The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

<p>Critics of sprawl argue that sprawling, low-density development weakens social capital and the level of social interaction. A new working paper finds that these criticisms are unfounded, and in fact, the reverse is true.</p>

December 13 - UCI School of Social Sciences

<p>Sixty years ago, chains like A&amp;P and Woolworth transformed American citizens into consumers. Shedding this consumer identity is key to turning back the big-box tide, says Stacy Mitchell, the author of a recent book on mega-retailers.</p>

December 13 - AlterNet

<p>With a new study projecting major future growth, New York City Mayor Bloomberg is set to unveil a major planning initiative with an emphasis on sustainability.</p>

December 13 - The Wall Street Journal

<p>With "localism" being trumpeted by all sides of the political spectrum, maybe it's time to ask if local needs are better served by nation states, writes Doug Saunders.</p>

December 13 - The Globe & Mail

<p>For the first time since 1994, more residents left California than arrived -- and this time the outflow includes even Hispanics. High housing costs are blamed for the shift in migration.</p>

December 13 - Associated Press via San Francisco Chronicle

<p>A person must earn at least $28,475 a year to afford the fair market rent on a one-bedroom apartment in the U.S. in 2006.</p>

December 13 - CNNMoney

<p>A new world is emerging midway between Orlando and Tampa along Interstate 4. Some say as soon as 10 years, others, in 20 years, strawberry fields and pastures will be paved over and Tampa to Orlando will be one big metropolitan area.</p>

December 13 - Sun-Sentinel

<p>One Maryland county cites that the state plan to restore Chesapeake Bay will actually create more sprawl and pollution.</p>

December 13 - The Baltimore Sun

<p>With no graduate urban planning programs at any of the state's public or private universities, the American Planning Association's Connecticut Chapter is working with University of Connecticut to establish a master's program in planning.</p>

December 13 - The Hartford Courant

<p>Art critic Doug MacCash discusses everything NOLA with renowned architect and urban planner, Andres Duany.</p>

December 13 - The Times Picayune

<p>While most cities are extremely reluctant to permit housing without parking, a few are taking steps to reduce or eliminate the typical requirements and allow developers to provide less parking and unbundle spaces from units.</p>

December 12 - The New York Times

<p>Columnist Steven Greenhut argues that Smart Growth ideologies mistakenly treat suburbia as a sin, and examines contracy evidence from a new study on suburban isolation and Wendell Cox's book, "War on the Dream."</p>

December 12 - Orange County Register

<p>A startling recent report shows that when land use (such as forest degradation) is taken into account, livestock presents a greater threat to climate change than the transportation sector.</p>

December 12 - Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations newsroom

<p>As poverty increases in Brazil and small farmers are pushed off of their lands into the overcrowded city's and ghettos, some groups are doing whatever it takes to re-distribute farmland to the poor.</p>

December 12 - Adbusters

<p>The Kansas City Star newspaper created an extensive methodology to do a report card on city neighborhood trends and then rank the best neighborhoods within Kansas City, Missouri.</p>

December 12 - The Kansas City Star

<p>Urban design, housing for homeless people, and planning for decreased population are highlighted in the New York Times Magazine's annual survey of innovative ideas.</p>

December 12 - The New York Times

<p>World's tallest skyscrapers tend to top out just as economic growth cycles end. With megatowers in Taipei, Shanghai, and Dubai are nearing completion, will the "skyscraper curse" kick in yet again?</p>

December 12 - Bloomberg News

<p>A new study released by a University of Toronto researcher suggests that sprawl is not necessarily the cause of the obesity widely reported to exist in sprawling areas, but rather obese people may simply be attracted to sprawl.</p>

December 12 - The Chicago Tribune

<p>In rural Kansas, a fight continues over a 5,500-acre prairie dog colony. Some ranchers and environmental groups want to preserve the area, while many property owners and local officials advocate eradication.</p>

December 12 - The New York Times

<p>Land has been purchased for what will be Oakland's fourth cohousing project, a collection of about 33 housing units with an underlying purpose of cooperation and community. Similar community housing projects are cropping up across the country.</p>

December 12 - The San Francisco Chronicle