The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

British Columbia

Luxury Condos for Sale in Vancouver as Non-Resident Owners Balk at New Taxes

A tax on non-resident property owners is working as it's intended, as a wave of luxury condo units hit the real estate market all over the city of Vancouver.

August 24 - The Province

A Supervia train in Rio de Janeiro

Brazilian Train Service Bought by Japanese Group

A majority stake of Supervia, a train service in suburban Rio de Janiero, now belongs to a Japanese consortium.

August 24 - Railway Gazette

Water Pipeline

San Diego Wants a New Pipeline for Colorado River Water

The San Diego County Water Authority hired a contractor to study three potential routes for a water pipeline fromt he Imperial Valley.

August 24 - WaterNewNetwork

Wind Turbine

Despite Trump Administration Policies, Wind Power Still Growing

Technological improvements and market demand have buoyed the sector against the Trump adminsitration’s attacks.

August 24 - Utility Dive

Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham Gets New Buses as Part of Plan to Improve Transit

Birmingham, Alabama is buying 15 new buses to run on a planned bus rapid transit route.

August 24 - ABC 33/40


Trees and People

Three Ways Cities Can Combat Extreme Heat

As temperatures rise, there are some relatively simple changes cities can implement to cut cooling costs and deal with spells of extreme heat.

August 23 - Fast Company

Electric Car Charging Stencil

Automakers Required to Increase EV Sales in Colorado

Due to the adoption of the Zero-Emission Vehicle standard by the state's air quality commission last week, there will be a much greater selection of electric vehicles available for interested Colorado consumers. Sales should reach 5% by 2023.

August 23 - NGT News


Texas Wetlands

Texas Program Pays Landowners to Leave Coastal Lands Untouched

In an effort to preserve coastal Texas ecosystems and fight global warming, a new nonprofit is paying landowners to not develop their land.

August 23 - Houston Chronicle

Mercedes Benz Suburbs

Another Automaker Shows Interest in California Deal on Auto Emissions

President Trump is 'enraged' that automakers would agree with California in support of maintaining the Obama-era fuel efficiency standards, reports the Times. Mercedes-Benz is apparently preparing to join Ford, Honda, BMW, and VW in the private deal.

August 23 - The New York Times

Hospital Signs

An Affordable Housing Investment Guide for Nonprofit Hospitals and Health Systems

Hospitals are uniquely suited to make an impact in the ongoing affordable housing crisis in the United States.

August 23 - Managed Healthcare Executive

Tree Canopy

In the Housing Market, a Few Decades Makes a Huge Difference

"[P]erhaps at this point, this column should include a trigger warning for any young couple traumatized by the current housing market around here."

August 23 - The Seattle Times

Los Angeles Grand Park

Former L.A. Planning Director Admits to Ethics Violation

A Los Angeles Times investigation reveals that the city of Los Angeles' might not have revealed every layer of ethics violation committed by Michael LoGrande after he left the Department of City Planning in 2016.

August 23 - Los Angeles Times

California

BLOG POST

The 'War on Cars' Is a Bad Joke

There is no war on cars. Everybody, including motorists, benefit from a more diverse and efficient transportation system. Let there be peace!

August 23 - Todd Litman

Wood Construction

Demystifying Mass Timber

Quayside, Sidewalk Labs' smart city in Toronto, calls for ten tall buildings made entirely of wood. Here's why proponents think mass timber is a good idea, and what obstacles stand in its way.

August 23 - Smart Cities Dive

Metro Cable

On Public Transit, Some of the World’s Best Sightseeing

From Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Sydney, the best—and the cheapest—views are on ferries, buses, trains, and gondolas.

August 23 - The New York Times

Historic Preservation

BLOG POST

Gentrification Mania!

Gentrification is apparently quite rare—so why do urban affairs commentators devote so much time arguing about it?

August 22 - Michael Lewyn

San Antonio

In San Antonio, Planning Ahead for Affordable Housing

The city anticipates significant population growth in the coming decades, and it has put a funding plan into action to ensure affordable housing doesn’t fall by the wayside.

August 22 - Next City

Valley Metro Rail

Phoenix's Future on the Ballot

Voters in Phoenix are already casting ballots in an election to be decided next week. Proposition 105 would end planned light extensions, and Proposition 106 would cap city spending.

August 22 - Arizona Republic

Union Station

Southern California's Metrolink Defies Declining Ridership Trends

Primarily serving commuters in the Greater Los Angeles metro area, Metrolink just attained the highest annual ridership in its 27-year existence. Officials chalk up the increase to a significant investment in marketing.

August 22 - Urbanize LA

San Francisco Houses

Op-Ed: Only Half of San Francisco is Changing

Using a mid 20th-century painting as his point of reference, Benjamin Schneider points out that the vast, disruptive changes we often associate with San Francisco are only affecting the city's eastern side.

August 22 - San Francisco Chronicle

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