The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Congregations vs. Preservationists in Struggle Over Historic Churches
The Catholic Church and other religious groups are facing hard times, with more churches to maintain than their dwindling numbers can support. But when they are clearly landmarks, should churches be allowed to sell off their building stock?
Michigan Cities See Placemaking as the Key to a Brighter Future
Officials in recession-battered Michigan increasingly see placemaking as an important economic recovery strategy. The Michigan Municipal League, a coalition of local governments, is leading efforts to make the state's cities talent magnets.
BLOG POST
Sustainability Allows Us to Manufacture Time
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: small"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman">Go ahead, define sustainability.<span> </span>Everyone knows countless, tangled and unconvincing definitions for this word which is quickly losing steam.<span> </span>The problem is that we’re not sure about how sustainability relates to us except in planetary ways. We’re bombarded with many concepts that if we reduce this by 20% <span> </span>then we’ll get that in 30 years which helps the earth survive. All’s well, except we’re almost numb because we won’t feel the aggregate effects for quite some time. Obviously, we’re an impatient lot.<span> </span></span></span> </p>
Parkour on City Streets Vexes Officials
Parkour, a sort of sport that uses urban spaces as a series of obstacles to spring over and around, is a growing trend in South Florida. But local officials are concerned about the liability issues of careening "traceurs" in public parks and plazas.
The Future of Construction Technology: Flying Robots
Swiss architects Gramazio & Kohler are behind a new experiment using robots for construction. The robots will fly bricks up into the air and assemble them as programmed into a tall tower.
All it Takes is a Little Paint
Alyse Nelson says that when it comes to placemaking, sometimes all you need is some brightly-colored paint.
Africa's Urban Harvest
Faced with climate change and poverty, Africans are focusing on a new farming frontier: the cities.
Is the Central Valley The Vietnam For CA High Speed Rail?
It's been called a white elephant and a boondoggle, but Stanford rail historian Richard White went further in his interview in the NYT by comparing it with escalating involvement in an unwinnable war.
FEATURE
No-Exam Bylaws Amendment for Planning Faculty Will Cheapen AICP Certification
Stuart Meck and Rebecca Retzlaff call the attention of AICP certified planners to an upcoming change to the certification process which they believe will "degrade and cheapen" the AICP designation.
The Intersection of Health and Urban Planning
In Vancouver, B.C., Trevor Hancock is helping the city make the connection between the built environment and the health of the citizens.
Planners Must Speak for the Disadvantaged
"No one other than we as planners has the responsibility for decisions today that will profoundly affect others," says Attorney/Planner Dwight H. Merriam.
Tracking America's "Urban Reboot"
Salon.com has launched a new series called "Dream City" which will focus on the "spectacular innovation and dizzying demographic shift[s]" underway in America's cities.
Asia's "Instant" Cities: Perfect Cities or Perfect Storm?
The "utopian" cities being built from scratch in Asia to accommodate its fantastic rate of urbanization are striving to be smarter and greener, but may also be financially risky.
Do We Still Need Zoning?
Edward T. McMahon of ULI looks back at the 85 years since the Euclid vs. Ambler decision created zoning as we know it. Ed says zoning is still an essential tool.
BART To San Jose To Take $772 Million Step
One of the costliest transit projects in the Bay Area is a $772 million contract, closer to construction come Dec. 8. The long-awaited BART extension from Fremont to the region's largest city may be contingent on FTA funding expected in February.
Nine Noteworthy Interiors in Pittsburgh
Reporter John Conti tapped architects and professional to compile this list of Pittsburgh's best, publicly accessible interiors.
An Ancient Neighborhood Booms in Vietnam
Hanoi's Ancient Quarter, founded in 1010 A.D. and built around a plan from the 15th century, is seeing an entrepreneurial boom. Planners are struggling to maintain the unique character of the community in the process.
Creating a Nine-Mile Linear Park
Diana Balmori of Balmori Associates recently completed her work on a nine-mile long linear park along an old railroad line in Connecticut. The Awl presents an excerpt of her 2010 book <em>A Landscape Manifesto.</em>
Why Have the Exurbs Declined?
Christopher B. Leinberger expounds on the mortgage crisis plaguing America, particularly the exurbs. Rather than being a product of the excesses of bank lending and regulation, Leinberger attributes it to demographic changes benefiting cities.
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.
