The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Preaching Urbanity in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City has seen its share of foreclosure in its outer suburbs. Local planners and urban planning professors see this as an opportunity to convince locals of the benefits of city living.
Hooking Up Gardeners and Backyards
Wait times for a plot of land in one of Santa Monica's community gardens have grown so long that officials are instituting a new program to connect gardeners with homeowners willing to share their backyards.
HUD's Dollar Program Misses Mark, Benefits Contractors and Investors
An L.A. Times investigation reveals that HUD's 10-year-old Dollar Homes program provided little lasting benefit to the intended recipients and significant rewards to investors and contractors.
2,000 Transportation Projects
That's how many projects the Obama administration claims to have launched with the stimulus money, countering detractors who argued that the funding couldn't be spent fast enough to have an impact.
Executive, Not Earmarks, Should Guide Infrastructure
Governors Rendell and Schwarzenegger are imploring President Obama to take the lead on national infrastructure policy, rather than allowing earmarks to guide projects.
BLOG POST
Pedestrian Sprawl Alert: Streets Gone Wild
<p> Once upon a time public rights-of-way were simpler; they made sense. The mobile laws of society were black and white. Streets were for cars and sidewalks were for, well, walking on the side of the street. You know, out of the way? At some point recently though things have started to blur, and it's starting to get just a little bit out of control. It's hard to put one's finger on it, but lately there's been this funny notion that the street itself, long the gift to man-and-machine, is supposed to be shared with people who just can't seem to keep themselves on their side of the curb. Woe is me, in some instances there isn't even a curb anymore! What's worse, it seems apparent that our public officials, the very people we elect to represent us an
BLOG POST
The Takings Muddle: A Brief Guide
<p> The Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment provides that government may not take private property without just compensation. The courts have held that this clause requires government to compensate landowners for losses caused by government regulation in certain situations- most notably when regulation leads to a permanent physical invasion of property (1) or makes property worthless (2). </p>
CA High Speed Rail Authority's Hopes Could Be Dashed
While the HSR Authority hopes to get at least half of the $8 billion ARRA funding, it has yet to market any of the $10 billion in bonds passed by the voters because of its budget problems. Criticism abounds.
Health and Human Services Hit Hard in San Francisco
The recession is causing San Francisco to tighten its belt. Budget cuts are falling heavily on the city's health and human services.
Urban Infill Inevitable, Says ULI Leader
William Hudnet, former mayor of Indianapolis, now with ULI, spoke at a gathering in Sacramento on the inevitable wave of urban infill, less auto-dependent development to come due to state climate protection laws AB 32 and SB 375, and regional plans.
One in Nine U.S. Homes Empty
Empty homes are littered in cities across the country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one out of every nine U.S. homes is unoccupied.
Streetcars and Commuter Rail Get Official in Fort Worth
A streetcar system and commuter rail line are now officially part of a regional plan for the Fort Worth area.
Urban Alleys Going Green
This article from <em>USA Today</em> looks at the growth of green alleys in the U.S.
Portland Region Tries to Decide What to Develop, What to Preserve
Officials from three counties in the Portland region are trying to work together to decide where to locate regional urban reserves of land for future development and rural reserves for preservation.
BLOG POST
Travel Demands Are A-Changing: So Should Our Spending
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial"><em>Politicians and planners be warned: you will now be judged according to your ability to improve walking, cycling and public transit services.</em></span> </span> </p>
Booming Saudi Arabia Could Be A Job Goldmine
The Saudi Arabian economy is still prospering, and development is booming. This piece looks at the Kingdom as an opportunity for developers and planners looking for work in tough times.
Housing Slump Hits Manhattan
Though typically a strong and steady market, falling condo sales indicate that the housing slump has moved into Manhattan.
Bemoaning San Francisco's Corporate Street Closures
San Francisco's got a number of temporary street closures planned this year. Though the prospect of these pedestrian-friendly events is seen as a good sign for the city, this piece argues that their emphasis on corporate sponsorship taints the value.
Providence's New 'Brand' Not Needed
Providence, Rhode Island, is rebranding itself as the "Creative Capital." This op-ed argues the city doesn't need a brand, rather it needs to return to the aesthetic values that made it beautiful and successful in the '90s.
Solar City in the Works
Developers in Florida have announced plans to build a new 17,000 acre city that will run entirely on solar power.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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.
