The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
From Waste Site to Walkable Village
Developers in Windsor, Connecticut are transforming a brownfield site into a $1 billion housing project, in the core of its corporate office center.
Could a Commuter Tax on Chicago's Suburbanites Work?
Chicago aldermen are toying with just that idea, which would involve a one-percent income tax on those who work but don't live in the city. Hal Dardick reports on the discussion.
Using GPS to Help Ease Congestion in Beijing
GPS data from over 30,000 Beijing cabs have provided researchers at Microsoft Research Asia glimpses into underlying causes of congestion in the city. Typically, the culprit is missing or flawed connections.
Housing Market "Years Away From Recovery"
Housing sales fell for the fourth month in a row, a bad sign for the ailing industry and the economy in general, writes Derek Kravitz.
The Sophistication of African Town Planning
Prof. Suzanne Preston Blier of Harvard unearths the ancient plans of Yoruban towns, which were laid out as early as 350 BCE.
A Perfect Laneway in Saskatoon
Paul Hanley gets excited about the worldwide trend towards turning "laneways" - alleys, in U.S.-speak - into great urban spaces.
San Francisco's Parklets a Success
Warren Karlenzig pays San Francisco a visit to tour its 15 "parklets", tiny urban public spaces carved out of underused road space or a couple of parking lots.
Winnipeg's "Tower of Pisa"?
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, now under construction in Winnipeg, is drawing attention for its spectacular architecture and as a symbol of that city's revitalization.
Smaller Can Be Better When it Comes to Traffic Solutions
With the worst traffic in the country (see previous story), Washington has big problems. But Stewart Schwartz suggests that big problems don't necessarily call for big solutions.
The 2nd Worst Traffic Congestion in the U.S.
That would be Chicago, falling from the number one spot but holding strong at #2, according to the latest figures from the Texas Transportation Institute. Washington, D.C. gains the crown.
A Skyscraper in the Arctic
Toronto architect Reza Aliabadi took a trip into the far northern reaches of Nunavut, Canada's Inuit territory. There, the flatness of the tundra and the stone stacks made by the Inuit inspired him to propose a stacked housing tower.
Stemming the Flow of "Unaccounted-for Water"
For decades, water utilities in Georgia have had a certain amount of water go missing - up to 30% of their supply, in some cases. With water becoming more precious, utilities are finally trying to solve the mystery.
Oil Bonanza In Western Hemisphere
New technology is allowing massive investment in oil drilling in North and South America, from Canada to Argentina. This article centers on the investment in the region's two largest economies, U.S. and Brazil, and its effect on energy geopolitics.
BLOG POST
Public Education, Privatization and Planning
<br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <p class="MsoNormal"> One of the greatest challenges for US cities is the perceived failure of public schools. Both as a means for attracting and retaining the middle class and for providing upward mobility public schools are crucial. Consequently, any effort to build livable cities must include successful public schools so as to provide a ladder for the poor and to attract and retain the middle class. Although education typically falls out of the purview of planning, planners can ill afford to ignore such a key component of what makes a place livable in the minds of many.
"The Golden Age of Motoring is Over"
According to this article in The Guardian U.K., fewer and fewer young adults age 17-20 are seeking a driver's license and car ownership, signalling "peak car".
Calatrava Walks Away from Denver Airport
Claiming frustration with inadequate funding and not enough time in the schedule, famed architect Santiago Calatrava has walked away from the Denver Airport's south terminal expansion project.
Is Planning All About Tax Revenue?
Jeffery R. Levine asks if, given the reliance on property taxes, the planning process is truly revenue-blind.
Americans Crave the Familiar in Architecture and Design
Kaid Benfield argues that if people are going to embrace mixed-use, denser living styles, architects and designers need to "embrace the familiar."
FEATURE
Carpooling: What the Census Doesn't Show
Recent census data analysis shows that the number of carpoolers has been declining over the last thirty years. But further study of carpooling's history, as well as social, demographic and economic trends, shows that there is more to carpooling numbers than a downward slope, writes Cynthia Armour.
London's "Lego" Olympics
In order to lighten the footprint of the 2012 Olympics, Britain's architects and event planners are aiming to "reduce, reuse and recycle" venues so that they can be repurposed or taken down when the games are over.
Ada County Highway District
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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.
