United States

The argument that increased supply of urban housing will lower prices is rapidly being disproved by successive waves of gentrification throughout American cities. Stephen Smith offers a considered analysis of the economics behind this dynamic.

September 29, 2011 - Forbes

Zoning administrator Ryan Smith digs into the recently released paperback of Donald Shoup's seminal book, and the newly updated preface in particular.

September 29, 2011 - Examiner.com

With hundreds of former Borders locations vacated comes the question of what to do with the spaces. They are generally just too large and expensive for other booksellers, writes Susan Stellin, though at least one landlord has made it work.

September 29, 2011 - New York Times

A study by the National League of Cities says how the economic recession has finally started to hit cities as property- and income-tax have decreased. Cities are balancing their budgets through layoffs, canceled construction projects or raised fees.

September 28, 2011 - Associated Press

In his critique of "Urban Code: 100 Lessons for Understanding the City," San Francisco Chronicle Columnist John King says how the book's formula for a city doesn't do justice to its authenticity.

September 28, 2011 - San Francisco Chronicle

Chuck Wolfe asks if a city's vitality is best indicated at night, and how it should be measured.

September 28, 2011 - myurbanist

Housing sales fell for the fourth month in a row, a bad sign for the ailing industry and the economy in general, writes Derek Kravitz.

September 27, 2011 - USA Today

Jeffery R. Levine asks if, given the reliance on property taxes, the planning process is truly revenue-blind.

September 26, 2011 - Planning Commissioners Journal

Kaid Benfield argues that if people are going to embrace mixed-use, denser living styles, architects and designers need to "embrace the familiar."

September 26, 2011 - NRDC Blog

Recent census data analysis shows that the number of carpoolers has been declining over the last thirty years. But further study of carpooling's history, as well as social, demographic and economic trends, shows that there is more to carpooling numbers than a downward slope, writes Cynthia Armour.

September 26, 2011 - Cynthia Armour

Once again, a government shutdown looms after Sept. 30 over funding for disaster relief. House Republicans insist that the additional spending must be off-set with spending cuts, and their target is a subsidy for electric cars and batteries.

September 26, 2011 - National Public Radio

It's only $100 million - the President wants $8 billion - but it acts as a 'placeholder'. In any case, 4 Senators: Feinstein (CA), Durbin (IL), Lautenberg (NJ) and Landrieu (LA), all Dems', restored the funding after the sub-committee zeroed it.

September 23, 2011 - Steetsblog Capitol Hill

One out of every two Latino's live in the nation's top 25 most ozone-polluted cities according to a new report. KQED's California Report interviews one of the co-authors, the Director of Latino Outreach for NRDC, in this radio report.

September 23, 2011 - The California Report

A key Senate subcommittee has appeared to have eliminated funding for high speed rail while preserving funding for Amtrak, highway, and transit. However, the full committee may not adopt these mark-ups. And then there are the changes the House makes.

September 22, 2011 - Steetsblog Capitol Hill

GOOD talks to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood about the difficulty in getting funding to maintain highways and other transportation infrastructure.

September 22, 2011 - GOOD Magazine

There are two housing markets, "one for the rich and one for everyone else," writes Michelle Conlin. Sales and subsequent bidding wars are back in richer neighborhoods, while approximately 98.5% of the population see no end to the recession just yet.

September 22, 2011 - Boston Globe

Researchers found in their analysis of 300 California municipalities that the cities that had slow growth or anti-growth policies were less impacted by the housing crisis, writes Mark Bergen for Forbes.

September 21, 2011 - Forbes

Livability.com complies a list of cities that have strong book store cultures. The list looks at the volume of bookstores in a city and hallmark independent bookstores.

September 21, 2011 - Livability

Elaine Misonzhnik says the time is soon coming where having a smartphone at the mall will be a necessity instead of a luxury.

September 21, 2011 - Retail Traffic Magazine

If the lack of funding doesn't kill it, lawsuits in northern, southern, and now central California might just do it. California Watch analyzes the lawsuits facing the CA High Speed Rail Authority in the three regions of the state.

September 20, 2011 - California Watch via SF Chronicle