The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

In the real estate market best known for creative acronyms (DUMBO anyone?), perhaps the only thing missing from this neighborhood is a catchy name, writes Alison Gregor. Trump Town anyone?

February 29 - The New York Times

<em>ScienceDaily</em> reports on a new study by researchers from Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which shows that what used to be considered a 'Storm of the Century' may soon become a 'Storm of the Decade.'

February 29 - ScienceDaily

Sam Lubell looks at the growth of Southern California as an architectural manufacturing center, reflecting larger trends in manufacturing that require higher-skilled labor to produce more sophisticated products.

February 29 - The Architect's Newspaper

Amidst shrinking municipal budgets and a Tea Party led backlash against government spending, Nate Berg reports on one New Jersey town's effort to completely eliminate its Department of Public Works. Is this the beginning of a trend or an aberration?

February 29 - The Atlantic Cities

Is the dream home for the New Era compact, connected and mortgage free?

February 29 - PlaceShakers

Writing for <em>Alternet</em>, Sara Robinson reports on the Sightline Institute's efforts to compile a list of what she calls "zombie laws" that prevent people from living sustainably.

February 29 - AlterNet

Rebecca Sanborn Stone profiles several innovative communities that are utilizing citizen-guided art projects to communicate values and ideas, break down barriers, and guide planning efforts.

February 28 - EngagingCities

In an effort to stabilize neighborhoods and reduce the glut of foreclosures in the marketplace, Fannie Mae is beginning to sell foreclosed properties in bulk to investors to test the market for rental homes, write Alan Zibel and Nick Timiraos.

February 28 - The Wall Street Journal - Developments Blog

BLOG POST

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 15px" class="Apple-style-span">Today marks the two year anniversary of the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and 150 days until the start of the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games. Soon</span><span style="font-size: 15px" class="Apple-style-span"><span> </span></span><span style="font-size: 15px" class="Apple-style-span">millions around the World will turn their attention to London, and in fact to venues across the UK, for the largest sporting and cultural event on Earth. </span></p>

February 28 - Brent Toderian

Richard Florida reports on a new map showing the results of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which analyzes a number of "happiness" factors on a statewide level.

February 28 - The Atlantic Cities

John Metcalfe profiles the work of Spanish art collective <em>luzinterruptus</em>, who have used public art pieces to highlight the failings of Spanish authorities, such as Madrid's dysfunctional drinking fountains.

February 28 - The Atlantic Cities

Sean Patrick Farrell examines the lengths that Midwesterners are willing to go to get their bike riding fix during snowy winter months, including a popular new indoor mountain bike park in Milwaukee.

February 28 - The New York Times

In one of the countries leading the world in green energy adoption, a program to support solar energy has become a victim of its own success, reports Bjørn Lomborg.

February 28 - Slate

In the controversy over a new development planned for downtown Athens, the chain retailer seems to be a Trojan horse for a larger debate about economic development and who gets to define what is best for a community.

February 28 - Salon.com

In another sign of the coming apocalypse, a bipartisan group of House members have devised an entirely sensible way to cut greenhouse gas emissions, grow employment, and shrink the budget deficit in one fell swoop, by placing a price on carbon.

February 28 - The Washington Post

On Monday it was announced that the most prestigious annual award in architecture has gone to Wang Shu, a 48-year-old Chinese architect with a "relatively low profile" who has yet to design a building outside of China, writes Christopher Hawthorne.

February 28 - Los Angeles Times

Michael J. Coren shines a light on an innovative crowdfunding site targeting neighborhood improvements.

February 28 - Fast Co.Exisit

FEATURE

February 27 - Jonathan Nettler

East 69th Street is mobilizing to halt the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's plan to add subway entrances on their tony block - needed to handle displaced crowd flows from adding required ADA elevators at the 68th Street entrances.

February 27 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Taking a page from the locavore food movement, an architectural competition in Vancouver asks entrants to design a home using materials made or recycled within 100 miles of the city, writes Mark Boyer.

February 27 - Good