The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Toronto Set to Launch Bike-Sharing Program
BIXI, a bicycle-sharing program that first launched in Montreal, is due to launch in Toronto in May.
BLOG POST
City Livability Rankings, and the struggle for the Complete City
<span style="font-size: small">A few weeks ago, the Economist Intelligence Unit (the business side of Economist magazine) released its <strong><a href="/node/48218" target="_blank">annual global Livable Cities rankings</a></strong></span><span style="font-size: small">. Like the similar Mercer rankings, the EIU efforts aren't officially meant for urbanist's bragging rights - such rankings are used in human resource circles in corporate placements, related to such tools as "hardship allowances".
BLOG POST
What the foreclosure data teaches us
<p> I recently finished reading <em>Foreclosing the Dream</em>, by William Lucy. The most interesting parts of this book are the first chapter and the last appendix, both of which tell us where foreclosures are (or at least were in 2008, before the foreclosure crisis morphed into an international economic downturn). These figures seem to me to debunk at least a couple of the more popular explanations of the foreclosure crisis, such as: </p> <p> Myth 1: "Its all the fault of too much lending to the urban poor." </p>
Inside the Park Slope Bike Lane Battle
Reporter Matthew Shaer talks with folks on both sides of the highly contentious lawsuit seeking to remove a bike lane from Brookyln's Park Slope neighborhood.
Chandigarh Endangered
Le Corbusier's modernist city, long a target of criticism from urban planners, is reportedly being sold off piece by piece. Preservationists are incensed and are leading an effort to preserve the city's signature style.
Wetlands and Airports: A Surprisingly Effective Combination
When the airport was built in Santa Barbara, California, engineers dammed the surrounding wetlands to prevent flooding and to keep birds from gathering. A new restoration refutes those conclusions, and paves (or unpaves) the way for other airports.
Reconstructing Bucky's Dymaxion Car
Architect Norman Foster, who worked with Buckminster Fuller towards the end of his life, recently rebuilt Fuller's Dymaxion Car to exacting specifications. Metropolis Magazine interviewed Foster about what we can still learn from the Dymaxion design.
Reimagining Detroit
Corey Hill examines the experimentation at work to rebuild Detroit, from green manufacturing to community-led economic initiatives. But the municipal and state governments may be getting in the way.
The Costs of Sprawl Defined
The financial consequences of sprawl are steep, and also broad, affecting budgets in places we might not even think of, writes architect Steve Mouzon.
FEATURE
$4 per Gallon Gas – Are We Ready?
With gas prices increasing rapidly, Scott Bernstein of the Center for Neighborhood Technology says the most effective solution is to reduce the demand by creating more "location-efficient" communities.
Tracking Recovery in American Metros
This latest report from <em>The Brookings Institution</em> tracks economic recovery in 100 American metropolitan areas
Quality of Life Down in Golden State
A new poll of California residents finds that perceived quality of life in the state has dropped.
A Renaissance in Oakland
An urban renaissance is underway in Oakland, where a population surge and a fleet of trendy shops has revived parts of a formerly crime-ridden city.
Population Change in America's Biggest Metros
This post crunches the numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau to track population growth in America's largest metropolitan areas between 2000 and 2010.
Why Cities Should Be Mad About Federal Defense Spending
Cities should be mad about the federal government's cutting of discretionary spending and not reducing defense spending, according to this column from Neal Peirce.
Florida Port Dredging Project Hinges on Federal Funding
Florida isn't getting high speed rail, but it will soon have a deeper port that's able to accept more shipments.
The New Urban Design Undergrad
The New School is now offering an undergraduate degree in urban design. <em>Urban Omnibus</em> talks with the program's director about why the program was created and what it intends to accomplish.
The Economic Forces Behind Urbanization
This podcast from <em>The Guardian</em> explores why cities have grown in population and what economic forces are behind this shift.
Borrowing Against Future Revenues to Expand Salt Lake City Rail
Salt Lake City is aggressively expanding its light rail network thanks to a voter approved tax increase. This post wonders whether the city could follow mimic a proposed plan in Los Angeles to speed up the use of those taxes.
BLOG POST
Homeland Security Frequency Jam?!? What to do When Public Participation Goes Terribly Wrong
In 2009 we worked with Ron Thomas, Mary Means, and Goody Clancy to help plan and run a large 500+ person visioning event in the town of Shreveport. We set up the event the night before with computers at every table for brainstorming and a [...]
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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.
