The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Transplanting the wildly popular pilot projects in NYC and SF across the northern border, the City launches VIVA Vancouver program that converts parts of eight streets into public spaces.

September 9 - THE DIRT

Half of the US population lives in coastal areas, but 100% of the population foots a portion of the insurance bill. And as storm event strength is trending upward with global warming, the inlanders are getting less excited about that payment stream.

September 9 - PlaceShakers

Got what it takes to revamp the Union Square, Washington Monument Grounds, and Constitution Gardens? The design competition is now open to anyone who has the vision of making this revered space in D.C. the "best park in the world."

September 9 - THE DIRT

You gave up your large home for a small apartment by the train station, your car for a bike, disposable bags for your canvas one, and of course you recycle everything. Are you making a difference? Not according to this NYT column.

September 9 - The New York Times - Opinion

As the real estate market begins to rebound, many affordable housing advocates and developers in NYC are calling for a modification of the 80/20 program.

September 9 - The New York Times

A tech firm is building a simulated city across 20 miles of New Mexico desert as testing grounds for new green technologies and renewable energy.

September 9 - Jeff Jamawat

MacArthur genius Majora Carter is driving a new national brand for locally-sourced produce. Could the local food movement become mainstream, and survive going corporate?

September 9 - Solutions

The hottest accessory at NY Fashion Week are designer bikes - 30 to be exact. One of the more clever designs features heels-friendly pedals for the ladies who aren't afraid of height.

September 9 - Transportation Nation

For better or worse, cities mimic each other, making replicas of great landmarks down to unique light fixtures. The Infrastructurist selects top 5 cities that do the job well. Not surprisingly, Shanghai earns the title as the hallmark of knock-offs.

September 9 - The Infrastructurist

In advance of the President's key jobs speech Thursday, the Senate committee in charge of transportation approved a 4-month extension of the current transportation bill that expired Sept., 2009. It heads to the Senate floor next.

September 8 - Steetsblog Capitol Hill

The Canadians call it "laneway housing", and in the U.S. they're often dubbed "granny units". These smaller homes in underused garage or alley locations are creating new ways to add density to areas without changing community character.

September 8 - SightlineDaily

The highly anticipated "job speech" by President Obama this evening will address, among other issues, the infrastructure bank. Michael Likosky argues that it is the only possible revenue stream for the nation's $600 billion infrastructure projects.

September 8 - CNN Money

A new land use study based on the 2008 "comp plans" data reveals a significant shift toward mixed-use and transit-oriented developments (TODs) in the Twin Cities seven-county metro area.

September 8 - Finance And Commerce

FEATURE

Mark Ferrall is on a mission to get planners away from their computer screens and collaborating again - over a good board game. Here, he presents three he thinks you and your colleagues will enjoy.

September 8 - Mark Ferrall

M.I.T. has developed a new open-source ArcGIS toolbox that they say will illustrate how a cities' spatial layout affects the way people will live in it.

September 8 - Fast Company

Mark Hinshaw writes that back in 2006, developers were snatching up any bit of undeveloped land in Snohomish County, WA. Today, those far-flung projects have suffered much more than inner-city developments.

September 8 - Crosscut

Known for A Pattern Language, his landmark book on architecture and urban design, Christopher Alexander's ideas have had an effect on everything from software and iPhone apps to business management and ecology.

September 8 - Metropolis Magazine

With Missouri's Historic Preservation Tax Credit on the chopping block, Citiography outlines seven reasons the state should keep this program. Creating local jobs is just one.

September 8 - Citiography

Tom Downs says that walking, biking and transit should be considered one mode of transportation, and that the demographic shift is showing a new-found preference for that mode.

September 8 - Citiwire.net

Berkley, California man Gregory Kloehn has taken the dumpster reuse culture to a whole other level with his dumpster house, writes Zak Stone for GOOD.

September 7 - GOOD Magazine