The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Last Month For Hybrids In CA Carpool Lanes

In Sept. 2005, eligible hybrid vehicles could use CA carpool lanes with only one occupant as an incentive to purchase them. The expiration date was extended by legislation twice, but DMV assures the 85,000 yellow decal owners it ends July 1.

June 3 - San Francisco Chronicle

Le Corbusier Buildings Rejected From World Heritage List

A consultant has recommended to UNESCO that they reject a proposal to include 19 buildings designed by French architect Le Corbusier on their list of world heritage sites.

June 3 - Daily Yomiyuri Online

Artist Decorates Abandoned Bike, Gets Fined

Toronto artist Caroline Macfarlane found a rusted bicycle that had been locked to a bike rack for a very long time. She decided to make it into art, painting the whole bike neon pink and adding a basket of flowers. The city responded by fining her.

June 3 - Boing Boing

Envisioning a Lush Mexico City

Two architects submit a plan to Mexico City planners that includes bringing the Río Piedad back to life and revitalizing the city with green public spaces along its waters.

June 3 - The New York Times

Argentina Gets Its First Bus Rapid Transit

Mauricio Macri, the mayor of Buenos Aires, inaugurated Argentina's first bus rapid transit system today, marking its first day of operation.

June 3 - TheCityFix.com


Does Downtown Seattle Have Enough Bike Parking?

A study of bicycle amenities in Seattle concludes that most of the private office buildings downtown lack bike parking, and other amenities such as showers and bike pumps are almost nonexistent. Public bicycle parking downtown has a better showing.

June 3 - Puget Sound Business Journal

Groundbreaking Climate Change Plan

Once a bastion of sprawl, the San Diego region is now embracing one of the most significant regional planning efforts in the nation's history. It is the first region in California to draft a Sustainable Communities Strategy, as mandated by SB 375.

June 3 - California Planning & Development Report


Companies Ditch Suburban Office Parks

Suburban areas were once strongholds of corporate campuses and office parks. But there's a shift underway that's drawing companies back to cities.

June 2 - Grist

Latin American Population Rising in Oregon

The Latin American population is on the rise in many parts of the country. Oregon is seeing its own shifts in population, and this piece takes a look at whats driving the changes.

June 2 - Oregon Public Broadcasting

Underground Parking Emerges in the 'Burbs

Once thought to be only needed in dense inner cities, underground parking lots are being built now in suburban areas to reduce the use of space in tightening quarters.

June 2 - The Washington Post

Parks Blossom in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is seeing a surge in new parks, as new public-realm projects are either opening or moving closer towards development.

June 2 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

South Korea Rises

South Korea is emerging as a new center of Asian mega development. With a variety of large-scale and small-scale projects, the country is taking a specific interest in sustainable development.

June 2 - The Architect's Newspaper

FEATURE

Laurie Olin: A Student of People

Landscape architect Laurie Olin says that to design well you have to be interested in how people behave. Johanna Hoffman gets in-depth with Olin about his design process.

June 2 - Johanna Hoffman

Urban Exploration Misinterpreted

Urban explorer and urban ethnographer Bradley L. Garrett argues that the act of urban exploration has become increasingly misunderstood, and misinterpreted through the lens of a recent popular fascination with ruin fetishism.

June 2 - domus

The Campsite as Place

This piece from <em>Places</em> delves into the history of the campsite, their use of space, and their role in modern culture.

June 2 - Places

Understanding the Freeways of L.A.

In the latest installment of a year-long series about Los Angeles-focused books, <em>Los Angeles Times</em> architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne reads the 1981 book "L.A. Freeway: An Appreciative Essay," by David Brodsly.

June 2 - Los Angeles Times

Proposed Mega Project Would Curtain Iconic Hollywood Building

Revived plans to build a large mixed-use development in Hollywood next to an iconic building are awakening some concerns about the potential loss of historic character.

June 2 - Los Angeles Times

Mobility Lacking in Toronto

Toronto's lack of focus on transportation planning and the absence of a national strategy for mobility is turning the city into a messy gridlock, according to this column.

June 2 - Globe and Mail

New Jersey Gov. Scraps Rail, Invests in Mega-Mall Instead

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie defunded the construction of the ARC Tunnel (connecting NJ to NY via increased rail service), claiming that it was fiscally irresponsible. Now, Christie is using state funds to finance the construction of a mega-mall.

June 1 - Sustainable Cities Collective

Building Roads to Cure Congestion Is an Exercise in Futility

University of Toronto professors say that building more roads just encourages more driving. Building transit doesn't help reduce congestion either, though it still maximizes the value of the transportation system.

June 1 - Streetsblog Capitol Hill

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