The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Despite years of efforts on the part of planners and governments to promote "smart growth", census data shows that the fastest-growing counties in the U.S. are "suburban, rural or a mixture of both."

March 22 - MSNBC

Three months ago Gov. Schwarzenegger announced a landmark $222 billion plan to invest in California's infrastructure. Yet the state legislature has dealt a blow to crumbling bridges and congested freeways by failing to agree on a bond measure to fund it.

March 22 - The Metro Investment Report

Environmentalists urge a Senate committee to restore and protect the five Great Lakes.

March 21 - The Chicago Tribune

Sixty million acres -- nearly one acre per five people in the country -- are unprotected, unzoned, roadless areas. Author T.A. Barron looks at efforts to protect these lands.

March 21 - The Los Angeles Times

Rutgers planning professor Wansoo Im uses powerful GIS tools and mapping software to track down public restrooms in New York City.

March 21 - The New Yorker

A common plant has the potential to become generate enough fuel to supply electricity to a third of India's villages.

March 21 - BBC

Many economists agree that cities get little return in the way of good jobs and tax dollars when investing public money into building new professional sports stadiums.

March 21 - The Boston Globe

A host of new problems faces Michigan in the 21st century, yet many state leaders have outmoded strategies for success in economic and community development.

March 21 - Michigan Land Use Institute

The Dubai Forum for Sustainable Urban Development draws scholars from around the world to discuss best practices for development.

March 21 - AME Info

FEATURE

From eminent domain to "condofication", Planetizen editors outline the top 10 planning issues from 2005.

March 21 - Abhijeet Chavan

How should the D.C. area handle its explosive growth? Columnist Steven Pearlstein has some ideas.

March 21 - The Washington Post

Three of the top 10 fastest growing county's in the country lie in the Virginia exurbs surrounding Washington, D.C.

March 21 - The Washington Post

Environmentalists oppose President Bush's nomination of Gov. Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho to be secretary of the Interior.

March 20 - Abhijeet Chavan

Four years after becoming the first town to be sold on EBay, the 83-acre Bridgeville, California, population 24, is up for sale again, this time for $1.75 million. [Thanks to Kelly Koldus for the correction.]

March 20 - The Los Angeles Times

The price of building and delivering a FEMA trailer is $75,000. Building a Katrina Cottage costs $60,000. While the safety and aesthetics of the former are questionable, the latter is designed to withstand hurricane force winds. What's the problem?

March 20 - www.nola.com

Environmental historian Ted Steinberg explains American's fascination with the perfect lawn.

March 20 - The Los Angeles Times

The software brings new clarity to a host of environmental issues.

March 20 - San Antonio Current

According to recent studies, homeownership is out of the question for many Marylanders; the Governor's Task Force on Workforce Housing looks for solutions.

March 20 - The Baltimore Sun

The prospect of higher property values have caused many residents to form historic districts, though questions arise as to the actual historic significance of the neighborhoods.

March 20 - Wall Street Journal via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Zillow, a Seattle based website allows users to obtain approximate market values for homes all across the United States, and "Zestimating" could be the new "Googling".

March 20 - The Boston Globe