The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

<p>Santiago Calatrava unveils his Chicago Spire -- slated to be the tallest building in the nation -- in three dimensions to a mostly appreciative audience.</p>

March 29 - The Chicago Tribune

<p>Even with its environmental-friendly pledges, as long as customers keep driving to visit its massive stores, Wal-mart isn't likely to become 'green'.</p>

March 29 - Grist

<p>An Arizona home owner's association fines a resident for installing a solar-powered heater arguing that the appearance of the device violates the subdivision's deed restrictions.</p>

March 29 - The Arizona Republic

<p>Though homelessness had always been a problem in New Orleans, the issue has been amplified since Hurricane Katrina. Public officials and housing advocates are concerned about the lack of services needed to address the problem.</p>

March 29 - The Christian Science Monitor

BLOG POST

<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Trebuchet MS">Vancouver has earned many titles and nick-names on its way to becoming an international model of urban livability. One used frequently is the title “city by design”. The language of the title is deliberately specific, particularly the choice of the word “by”. A city by design is one that has taken public or civic responsibility for its physical development. A city that has embraced the value of design, both in the broad strokes and in the details, in the achievement of its public goals, be they livability, sustainability, civic beauty or economic success.

March 29 - Brent Toderian

<p>One of London's top planners talks about the future of the European capital, as it prepares for a million new residents.</p>

March 29 - Streetsblog

<p>Cyclists in Seattle are looking forward to the upcoming release of the city's Bicycle Master Plan, which will be open for public comment soon. The plan is expected to include more than 200 miles of bike lanes, up from 25 miles currently available.</p>

March 29 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

<p>The construction of large, some say garish, homes built by immigrant families in several Southern California communities is prompting officials to tighten zoning restrictions.</p>

March 29 - The Economist

BLOG POST

<p>The American Institute of Architects recently threw its authority behind a list of America&#39;s <a href="http://www.aia150.org/afa150_default.html" target="_blank">&quot;favorite architecture,&quot;</a> ranking three centuries of indigenous design one to 150 specimins. The resulting menu, culled by survey, of buildings, bridges, monuments, and other solid things amounts to a joyous celebration and a remarkable commentary on America&#39;s embrace of beauty. It also reinforces the desperation that arises when aesthetics and nationalism mix.<br />

March 29 - Josh Stephens

<p>Projected growth in British Columbia has many worried about how the region will handle the rise in population and development.</p>

March 29 - The Globe and Mail

<p>New research highlights the connection between locations with high levels of homeownership and above average unemployment.</p>

March 29 - Slate Magazine

<p>In Kansas City, Missouri, voters just elected their former city auditor as their new mayor. One of the unlikely campaign issues: the use of tax increment financing for developers.</p>

March 29 - The Kansas City Star

<p>Spurning options that lead to urban sprawl, academics and politicians in New Zealand are urging the government to address the shortages and to make so-called "social housing" more palatable.</p>

March 29 - Stuff.co.nz

<p>Some cities are imposing restrictions on organizations that feed the homeless.</p>

March 29 - USA Today

<p>British architect Richard Rogers has won architecture's most prestigious award.</p>

March 28 - The New York Times

BLOG POST

<p class="MsoNormal">Every five to seven years, Congress votes to reauthorize one of the largest and most significant legislative measures affecting land use policies in the U.S - the Farm Bill.<span> </span>This year, Congress will debate the omnibus legislation that defines not only America’s agricultural policy, but determines funding priorities for rural development, food and nutrition assistance, energy and environmental issues.<span> </span></p>

March 28 - Lisa Feldstein

<p>A journalist says Burma's new secret capital city uses urban planning as insurance against regime change.</p>

March 28 - The Independent

<p>Amid a new regulation that limits development based on the amount of water municipalities can provide, a city in northern Maryland will receive additional allocations of water to allow new development, ending a 6-month building moratorium.</p>

March 28 - The Baltimore Sun

<p>The Congress For New Urbanism announces the 2007 winners of its annual Charter Awards.</p>

March 28 - Congress For New Urbanism

<p>In an effort to bring a renaissance to its downtown, a city in Idaho has approved creation of a live-work district which encourages development of properties where people can both live and work. City officials are hoping to attract local business.</p>

March 28 - The Idaho Statesman