The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
BLOG POST
Imagine a 3D Google Earth World
Chris' last posting is big news!<br /> <br /> Imagine a google earth world where millions of enthusiastic users build replicas of their homes and the stores/ buildings in their neighborhood and then they become veiwable by anybody else. Wiki style, people can work collaboratively to improve and constantly update buildings. What would normally cost billions of dollars for 3D design company to make available then become part of a 3D vitual town/yellow pages. And it would be built for free and rapidly.<br /> <br /> Like <a href="http://secondlife.com/whatis/">Second Life</a>
Who Pays the Property Tax?
<p>A critical aspect of the property tax, but one that is rarely addressed in public debate, is its 'economic incidence,' or who actually bears the burden of the tax, as opposed to its statutory incidence, or who literally pays the tax.</p>
BLOG POST
(Google) Sketchup Now Free
<img src="http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/download?mid=f2991e0c12644c9ff87d99a411d2b1c5&rtyp=t" alt="USC Tower / 3-D Warehouse - Google SketchUp" align="right" /><a href="http://www.publish.com/">Publish</a> is <a href="http://www.publish.com/article2/0,1895,1954625,00.asp">reporting</a> that Google has released a free version of the popular 3-D drawing program, SketchUp, <a href="http://www.planetizen.com/tech/archives/2004/07/09/111/">reviewed so well</a> on TechTalk earlier by Ken (Snyder).
The Modern Urban Wasteland
Slate publishes a series of articles on human waste, descending to the depths of London's massive and mysterious sewer system and visiting a restored 1865 sewage works, a "sewage school", and the polluted Thames.
The Key Principles For Effective Planning
The Victoria Transport Policy Institute, a Canadian land use and transportation think tank, offers a review of planning principles and practices.
Housing Market Swings In Miami
Housing prices have begun to fall as condo supply continues to grow in Miami.
$10 Vehicle Registration Fee Proposed For Bay Area
East Bay Assemblyman Johan Klehs has written a bill calling for new Bay Area vehicle registration fees, in the form of two $5 fees: one for local transportation needs and the other for a regional air and water quality mitigation project.
Eight Months Later, Little Progress In New Orleans
Eight months after hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is still struggling with devastated infrastructure, overburdened and understaffed hospitals, and a denuded public housing stock.
Learning About Agriculture Through Farm Water Run-off Testing
Farmers in Ventura County, California, can now split the cost of testing run-off, and recent tests reveal positive surprises.
New Lofts Far From 'Run-Of-The-Mill'
Live-work space succeeds in an Easthampton (Western Massachusetts) mill, with plans for a high-tech gay and lesbian retirement community in a second mill nearby.
Miami-Dade County Pays To 'Exercise' Unused Train System
As delays continue in the construction of Miami International Airport's new American Airlines terminal, Miami-Dade County is forced to pay $54,000 a month to maintain a people mover train system in Japan.
Critics Warn Federal Plan Endangers National Monuments Land
Bureau of Land Management plan would permit more mining, grazin, and recreation use in the Arizona Strip -- home of two national monuments.
Best Places To Retire Near Cities
Charles Longino, a professor of gerontology, identifies the best retiree locales that are close to major metropolitan areas by using FBI and U.S. Justice Department crime statistics and housing costs.
Jane Jacobs Eulogized In Globe and Mail
One of Canada's national newspapers, the Globe and Mail, pays tribute to Jane Jacobs with several articles.
Are Gas Prices Causing Drivers To Switch To Public Transit?
USA Today reports that public transit systems across the United States are seeing an increase in ridership, presumably due to rapidly increasing gas prices.
Mega-Churches Expand Into Former Retail Spaces
With growth of so-called "mega-churches" continuing unabated, congregations are outgrowing their current environs and are getting creative about new buildings in which to worship. But the trend is not without controversy.
Housing Market Continues To Slow In Massachusetts
An increase in supply and decrease in demand has slowed sales in one of America's most expensive single-family housing markets.
How To Improve Your Commute
A frustrated Houston commuter painstakingly analyzes his travel habits and uses a series of mathematical formulas to determine the optimum commute and save the most time.
Learning From Waterloo
In the face of large-scale manufacturing job losses, Ontario's Kitchener-Waterloo region still manages to lead the nation in economic development and innovation.
Transit Funding Option Needed In Idaho
The Idaho Statesman presents an editorial outlining a four step roadmap to obtain necessary public transit funding from a reluctant legislature.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
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.
