The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

No Place To Do Dirty Work

Booming real estate values in Washington, DC are squeezing out the auto repair shops and salvage yards.

September 1 - The Washington Post

For Sale: 10 City Blocks In New York City

Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, two World War II era middle-class housing developments on Manhattan's lower east side, are up for sale -- with an estimated value of $5 billion.

August 31 - The New York Times

Calgary Suffering From Its Excess Of Riches

The fallout from a local oil boom has Calgary scrambling to address shortages of labor, housing, office space, and just about everything else.

August 31 - The Wall Street Journal

Stockholm's Traffic Management Solution

Because of Stockholm's unique layout spread around an archipelago connected by many bridges, traffic is notoriously bad. The solution could lie in a tiered pricing structure for tolls on motorists depending on what time of day they travel.

August 31 - The Wall Street Journal

Malls: Old vs New

A fight over a new development in suburban L.A. accentuates not only the tenacity and bitterness of local politics, but also two radically different visions for 21st century retail: large enclosed shopping malls or smaller New Urbanist templates.

August 31 - The Los Angeles Times


All Eyes On Air District's Sprawl Fee Litigation

California's Central Valley, where farms are rapidly being converted to tract housing, has the worst air quality in the state. A new "sprawl fee" on developments based on vehicle trips they would generate has spawned a legal challenge from builders.

August 31 - The New York Times

In Monterey California, It's Slow-Growth Advocates Versus Developers and Immigrants

What to do with an area that produces some 80 percent of the nation's lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach that lacks in housing for migrant workers? Why build more housing of course. Not so fast say "slow-growth" advocates.

August 31 - Wall Street Journal via The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


Frank Lloyd Wright, Resurrected

Joe Massaro simply wants to build an unrealized design for a spectacular Frank Lloyd Wright house. Along the way, he is learning that the merits of posthumous architect are controversial.

August 31 - The Guardian

Is A New New Orleans Emerging?

For the past year the effort to rebuild New Orleans has been awash in controversy and debate between competing visions. While much is being accomplished through a "citizens' revolution", the city still needs a plan.

August 31 - The New York Times

Local Libraries Evolving Into Resource Centers For Small Business

Eager to remain viable in the Information Age, libraries are providing resources for entrepreneurs to learn, network and use the Internet to grow their businesses.

August 31 - The Wall Street Journal

UK Government Accused Of Violating 'Protective Planning' Laws

Environmentalists in England are charging local and central government officials with bending their own rules to allow various developments in scenic, rural areas and environmentally-sensitive lands.

August 31 - The Guardian

Chicagoland's Extreme Commute

Two Illinois counties make the top 25 in U.S. Census Bureau's latest analysis of commuting times. Chicago's average commuting time of 34.3 minutes was second only to New York's time of 39.1 minutes.

August 31 - The Chicago Tribune

California's Largest Wetlands Project

A historic moment for the complex and ambitious Bolsa Chica restoration project.

August 30 - The Los Angeles Times

Canadian Courts Challenge The Criminalization Of Homelessness

Cities across the U.S. and Canada have implemented bylaws making it illegal to sleep in public places. Now British Columbia's Supreme Court is considering a court case challenging such laws as violating the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

August 30 - The Globe and Mail

The World's Best Cities

The editors of Travel + Leisure magazine released their annual list of best cities to visit.

August 30 - Travel + Leisure

The Parking Dynamics Of Israeli Cities

As is the case in most places, changes in real estate and land use in Israeli cities have quickly translated into changes in the demand, and price paid for, parking spaces.

August 30 - Haaretz.com

HUD Hoax Highlights New Orleans Housing Condition

Louisiana Governor Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Nagin are the target of another elaborate hoax by The Yes Men.

August 30 - Democracy Now

The Growing Culture Of Childlessness

Even in the more traditional societies in Europe and Japan, more and more women delaying motherhood, or forgoing it completely. Accompanying the shift is a whole industry, from restaurants to real estate developers, catering to childless households.

August 30 - Newsweek International Edition

A Green Revolution In American Workplaces

Big employers, developers, and cities are beginning to see the advantages of being eco-friendly.

August 30 - The Los Angeles Times

Detroit Gets The Fuel Efficiency Message

Detroit has seen their sales drop while foreign manufacturers of more fuel efficient vehicles continue to see sales surge.

August 30 - The New York Times

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