The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Airbnb

Home Sharing or Illegal Hotel?

Like many companies in the “sharing economy,” Airbnb prides itself on “disrupting” the traditional marketplace—but at what cost to New York’s affordable housing?

December 22 - Urban Omnibus

Hartford Connecticut

No More Parking Minimums in Hartford

Earlier this month, the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously on a revised zoning code that lets builders forgo parking citywide.

December 22 - Streetsblog USA

Concerns Raised About Skyrocketing Bill for Wisconsin's Foxconn Deal

Governor Scott Walker and Foxconn Chair Terry Gou will sign a contract today that will pave the way for the Taiwan-based company to build a large manufacturing plant in Racine County.

December 22 - Urban Milawaukee

Dupont Station, Toronto

Toronto Extends its Subway for the First Time in 15 Years

Fanfare, a full slate of politicians, and a day of free rides celebrated the opening of the extended Line 1 of the TTC subway system. There was also criticism of the new extension.

December 22 - The Toronto Star

Mobile Grocery Store

Turning Parking Spaces Into Grocery Stores

The Moby Mart is an autonomous, staffless, mobile store, turning every parking space in the world into a potential new 24-hour store.

December 22 - Modern Cities


Amtrak Cascaded

Focus on Positive Train Control after Amtrak Train 501 Derails in Washington

Excessive speed is thought to be the cause of the deadly derailment on Dec. 18. Positive train control, which likely would have slowed down the train, was installed on the tracks and locomotive but was not yet operational.

December 22 - RailwayAge

Surveying

Obama Library-Adjacent, Tiger Woods-Designed Golf Course Facing Substantial Challenges

It might have been assumed that the names Tiger Woods and Barack Obama would open doors on the South Side of Chicago. Questions about the former president's vision for the South Side persist.

December 21 - Chicago Tribune


Seattle Waterfront Condos

Seattle Redoubles its Funding Commitment to Affordable Housing

A new levy and a new housing bond enabled new levels of spending on affordable housing in Seattle.

December 21 - The Urbanist

Walking the Dog

BLOG POST

Eyes on the Street

The concept of "eyes on the street" is relevant to a wide variety of neighborhoods, not just the low-rise urban areas that Jane Jacobs wrote about.

December 21 - Michael Lewyn

jetBlue Las Vegas

Elevated Expressway Proposal Goes Bust in Las Vegas

A proposal to build an elevated expressway to provide passage for cars to and from the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas has folded.

December 21 - Las Vegas Sun

Fankfort Pike

Rural Kentucky County Rejects Massive Corporate Development Scheme

After rebuffing a proposal that would land Lockheed Martin, and 3,500 new jobs, its safe to say that Bourbon County, Kentucky probably isn't bidding on the second Amazon headquarters either.

December 21 - Lexington Herald Leader

Boise Idaho

Which States Grew Fastest; Which States Lost Population

The U.S. Census has released new state-level population data for the past year.

December 21 - U.S. Census Bureau

Atlanta, Georgia

The Best New Bike Infrastructure of 2017

PeopleForBikes surveys the best new additions to bike networks around the country, and finds a lot to celebrate.

December 21 - People for Bikes

Hurricane Sandy

Moody’s: Climate Change Will Affect Your Credit Rating

The agency has created an economic incentive for cities, states and counties to deal with environmental threats.

December 21 - NPR

Lancaster Central Market

Making the 'Case for Healthy Places'

The Project for Public Spaces recently released a new report titled "The Case for Healthy Places: Improving Health through Placemaking."

December 21 - Project For Public Spaces

Austin Complete Street

A Guide to Complete Streets

The needs that drive complete streets policy are as unique as the communities they have taken root, but effective complete streets programs do share a few common traits.

December 21 - TheCityFix

Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge

Ambitious Plan Could Completely Remake the Streets of Downtown Des Moines

A $33 million plan would make downtown Des Moines home to a dense grid of bike lanes and a safer place for pedestrians, among other changes.

December 20 - People for Bikes

Downtown Bike Lanes Disappear from Plan for Oklahoma City Boulevard

Plans for an Oklahoma City Boulevard have used bike lanes in all their design and promotional materials, but now that the job has been awarded to a contractor, the lanes have disappeared.

December 20 - The Oklahoman

Pharmacy

Boise Residents Revolt Over Planned CVS

A huge public response shows that the booming city is defining a new future with smart growth.

December 20 - CityLab

Chicago Bungalows

Cook County Assessor Sued for Assessments 'Perpetuating Institutional Racism'

Joseph Berrios, Cook County assessor, is believed to have defrauded home-owners in majority minority neighborhoods. Now Berrios faces a lawsuit.

December 20 - Chicago Tribune

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.