The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
The Future Of Philadelphia's Waterfront
New political willpower demonstrated by Philadelphia's mayor, a state senator, and Governor Rendell has opened the door for much-needed development in the area.
The Top 15 Sustainable Cities In The U.S.
The Pacific Northwest trumps this year's rankings, although a number of older East Coast cities also make the top ten. Criteria considered include commitment to public health, the local economy, and citizens and city cooperation on long-term goals.
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Low-Tech Communications
There's been an increasing number of urban projects breaking out the paint brushes as a low-cost means of improving cities. As stated by Jaime Lerner, former Mayor of Curitiba, for every zero that is removed from a city budget, the more creative solutions become. It seems these examples represent areas with extremely limited budgets. Object Orange is a public art project in Detroit that is calling attention to blighted structures through the use of bright orange paint. It seems their efforts have resulted in their desired outcome - increased demolition of unsafe structures.
Future Silicon Valleys Need More Than 'Rich People And Nerds'
Joel Kotkin takes issue with Paul Graham's recent commentary on "How To Be Silicon Valley", asserting that his logic is elitist and much of his evidence incorrect, in this three-part Inc.com blog entry.
A Disturbing Insider's Look At New York City's 'Rentocrats'
Nora Ephron breaks the "code of silence" of Manhattan's exclusive rent-regulated tenants when she publishes an account in The New Yorker of bribing her way into an eight-room apartment for $1,500 a month.
L.A. Stakeholders Perform 'Walk Audit' Downtown
L.A.'s downtown Business Improvement District calls on local business people, property owners, and residents to get stepping in L.A.'s Fashion District, to evaluate the area's walkability. The BID has $1.6 million to make improvements by 2008.
Weighing The Costs And Benefits Of Rooftop Gardens
An upcoming Los Angeles symposium will focus on greening the city's rooftops and overcoming the high implementation costs that have kept gardens off the roofs of skyscrapers.
Is There A Nationwide Gentrification 'Conspiracy'?
In New York City, big landlords are driving out thousands of low income residents. Juan Gonzales believes this may be a national trend and local governments are actively assisting in gentrification.
Army Corps Accepts 'Blame' For Katrina Levee Failures
In a 6,000-page report, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers accepted responsibility for design defects in the levee system that failed during Hurricane Katrina and led to the catastrophic flooding of New Orleans.
A Personal Reflection On Jane Jacobs
Jane Jacobs and her impact on amateur urbanists and urban observers, in a piece entitled "How Jane Jacobs Changed My Life".
Reframing New Jersey's Competitive Challenge
New research by the Brookings Institution ties New Jersey's troubling economic position to multiple forces, including rising housing costs, persistent race, class and place disparities, and unbalanced development patterns.
Philadelphia's Navy Yard Turns Commercial
Philadelphia's Navy Yard provides a suburban office park environment, and historic fabric, at the edge of the city, with opportunities from dog walking for office employees to a future 2016 Olympic site.
'Smart Card' Technology Proving Troublesome To Bay Area Transit Operators
Once hailed the transit-pay mechanism of the future, the cards have become one of Bay Area transit's biggest flops. Yet the money keeps flowing while the costs keep rising.
National Jazz Center Park Planned For Central New Orleans
Strategic Hotels & Resorts has proposed a plan to build a 20-acre national jazz center and park in the center of New Orleans, to be designed by Pritzker Prize winner, Thom Mayne.
The 'Inconvenient Truth' About Canada's Oil Industry
Extracting oil from Canada's tarry sand has lead to large incomes and huge environmental tolls for the holder of the world's second-largest oil reserves.
The Selling Of A Failing State Toll Road
Indiana's governor explains how he solved his state's transportation budget gap using private capital rather than public funds -- by leasing the 157-mile Indiana Toll Road for $3.8 billion to a foreign consortium.
Frustrated New Orleans Public Housing Residents Plan Return To Destroyed Development
Displaced residents tell the City Council that they will return to their 7th Ward housing complex this weekend and will tear down any fences in their way, refusing to wait any longer for official action on permission to return.
Even in Sprawling Arizona, Downtown Condos Are Now Hip
Phoenix and Tucson are building up, not out, but is it enough to slow desert development?
Faux Suburban Downtowns Challenge Traditional City Centers
The popularity of mixed-use suburban town centers is threatening the viability of older, traditional downtowns. While many tout their urban-style amenities, the suburban centers often lack transit and -- sometimes -- even sidewalks.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
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.
