The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Albania

American Cities Should Be More Colorful

Designer Rachael Smith argues that a Puritan attitude toward color explains why so many American cities are clad in grays and browns, and links the gray-ification of cities to their gentrification.

March 31 - Next City

New York City

BLOG POST

'American Jobs Plan': Potential Sea Change for Federal Infrastructure Spending

After a week of speculation and rumor, the Biden administration today revealed its promised infrastructure plan.

March 31 - James Brasuell

Arizona Sprawl

Arizona Landlords Filed Evictions After Receiving State Assistance

Despite receiving $10 million in rental assistance through a state-run program, landlords in Arizona have filed thousands of evictions since the pandemic began.

March 31 - Arizona Republic

Coronavirus

CDC's Eviction Moratorium Extended

The CDC's eviction moratorium will stay in place until at least June 30, 2021.

March 31 - CNN

Carfree Bridge

Carfree Bridge Planned Near Portland

A new plan for a carfree bridge between Oregon City and West Linn, across the Willamette River, is quickly taking shape in Oregon.

March 31 - Bike Portland


Freeway houses

U.S. DOT Says Mileage Charge Is Not in Biden's Plan

Secretary Pete Buttigieg's statement that the per-mile-tax concept "shows a lot of promise" caused a stir, but a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Transportation later claimed it won't be part of Biden's forthcoming infrastructure package.

March 31 - Business Insider

Amazon Fulfillment Center

Warehouse Sprawl Prompts Calls for Regional Planning

As e-commerce giants like Amazon build more and more facilities, advocates say a regional approach is needed to prevent sprawl and look beyond local benefits.

March 31 - NJ Spotlight


London Crowded Street

What Is the Future of London's 'Low-Traffic Neighbourhoods'?

As local councils debate making permanent changes implemented last year, can pedestrian and cycling advocates hold on to their victories?

March 31 - The Guardian

COVID-19 Test

CDC Director Expresses a Feeling of 'Impending Doom'

Dr. Rochelle Walensky sounded the alarm during the White House COVID-19 Response Team's press briefing on Monday, warning Americans that the pandemic trajectory in the United States is the same as in Europe. The latter is experiencing a third wave.

March 30 - CIDRAP News

Taipei, Taiwan Skyline

Californians Seek Normalcy by Relocating to Taiwan

As the pandemic continues to disrupt life in the United States, some Taiwanese Americans are rebuilding their lives abroad.

March 30 - Los Angeles Times

Colorado Springs, Colorado skyline

Colorado Springs Drafts New Regional Annexation Plan

A regional planning proposal in El Paso County, Colorado calls for uniform standards for unincorporated developments, which would make it easier to receive city services if annexed in the future.

March 30 - The Gazette (Colorado Springs)

Tenants' Rights

HUD Has Money for Tenant Organizing. Why Isn’t the Agency Spending It?

HUD can provide $10 million to tenant organizers each year, but the funding has largely gone unspent since the early 2000s. Will that change with a new administration and newly approved HUD secretary?

March 30 - Shelterforce Magazine

Asphalt Road

Opinion: Washington State Should Stop Funding Freeways

The Urbanist's editorial board calls for an end to highway widening and an increased focus on walking, biking, and transit.

March 30 - The Urbanist

Central Park Aerial

New York's Rent Relief Program Falls Short for Struggling Tenants

Between two rounds of funding, the city of New York has only awarded $7 million of a total $60 million intended for tenant relief.

March 30 - Gothamist

Denver, Colorado

Cleveland Wanted Townhomes, What it Got Was 'Slot Homes'

Members of the Cleveland Chapter if the American Institute of Architects are raising awareness about the unintended consequences of zoning changes made in 2018 to make it easier to develop townhomes in the city.

March 30 - Cleveland.com

Washington, D.C.

BLOG POST

Anticipation, Costs Rise as Details of Biden's Infrastructure Plan Emerge

The Biden administration's highly anticipated infrastructure spending plan is expected to go public this week. After weeks of speculation about the size and focus of the plan, recent reports reveal a growing package and new revenue streams.

March 30 - James Brasuell

COVID-19

One Year Later, Public Transit Still in Crisis

Public transit cities around the world are operating well below pre-pandemic ridership levels, with many cutting service and no real clear idea about how and when a recovery will begin.

March 29 - The New York Times

Back to School September 2020

Reopening Schools: CDC Reduces Social Distancing Requirement

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now supports three-foot distancing in elementary school classrooms provided there is universal masking. For middle and high schools, it depends on the level of coronavirus transmission in the community.

March 29 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Little Tokyo Los Angeles

Los Angeles Passes New Rent Relief Package

The city will offer a new round of rental assistance to eligible families who owe back rent.

March 29 - KTLA

Desert Road

3D-Printed Neighborhood Coming to the California Desert

The developer of the 15-home community claims they will produce homes with a tenth of the waste of traditional construction in record time.

March 29 - The Guardian

Post News

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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.