United States
Hundreds of Counties Likely to Violate New Smog Rules
The Environmental Protection Agency is releasing new air quality standards that will likely place hundreds of additional counties nationwide in violation.
AASHTO Picks Top 10 Transportation Projects
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) selects its issues to look for in the year ahead, including more legislation aimed at distracted drivers and the use of social media by transportation agencies.
Small Farming: It Takes A Village
Local food and small farming are part of a growing food trend in the U.S. But, as Steph Larsen writes, the trend is going to need more infrastructure down the supply chain to sustain itself
Federal Foreclosure Prevention Plan Shows Underwhelming Numbers
A federal plan aimed at helping 3 to 4 million homeowners on the verge of foreclosure has fallen far short of expectations, enabling only about 31,000 loan modifications.
The Flow of the Creative Class From Ailing Cities
Ryan Avent offers a counterpoint to a recent article critiquing the urban economic theories of Richard Florida, arguing that the movement of people and the "creative class" to cities based on employment is the heart of urban economics.
NYT on Housing: "Things Didn't Have to Get this Bad"
This New York Times editorial argues that the present strategy to fix the housing mess isn't working; real relief in the form of principal reduction is needed.
Drop in U.S. Car Ownership Surprises Analysts
Between high gas prices, the recession and widespread improvements in public transit systems, Americans drove four million fewer cars in 2009.
Sculpting Water
Mark Fuller has designed the new fountains for both CityCenter in Las Vegas and the new fountain for Lincoln Center in New York. Fast Company takes a look at the forces behind the flash.
Residents Upset About New FEMA Flood Maps
Flood maps redrawn by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are causing thousands of Southern California residents to buy mandatory flood insurance, even though they say flooding is rare and barely an issue.
Cul-de-Sacs, R.I.P.?
New regulations in Virginia limiting their use may be the death knell for cul-de-sacs. Planners and developers debate their worth, but new studies show they aren't cost effective for cities, or even as safe as assumed.
Recession A Boon for Land Preservationists
Preservation groups and land trusts are beneficiaries of the economic recession, as prices on land have dropped low enough for many to buy up land for conservation purposes.
Sustainability Arrives in Academia
A growing number of universities are offering programs in urban sustainability studies, including Tufts, New York City College and the University of Colorado.
World Bank Embraces Cities
After an extended history of favoring rural areas over metropolitan ones, The World Bank appears to be changing course.
Volunteerism Bridging Universities and Their Neighbors
Universities bordering impoverished neighborhoods can do more to improve living conditions, according to the founders of LIFT, a group that trains volunteers. The group is featured on this week's episode of Smart City.
Ensuring Sustainability in Federal Buildings
Change Observer interviews Casey Jones, the director of design excellence and the arts for the U.S. General Services Administration about green building and sustainability in urban design.
Urban Planner: A Top Career for 2010
U.S. News and World Report has named urban planning one of its 50 top careers for 2010.
What to Look For in 2010 in Sustainability
New Urbanist Steve Mouzon lists the sustainable building trends to watch out for in the new year, including the growth of live/work spaces and a move towards greater durability.
Improving L.A.'s Streets - With Photoshop
Blogger David Yoon takes photographs of Los Angeles streets and Photoshops them to be narrower, creating a fantasy L.A. that is more walkable and relatable.
Ag Secretary Concerned Over Farms-to-Forests Conversion
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has ordered the revision of a forecasting model related to congressional climate legislation that makes the conversion of farmland to forests more lucrative than producing food.
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.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association
