The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Chicago, Illinois

Rahm Emanuel's Chicago Infrastructure Trust Expensive and Redundant?

The Infrastructure Trust was conceived of by Emanuel's administration to help gain private funds to restore the Uptown Theater. It hasn't done that, and some are questioning if it can serve any other useful purpose.

December 27 - Chicago Sun Times

Affordable Housing

More Fallout on Affordable Housing from Tax Bill

While the low income housing tax credit was retained, banks will be much less willing to purchase them due to their reduced corporate tax rate. That's just one way H.R. 1 will exacerbate divisions between the rich and poor in America's cities.

December 27 - The New York Times

California Grows by 301,000 to 39.5 Million

The 0.77 percent growth rate comes mostly from increased births, reports the California Department of Finance. The Census Bureau estimated the population increase at 20 percent less for the same time period: July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017.

December 26 - San Francisco Chronicle

Vancouver transit

Cross-Border High-Speed Rail Studied for the Pacific Northwest

The state of Washington has taken a first, serious look at a high-speed rail project linking Vancouver in British Columbia to Seattle and Portland.

December 26 - Vancouver Sun

For Rent

Has the Rental Market Peaked? If So, That's Good News for Low-Income Renters

A new Harvard study reports that the rental market began to decline this year, and may continue to drop as higher income renters become homeowners. However, the report was released a week before the GOP tax cuts bill was signed.

December 26 - Business Insider


Bird Poop Prevention

Pigeon Spikes…on Trees

A developer in Bristol installed pigeon spikes on trees to keep bird droppings off cars.

December 26 - BBC

PATH Train

Financing of Hudson River Rail Tunnels in Peril

A funding agreement between New York, New Jersey, and the U.S. DOT for one of the most important rail projects in the nation is in danger of collapsing because of the way the two states are financing their share of the $12.9 billion cost.

December 26 - Crain's New York Business


White House

FEATURE

The Most Popular Posts of 2017

All the planning news that's fit to print.

December 26 - James Brasuell

Justin Trudeau

Canada's New Housing Plan Treats Housing as a Human Right

With 1.7 million households in Canada currently living in "housing need," the ruling liberal government has decided to put its policies where its promises are.

December 26 - Pacific Standard

Beltway Commute

How Baltimore Figures in to Washington D.C. Commuting Patterns

Despite significant and expected cross-county commuting within the Washington D.C. metro, relatively few people commute from Baltimore, despite good transportation connections and relatively less expensive housing.

December 26 - Greater Greater Washington

Top European Court Declares Uber is a Taxi Service

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) decided Wednesday that Uber is indeed a taxi service, despite protests to the contrary, and must comply with national laws. The ruling has major implications for on-demand transport services across the EU.

December 26 - Cities of the Future

Electric Car

Transportation in 2018: Three Predictions

Paul Lewis of the Eno Center gives his forecast of how next year will play out. Prospects for new technologies are good, but come with caveats.

December 26 - U.S. News & World Report

Building Boom: Study Reveals Effects of California's 2016 Accessory Dwelling Units Law

Permits have shot up after California passed a landmark law in 2016 to make it easier to permit and construct accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

December 25 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

Scott Pruitt

Details of the Massive Exodus at the U.S. EPA

The Trump Administration is working toward cutting 3,200 positions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Already 700 employees, including 200 scientists, have left.

December 25 - ProPublica

Los Angeles

How About a Gondola Ride to the Hollywood Sign?

Project backers are calling the idea the "Sky Line."

December 25 - Variety

Cars in the snow

Driverless Shuttle Buses Take to the Snowy Test Tracks of Minnesota

Details of the ongoing testing and experimentation of an autonomous shuttle bus called Minnie at a facility north of the Twin Cities.

December 25 - MinnPost

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis Finds a Loophole to Rid Two Parks of Confederate Monuments

A victory for local control: Memphis city leaders found a way to rid their city of two racist monuments, over the objection of the State Legislature.

December 25 - The Commercial Appeal

'Twas the Night Before Christmas and Here's a Reminder About the Meaning of Environmentalism

San Gabriel Valley Tribune reporter Steve Scauzillo turns the words of the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," by Clement Clarke Moore into an environmental message.

December 24 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Denver Region

Funding Support Builds Momentum for a Community Land Trust in Denver

The newly formed and funded Elevation Community Land Trust will become the largest community land trust in Colorado.

December 24 - The Denver Post

Caribou and Brooks Range, Arctic NWR

Drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Allowed with Passage of GOP Tax Bill

When President Trump signs the tax-cutting bill, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) will have achieved a family dream of opening up the pristine refuge, created 37 years ago, to drilling.

December 24 - The New Yorker

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