27 - The Contra Costa Times