The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Targeted, Hyper-Dense Neighborhoods Can Reduce Emissions
Alex Steffen presents the idea that by focusing development into "hyperdense" communities you create a host of benefits that reduce climate change by reducing trips.
Hot "High Line" Firm Designing Small Park in Santa Monica
With no "rusting relic" like The High Line's trestle to hang the design on, will James Corner Field Operations create a memorable public park for Santa Monica's coastline?
Building in an Impossibly Narrow Spot
Israeli writer Etgar Keret has commissioned a home to be built in the narrow space between two buildings in Warsaw, Poland. The house will be 4 feet across at the widest point.
Surprising Advice for Peninsula Planners
San Francisco Chronicle urban design critic John King cautions against too much redevelopment and not enough preservation along El Camino Real in San Mateo County, where a major initiative is attempting to change much of the corridor's character.
Entertainment Industry is Now an Urban Business
With digital cinematography replacing location shooting and huge soundstages, the entertainment industry is becoming a lucrative, sought-after tenant in downtowns and urban areas.
Chinese Megaproject Goes From Urban to Rural
New York architects Tsao & McKown are developing a handful of communities in Chengdu that range from dense urban living to agrarian lifestyles.
Suburbs Clamor for Light Rail
Detroit's Oakland County suburbs are pushing to extend a light rail extension into their neighborhoods with such fervor that they may accomplish what the political system couldn't, says reporter Matt Helms.
Quebec Crumbling
After decades of neglect, the infrastructure in the Canadian province of Quebec is in such bad condition that drivers are nervous going through tunnels and over bridges.
FEATURE
From One Crisis to the Next: Congress Must Pass a Transportation Bill for All Users
The U.S. is going from one financial crisis directly into another, as SAFETEA-LU, the omnibus transportation bill, expires next month, writes Roxanne Blackwell of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Sound in the Built Environment
Adam E. Anderson says that there is a growing need for "a hybrid landscape architect/sound artist" to sculpt the sonic environment in public spaces.
When Architecture Plays The Star
Architectural Digest highlights films where the architectural setting plays a larger role than most of the people, from the futuristic (Blade Runner) to the contemporary (The Ghost Writer).
Linking American Individualism to Transportation Planning
Author Russell Shorto claims that "the willingness of Europeans to follow top-down social planning" makes public transit and bicycling more feasible in European cities than they are in the States where people don't always agree with technocrats.
Real Estate Bliss in Singapore
Like the Hamptons for affluent New Yorkers, Singapore emerges as the go-to real estate hot spot - replacing Hong Kong - for wealthy Chinese. "It confers class status in China to say that you own a flat in Singapore," asserts Mohamed Ismail.
Stamp of Approval for Green Roofs
The New York City Council voted last week to alter the city's code to encourage green roofs and urban gardening.
No New Taxes = No Renewed Federal Gas Tax?
Matthew Yglesias writes on the upcoming expiration of the federal gas tax as the next political hurdle facing a divided Congress that has enormous infrastructure and budget deficit implications. The Republican 'no new taxes' pledge may apply.
"Pop-Up Cafes" Hit New York
New York City has led the way in tactical urbanism for some time, like the pedestrian plaza in Times Square. Now they're encouraging "pop-up cafes", or cafe table seating that takes over excess roadway.
"Phonehenge West" Relegated to the Dustheap of History
In Antelope Valley, Calif., Alan Kimble Fahey's 70-foot tower - aka "the highlight of his life's labor" - was eviscerated on Friday along with the rest of his 20,000-square-foot quirky concoction. The court found it in violation of local codes.
Transit Project Brought in Under Budget
Not only is the Utah Transit Authority debuting two new light rail lines at the same time, they were brought in 20% under budget.
Cottages = Small Scale Infill & Affordability
They've been tough to build, thanks to a market skewed towards suburban-style houses via tax, infrastructure, mortgage, and land value subsidies, says Ben Brown. But six years after the storm, Katrina Cottages offer some hard-won solutions.
L.A. Mayor Pushes Bus-Only Lanes
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced plans to implement more bus-only lanes throughout the city.
Ada County Highway District
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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.
