The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Amsterdam's Mercator Square is a Work in Progress
Michèle Champagne of Open City Projects Inc. examines Amsterdam's Mercator Square and how it functions as an open space. The community around Mercator Square is ethnically diverse, has good urbanism details, yet violence still is a problem.
Making Artificial Mountains
In Berlin and The Netherlands, crazy ideas of building mountains for recreational purposes are actually being entertained.
Skyscraper Historic District Rubber Stamped in Brooklyn
Yesterday, the Brooklyn's Landmark Preservation Commission unanimously approved the creation of an historic district in the downtown.
House Approves 'Clean' Transportation Extension Bill
After a mere 45 minutes of debate on the House floor, Obama's requested transportation bill extension was approved by voice vote - unanimously. The extension will be for six months (not four as Senate committee had approved) and extends the gas tax.
The "Growing Divide" Between Cities With Kids and Cities Without Them
William Frey with the Brookings Institution explains that 1/3rd of the largest cities in the U.S. have seen significant losses of kids under 15, while babies are booming in the Southwest, Utah and Idaho.
A New Urban Portrait for Kigali, Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda's capital city, is beginning to embrace an urban transect-based plan as a solution for its recent population growth and rapidly evolving economy.
Chattanooga, Tennessee: America's Favorite Town
At least, the favorite town of Outside Magazine's readership, in a survey of almost 22,000 readers. Outside says the factors that make Chattanooga hot range from "epic singletrack to progressive city planning."
Despite Ailing Economy, Manufacturing Spurs Cities' Growth
Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Titusvilla, Florida are metropolitan areas that grew faster than the national average in 2010, reports Ben Casselman for The Wall Street Journal.
Commuters Find Car-Free Lifestyle Easy in Washington D.C.
More than a quarter of D.C. households are car-free, federal data shows. The diverse options such as an efficient public transportation, bike share and Zipcar program make it easier for residents to ditch their cars.
Popular Complete Streets Policy Killed by City Council
According to Kari Petrie, a highly popular Complete Streets measure in St. Cloud, Minnesota couldn't get a majority of votes from the City Council.
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Manhattan Urbanism, 9/11, and the "Security-Silo"
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I (Heart) Sadik-Khan
Janette Sadik-Khan, transportation commissioner, gets unfettered praise in a New York bike lane. Frank Bruni looks at the significant legacy she has already built.
Inflatable Architecture
Imagine a future of nomadic life, carting your inflatable nylon home on your back. WebUrbanist has a spread of puff-up architecture for just such an occasion.
Bev. Hills Officials Lend a Hand to Struggling Bell, CA
Bell is infamous for being sucked dry by a handful of corrupt politicians. Now that the officials have been removed, Bell is struggling to find its footing. Wealthy Beverly Hills and Santa Monica have stepped up to help.
"I Don't Believe People Are Going to Give Up On Wheels"
Michael Schrage, a MIT Sloan School of Management transportation research fellow, explains why he thinks people will never give up on driving and what he thinks the options are.
Parking Privatization Key To Arena Financing
Sacramento desperately wants to hold on to its professional basketball team, the Kings, who have threatened to leave. A just-released financing plan points to privatizing city-owned parking spaces as key to providing funding for the new arena.
Streetcar Manufacturers See Boom Ahead in U.S.
At least 80 U.S. and Canadian cities have a streetcar system in the works or are considering it, says APTA. Julie Sneider at Progressive Railroading says transit manufacturers are seeing opportunity in those numbers.
WalMart/Big Box Subsidies Don't Work, Says New Study
When governments use public money to woo national chains, economic growth and job creation aren't worth the cost, says Stacy Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Independent retailers also suffer.
The Art of Abandonment
Artists are using the vacant buildings of the Rust Belt to create their art, and to comment on possibilities and visions for the future.
Rethinking Cities "From the Ground Up"
Michael Totty of The Wall St. Journal says cities need to be rethought to be leaner and greener. His list of suggestions includes district-level heating systems, micro wind turbines, and walking and biking.
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Harvard GSD Executive Education
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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.
