The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

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.

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'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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

Los Angeles Passes New Rent Relief Package
The city will offer a new round of rental assistance to eligible families who owe back rent.

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.
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