The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

First Colorado City Votes to Reject Fracking Moratorium

Loveland became the first city in Colorado to reject a voter-imposed moratorium on gas and oil hydraulic fracturing. Voters in five cities have approved moratoriums since 2012 though they are being contested by energy companies and the state.

June 30 - The Coloradoan

Proposed Rail Station to Provide Future Rail Connection to LAX

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted to move forward with a station near LAX, proving they'd made more progress in the last 12 months than in the previous 25 years to bring transit rail to the airport.

June 30 - Los Angeles Times

Arkansas Examined as the 'Worst Place to Rent in America'

A Vice News video feature by Spencer M Chumbley and Mark Scialla explores the impacts of what it calls "draconian eviction laws" in Arkansas.

June 30 - Vice News

Study Ranks Life Sciences Industry Clusters

Lauren K. Ohnesorge shares the results of a recent study that ranks the strength of the life sciences industry in the nation's metropolitan areas. Boston leads the list.

June 30 - Triangle Business Journal

App Maps the Unbuilt Potential of the New York City Skyline

The "Accidental Skyline" project puts a powerful visualization tool in the hands of citizens curious to know more about the possible development enabled by the land use regulations of New York City.

June 30 - Architizer


Domestic Millennial

Study: Millennials Will Soon Boost the Housing Industry

Although the recession disrupted household creation by Millennials, a new study from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies suggests the generation will soon start to create households in large, influential numbers.

June 30 - The Washington Post

Does the 'Playable City' Improve the 'Smart City'?

Conceived as a counterpoint to the "smart city," the "playable city" would think beyond efficiency and utility in applying technology to the urban experience.

June 30 - Next City


The Texas-Sized Impact of the 'Prior Appropriations' Water Management System

Christian McPhate and Ashlea Sigman provide a thorough and insightful read about the environmental impacts of Texas' water management policies, especially along the Brazos River, a drought-stricken water supply that cuts across the state.

June 29 - The Dallas Morning News

Louisville's Portland Neighborhood Showing First Signs of Gentrification

A few high profile galleries and cafes have recently chosen to set up shop in the working class neighborhood of Portland in Louisville, and local investors have plans for more change in the working class neighborhood.

June 29 - WFPL News

Mudslinging over Parking Apps in San Francisco

A San Francisco city attorney spokesman used some colorful language in response to MonkeyParking's recent act of defiance against the city.

June 29 - San Francisco Chronicle

Leave it to beaver house

Op-Ed: Stop Demonizing the Suburbs

Jacquielynn Floyd writes an op-ed for the Dallas News in which she defends the suburbs from the "demonization" of "new urbanism."

June 29 - Dallas News

AIA Gold Medal Conferred to Julia Morgan, FAIA, at the 2014 AIA Convention

On the occasion of Julia Morgan, FAIA, AIA Gold Medal conferral, AIACC invited Sandhya Sood, AIA, to present a tribute.

June 29 - AIA California Council

Proposed River Bed Bike Path Would Connect Long Beach to Downtown Los Angeles

The Los Angeles City Council asked city engineers to explore an proposal that would close an 8.5-mile gap in a bike path that runs inside the Los Angeles River channel—connecting Long Beach to Downtown Los Angeles.

June 28 - KCET

New 'Gold Rush' in Pittsburgh: Luxury Housing

Alina Dizik details what it takes to find a luxury home in the evolving Pittsburgh real estate market.

June 28 - Wall Street Journal

Updated Plans for Chicago's Memorial to Daniel Burnham

A planned memorial for Chicago architect and planner Daniel Burnham got an upgrade this week in the form of a proposed 1.6-mile interactive walking path and new materials for the site of the memorial.

June 28 - Chicago Tribune

Six Years Later—More Revisions for Washington D.C.'s Zoning Code Update

None of the original team that began working on Washington D.C.'s zoning code update are still working on the project. Much has changed in the six years that have expired.

June 28 - Greater Greater Washington

New Maps Compare Travel Times by Mode

Want to know the fastest way to get where you're going? You Are Here has created a new visualization tool that shows you the fastest mode for your trip in 11 cities.

June 28 - You Are Here

Road Signs

Friday Eye Candy: Historic Visualization Tracks U.S. Growth from 1790 to 1890

The visualization has something for everyone: a colorful visualization of population trends for the data geeks, a vintage look and feel for the hipsters, and the competitive aspect of comparing cities to each other for everyone else.

June 27 - CityLab

A Bad Year for State Transportation Funding

Compared to 2013, few states are increasing transportation spending through tax increases. Only New Hampshire and Rhode Island saw limited gas tax increases, though both were accompanied by road or bridge toll eliminations. Missouri could be next.

June 27 - Governing

Old DC Transit

Delayed, Expensive, and Poorly Planned—D.C. Streetcar Called 'Worse than Nothing'

In January, Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray claimed that the district's new streetcar would open in February. Still not open, the D.C. City Council this week slashed future streetcar spending.

June 27 - Market Urbanism

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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.