United States
Ten Master-Planned Communities That Bucked the Trend
Builder Magazine looks at ten master-planned developments that sold well in a market that has dwindled through the recession.
Could General Stores Reduce Car Trips in The Suburbs?
Belinda Lanks details architect Frank Ruchala's scheme to bring general stores back into America's residential areas. He believes "a general store could work just as well in a (suburban) subdivision as it did in small villages a hundred years ago."
The Question of Interstate 69
Next American City reviews a new book by Matt Dellinger about Interstate 69, the as-yet-unbuilt highway that could create a direct link between the Mexican and Canadian borders.
Cities Scramble to Prepare for Electric Vehicles
Electric cars sap a lot of electricity out of the grid, and many vehicles charging at once can cause unprepared cities to blackout.
Military's Newest Enemy: Wind Turbines
The U.S. Defense Department has become one of the largest hurdles for wind power projects, arguing that large wind turbines can cause interference with the military's communications technology.
The Best "Adventure Towns" in the U.S.
Outside Magazine compiles their top 25 U.S. towns for outdoor adventure. Considered alongside the availability of great kayaking and biking were stats like percentage of college graduates and cost of living.
HUD Announces Pilot Grants
Applicants have until November 22 to submit applications for a new round of HOPE VI funds.
America's "Forgotten Cities"
The website 24/7 Wall St. analyzes a number of sources of data to identify "dead cities" -- those which have lost their economic foundations.
As Slump Continues, Developers Turn to Mixed-Use, Ped-Friendly Homes
In a new survey conducted in the Tri-State and Mid-Atlantic regions, 60% of developers said they were shifting their emphasis away from big houses to "conservative pedestrian-oriented mixed-use neighborhoods."
"Dilbert" Creator Tries to Build Green House
Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strip, walks readers through the planners, planning commissioners, architects and builders that plagued him through his quest to build a sustainable home.
Is There a "Right" Kind of Mosque?
Attempts to eliminate all visible traces of Islamic influence from the design and nomenclature of the Park51 project contributes to the de-legitimization of Islam in America, writes Aisha Ghani.
The New and Familiar
New restaurants are striving to look like (and to be) community institutions, reflecting old-style pubs, meeting halls and marketplaces.
Maglev: Dreaming the Impossible Dream?
The idea of a magnetic levitation train has been bubbling for decades, but has yet to materialize in the U.S. Some say the idea is a pipe dream, but this column from The Baltimore Sun says the idea just needs the right home.
Invasion of the Granny Pods
The Rev. Kenneth Dupin of Virginia wanted to find a way to keep elderly folks independent and near their families while providing the care they need. So he invented the MEDCottage, and is working with cities to change zoning to allow it.
Defending the "Great Good Place"
Public libraries are being relied on more than ever to assist Americans struggling with the economic crisis, even as they themselves are under threat, writes Neal Peirce.
Opposition to Mosque Proposals Mounting
Across the U.S., proposals for new mosques (such as for one in Murfreesboro, Tennessee) are meeting with hostile opposition, leading to worries over an ugly shift in public perception of Muslims.
Cities Must Realign Priorities Toward Job Creation
Aaron Renn argues that when it comes to thinking on large cities, "too many people remain stuck in the 90s." Now that the recession has civic finances in a vice grip, we ought to focus not on condos or bike shares, but straightforward job creation.
A New Ethic for Urban Reinvention
In a unique collaboration, an American lawyer and a Venezuelan architect merge thinking on holistic design, planning and regulation
Don't Worship Jane Jacobs: Think Like Her
Bill Barnes of the National League of Cities argues that we don't need acolytes of Jane Jacobs; we need people who will think as hard and as well as she did about "the kind of problem a city is."
Gallup Charts "Well-Being" And Commute Times
And the result is fairly obvious - longer the commute, lower the reading. Well-being is a measurement of both physical and mental health, including ailments such as back pain and anxiety. No mention of modal type (e.g, driving, biking, transit).
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
