The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Sierra Club Wins Farmland Preservation Fee

Successful litigation by a Sierra Club chapter in California's Central Valley results in $17.5 million to purchase conservation easements in San Joaquin County, as well as the establishment of a farmland preservation fee in the City of Stockton.

January 23 - The Stockton Record

'Dream Team' To Shape Katrina Rebuilding

Peter Calthorpe and Andres Duany are among those involved in shaping the rebuilding efforts after hurricane Katrina.

January 23 - Associated Press

Atlanta Puts a Moratorium on 'McMansions' in Historic Neighborhoods

To arrest the trend of historic tear-downs with incompatable 'mega-mansions' built in their place, the City of Atlanta has placed a temporary halt to the practice.

January 23 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Student Ghetto Losing Ground To Family Conversion Trend

Philadelphia's University City neighborhood is seeing existing housing stock moving full circle; having gone from single family to multi-apartment student rentals, it's being reborn as quality family housing.

January 23 - The Daily Pennsylvanian

Forget The Controversy -- New Orleans Recovery Is Model City Planning

Neal Peirce argues that despite negative reports in the press, the Katrina rebuilding process is shaping up to be a superlative planning effort, a unique opportunity to rid New Orleans of corruption and involve more citizens.

January 23 - National Academy of Public Administration


Building Timeless Places

Hank Dittmar, Director of the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, a nonprofit organization founded by Sir Charles, The Prince of Wales, discusses the balance of tradition and innovation in urban design.

January 23 - David Gest

Atlanta's Ready For Its Close-up

Meier, Piano, Calatrava, oh my! A host of starchitects have descended on Hotlanta, spicing up downtown's skyline.

January 23 - Creative Loafing Atlanta


Gambling Away A Community's Future?

Philadelphia's Civic Coalition on Slots hopes not, seeking to force future casinos in the neighborhood to pay for millions of dollars worth of community improvements.

January 23 - Philadelphia Weekly

Ex-EPA Chiefs Warn Bush About Global Warming

Former chiefs of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -- five Republicans and one Democrat -- criticise the Bush administration's response to global warming.

January 22 - The Guardian Unlimited

Duany Predicts Growing Demand For New Urbanism Experts

New Urbanism pioneer Andres Duany says the movement could change affordable housing and predict growing demand for experts.

January 22 - Orlando Business Journal

Solving Sydney's Transporation Crisis

Light rail may be the answer to the transportation crisis in Sydney, Australia, argues chief executive of City of Sydney council, Peter Seamer.

January 22 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Making The City Safe For Bikes

Alec Appelbaum urges New York City to develop a "bike-safe" network.

January 22 - MetropolisMag.com

Coltsville Reloaded

The Connecticut home of the gun manufacturing giant has been dead for decades, but Colt Gateway, a tax-increment financing project, could give it new life.

January 22 - Hartford Advocate

BLOG POST

Why Cities Work: Surprise

A few months ago, when I was still taking the bus to work - and walking from San Francisco's Transbay Terminal to my office - my favorite shortcut got strange. And I'm glad it did, because it helped me crystallize one of the necessary qualities for a great city: surprise.<br /> <br /> I'd taken to shaving a few minutes off the march by cutting down a narrow walkway between two skyscrapers. Tall brick on one side, tall concrete on the other. And at the end: pop. The backend of a simple plaza, bits of crummy retail and a Starbucks guarding the front.

January 21 - Anonymous

Baseball Before Books?

An editorial argues that the D.C. government has confused "economic development" with true "public benefit" in its expensive quest to build a new baseball stadium.

January 21 - The Common Denominator

Plan To Scrap Old Ships Stirs Pollution Worries

A proposal to haul old ships to Oregon for salvage and recycling presents a classic case of economic development versus environmental protection.

January 21 - The Christian Science Monitor

Think Tank's Green Thinking Garners Gold

The new headquarters of pre-eminent think-tank RAND received a LEED Gold certification for a building design that reflects the ideals of the institution.

January 21 - GreenBiz.com

Builders Make Retirement Plans South Of The Border

As baby boomers begin to retire, many homebuilders look to create resort and retirement communities to fit their needs in Mexico.

January 21 - The Wall Street Journal

Boise Center No More

Boise, Idaho, is no longer the center of population in Treasure Valley, as density shifts west to Meridian.

January 21 - The Idaho Statesman

Friday Funny: Free Toilets And Trees

The L.A. Department of Water and Power is providing the free installation services in an effort to reduce energy consumption citywide.

January 20 - Los Angeles Daily News

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.