The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Debunking London vs. England
The Centre for Cities has released a report called the Cities Outlook 2014, which examines the question of whether London’s success might come at the expense of the rest of the U.K.’s cities.
California’s Gold Rush Origins Revealed By Drought
A pair of recent stories explores the reemergence of California history, especially it’s gold rush history, as a result of falling water levels around the state.
Developing the Recipe for a Thriving Corridor in St. Louis
Along an eight-mile corridor that runs westward from the Gateway Arch, the population has jumped 10 percent since 2000. Tim Bryant examines the ingredients that define the place "where St. Louis succeeds as a city."
Questioning ‘If You Demolish It, They Will Come’
Removing Detroit’s blight is highly emotional, and made more difficult by the lack of models for emulation. A recent editorial rejects the assumption that removing blight from over 100,000 vacant lots is sufficient to stimulate economic development.
NTSB Makes Urgent Recommendations to Address Crude-by-Rail Explosions
The National Transportation Safety Board called on federal regulators on Jan. 23 to approve several measures in light of a rash of oil train derailments and crude oil explosions as did their Canadian counterparts, the Transportation Safety Board.
New York's Rooftop Water Tanks Hide Unhealthy Conditions
A New York Times examination of the conditions of the city’s ubiquitous water tanks reveals unhealthy levels of E. coli and coliform—bellwethers for many varieties of disease-causing microorganisms.
Buyers Feel at Home in "New Old Houses"
Even if the average size of a new home in the U.S. is creeping back up after taking a promising dip during the recession, trophy McMansions are out as home buyers seek designs that blend traditional home styles with modern floor plans and amenities.
Public Sets Low Priority for Improving Transportation Infrastructure
A new survey of the American people from the Pew Research Center ranks the priorities of the public on matters like the deficit, healthcare, and crime. Bringing up the rear of public concern: infrastructure and global warming.
Drug Testing Your City's Sewer System
If you really want to know how prevalent drug use is in your community, don't ask people–just test their wastewater.
"Ghost Buildings" Help Stakeholders See the Shape of Things to Come
An Oxford city councillor would like to bring a Swiss system of erecting "ghost building" profiles to the UK for the first time to help residents and officials understand the scale of proposed projects before granting permits.
Seattle Looks to Data Centers for Heat, Hot Water
Seattle’s Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) is looking to an unusual source for energy: the area’s data centers.
More Bad News for Columbia River Crossing Bridge Project
The beleaguered project, which already lost funding support from the state of Washington, is likely off the table in Oregon, according to reports. The project’s failure sends a bad signal about the political reality of replacing unsafe bridges.
Participatory Budgeting Produces Meaningful Change in Brazil
Since 1990, around half of Brazil's largest cities have adopted participatory budgeting. A new study finds the experiment has had positive impacts on health and quality of life. With more countries adopting the practice, the results are encouraging.
Boston's First Permanent Public Market to Start Construction
To capitalize on expanding interest in locally-sourced and unique food items, a non-profit group is moving forward with plans to build Boston's first permanent public market focused on locally grown foods in a space atop the Haymarket MBTA station.
Professionals Priced Out of Hot Detroit Neighborhoods
As unbelievable as it may sound in a city with tens of thousands of vacant properties, young professionals are being priced out of popular Detroit neighborhoods like Midtown and Corktown as demand far exceeds supply.
To Improve Street Safety, NYPD Cracks Down on Elderly Pedestrians
How far should cops go to ticket jaywalkers, particularly when dealing with non-English speaking senior citizens? An 84-year-old upper-West Side resident was targeted by New York's finest, and ended up arrested, bloodied and hospitalized.
(A Lot) More Homebuyers Paying Cash
Interest rates on mortgages increased over the summer, and lenders are still holding back on loans, but the cause of the surge in all-cash home sales is a cause for concern for the long-term health of the housing market.
Utah Oil Shale Plans—'First Commercial Production In Decades'
A proposal to build and operate the first commercial oil shale production facility “in decades” near the Book Cliffs in Utah is meeting legal opposition from environmental groups.
The Road to Prosperity: Real-Time Approaches to Economic Improvement
People have been driving about 1% less per year for the last 9 years. What can public-private partnerships for transportation alternatives do to stoke this fire?
Chicago's Data Projects: Overblown or On Target?
Chicago's big-data projects seem unwieldy, but there is a sound core plan informing them.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
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NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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.
