The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Andres Duany And The SmartCode
The new issue of Katarxis features an interview with Andres Duany, developer of the urban transect theory and the new 'SmartCode'.
New York City Potentially At Risk From Nuclear Terrorism
The Union of Concerned Scientists has issued a report on the Indian Point nuclear reactor (35 miles upwind from Manhattan) that analyzes "the health and economic impacts of a terrorist attack at Indian Point that results in a core meltdown
The Case For Managed Growth
How the Omaha metropolitan area can prepare for the next growth wave.
Project Rebirth
Project Rebirth chronicles the rebuilding effort at Ground Zero with spectacular time-lapse photography.
Green Roofs Are Hot New Design Feature In London
London finds roof-top sanctuaries to be cheap, fashionable, and effective.
Emerging Urban Development Markets
Once, these neighborhoods weren't so nice after dark. But things change when districts gentrify.
Manhattan Transference
The Federal government has not fully studied Twin Tower air pollution or treated victims.
Top Censored Stories: It's A Wal-World After All
The world-wide impact of Wal-Mart is one of the stories in the last year that were overlooked, under-reported or self-censored by the media.
Profile Of Philadelphia's Navy Base Transformation
Philadelphia is planning to turn it's former Navy base into a bustling urban center.
Top Censored Stories: The Inevitable Oil Crisis
Government and media refusal to acknowledge that oil is running out is one of last year's stories that have been overlooked, under-reported or self-censored by the mdeia.
Modern Architecture Goes Prefab
Many major architects now have their own version of prefab housing.
Top Censored Stories: UN's Extreme Weather Warning
A highly respected United Nations organization's warning about extreme weather is one of last year's most overlooked, under-reported or self-censored stories.
New Towns Prove Sprawl Is Alive And Well
Two new rapidly growing Utah towns grow beyond expectations, and beyond service areas.
BLOG POST
Visualization Tools Help Counter Neighborhood Concerns Over Housing Development
<html><br /> <br /> <head><br /> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"><br /> </meta></head><br /> <br /> <body bgcolor="#ffffff"> Here is a neat example of how visualization tools are helping improve the planning process for communities. It's an example we came across while researching tools for a chapter we are writing for the APA. <br><br /> <br /> <p>The City of Vail, Colorado offers an example of 3D visualization tools being used to improve the design review process. The city requires developers to submit a 3D model – preferably a virtual model – for design review. The virtual model is then placed in a 3D model, created by Winston Associates (www.winstonassociates.com), of the mountains, roads and ground plain to make it possible to explore the impacts of new buildings in the context of their surroundings. This technique was beneficial in getting an initially wary community behind a recent affordable housing project. Winston Associates worked with the developers to generate a 3-D model in 3ds max (formerly known as 3D Studio Max) and then placed the housing model into the site model. Using the model they demonstrated how the housing development would look from different vantage points such as the highway. In addition, the model proved to concerned neighbors that the development could not been seen from their homes. The project is currently under construction. <br><br /> </p>
Judges Say Manufacturing Tax Credit Is Unconstitutional
A manufacturing tax credit that Ohio used in 1998 to help convince Daimler Chrysler to build its new Jeep assembly plant in Toledo is unconstitutional
The Return Of The 'Housing Kit' -- With A Twist
Star architects are changing the perception of prefabricated housing into a hot new market. You can get a designer-made house, including land for under $300,000.
Nashville In Tune With New Urbanism
Developers are changing the face of Nashville.
Battleground State Demographics Diverge
The two states that may decide the 2004 presidential race are hardly demographic twins, writes William H. Frey.
Top Censored Stories: Looting The Commons
The story of the reversal of three decades of environmental progress is featured on a list of stories that were overlooked, under-reported or self-censored by the media.
The Future Of Chicago: Block 37
The Chicago Tribune's architecture critic, Blair Kamin, reviews the urban design for Chicago's Block 37, designed by Chicago architect Ralph Johnson.
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.
