The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

NAACP, Institute report lists Detroit's top challenges, links them to fighting sprawl.

July 8 - Michigan Land Use Institute

Four years after the energy blackouts, Californians are actively seeking alternative energy methods that won't disrupt the environment.

July 8 - USA Today

BLOG POST

From this month's issue of <em>Wired</em>, I give you <a href="http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.07/start.html?pg=5">this roundup</a> of interesting uses for Google's wicked cool mapping application. Salient bits:<br /> <br /> <blockquote>It's Google's world, we just live in it. In the few months since its release, the search engine's latest info-appliance - satellite photos searchable by address - has spawned dozens of inspired spinoffs. Here's a look at some of the ways the hive mind is bending <a href="http://maps.google.com">maps.google.com</a>

July 8 - Anonymous

Public transit systems remain one of the easiest targets for terrorists.

July 8 - The Los Angeles Times

BLOG POST

Where have I been? I have no idea.<br /> <br /> Take this with a grain of salt, for what it's worth, etc., but the consultancy Jupiter Research now <a href="http://www.jupitermedia.com/corporate/releases/05.07.06-newjupresearch.html">says</a> that municipal WiFi programs ain't worth the money. Excerpt from the release:<br /> <br /> <blockquote>"Because the benefits of municipal wireless networks are inherently difficult to measure, and because it is too early to look at outcomes, examining breakeven thresholds provides the best reference point for decision-makers," stated Jay Horwitz, Senior Analyst at JupiterResearch. The report estimates that the average cost of building and maintaining a municipal wireless network is $150,000 per square mile over five years. According to the report, roughly 50% of current initiatives will fail to breakeven even if the benefit of the initiative is assumed to be $25 per user per month.</blockquote>

July 8 - Anonymous

David C. Bloom argues that affordable housing needs cannot be met with increased density.

July 8 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The National Environmental Policy Act is facing challenges from business interests. Proposed changes would exempt many oil projects from NEPA review.

July 8 - The Los Angeles Times

Vancouver is experiencing an unanticipated traffic jam -- hundreds of baby strollers.

July 8 - The Oregonian

The appeal of Los Angeles rests in its unique living, and the clever marketing associated with owning the 'perfect' home.

July 8 - The Los Angeles Times

"The Fire Next Time" deals with how talk radio divided a small town already suffering from economic and community woes dealing with land use.

July 8 - AlterNet

An editor outlines a plan that would allow for concessions to be made to long-standing members of the community in case of government displacement.

July 8 - AlterNet

Fear -- and artificially low interest rates -- may be propping up the global economy.

July 7 - Tom Paine - Common Sense

Taking its cue from places as diverse as California and Singapore, Britain weighs options for a national system to combat road gridlock.

July 7 - BBC News

The new Seattle City Hall was designed to meet stringent energy-efficiency requirements. Why does the building use more energy than the older buildings it replaced?

July 7 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Despite the furor over the recent Supreme Court decision in the Kelo v. New London case -- the court's ruling did not expand government rights.

July 7 - The Brookings Institution

Across the country, old skyscrapers are being redesigned as urban housing.

July 7 - The New York Times

Frank Gehry-designed project will add 17 skyscrapers creating a dense urban skyline in Brooklyn, NY.

July 7 - The New York Times

At least 40 are reported dead, hundreds injured as four bombs explode in London's transport system.

July 7 - CNN

Jack Eidt argues that the best way to combat sprawl in Orange County, California is to embrace New Urbanism.

July 7 - Orange County Register

Critics say New York City Parks Department ignoring certain city parks --most in poor neighborhoods.

July 7 - The New York Times