Kentucky

Reducing the Number of Abandoned Properties in Louisville

Louisville, like many other cities around the country, has been working hard to reduce the number of abandoned buildings. Recent efforts have provided the city with a new road map for blight reduction.

June 23, 2014 - The Courier-Journal

One-Way Street in Louisville

Two-Way Streets Can Fix Declining Downtown Neighborhoods

America’s multi-lane one-way streets are a disaster for neighborhoods. A recent study, released at the International Making Cities Livable Conference and led by John Gilderbloom, finds benefits to converting such streets to two-way traffic flows.

June 11, 2014 - John Gilderbloom

Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 Signed into Law

President Obama has signed "a bipartisan $12.3 billion water bill that will help improve harbors, waterways, levees, and ecosystems across the United States," according to an article by Adie Tomer and Joseph Kane.

June 10, 2014 - Brookings: The Avenue

U.S. Coal Exports to Europe Breaking Records

If President Obama is waging a "war on coal," as his critics claim, then Europe must be enjoying a love affair with America's high-carbon fossil fuel, and the most polluting variety at that. How could the world's greenest continent turn so brown?

May 8, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal - Business

Ohio River Bridges Project Price Tag Climbs Again, but Why?

The price tag for massive project to bridge the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky complete with dual approach tunnels, has long been a source of controversy. Another sudden cost increase has one commenter wondering how this keeps happening.

April 19, 2014 - Urbanophile

Record Fine for Coal Company

The largest ever fine for polluting waterways, $27.5 million plus $200 million in clean-up costs was assigned to a coal company. NewsHour co-anchor Gwen Ifill interviews Dina Cappiello of The Associated Press to discuss water pollution from coal.

March 8, 2014 - PBS NewsHour

Lessons From a Failed Anti-Highway Campaign

A decade-long campaign to stop the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges project in Louisville has apparently lost out to intrenched interests. With the help of the campaign's founders, Angie Schmitt examines where the popular grassroots effort went wrong.

November 21, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Mainers to Vote on Transportation Bond on Nov. 5

At $100 million, it is the largest of the five bonds on the Nov. 5 ballot. While six other transportation bonds were voted on (and approved) since 2000, the need for this bond comes from a 2011 law that eliminated the indexing of the state gas tax.

November 1, 2013 - Portland Press Herald

Gas Tax Woes: A Tale of Two New England States

As states struggle with ways to increase transportation revenue to shore-up aging infrastructure, we look at Conn. and N.H. Due to indexing, one will increase its gas tax by 4-cents on July 1, while the other rejected a 12-cent increase over 3 years.

June 10, 2013 - The Norwich Bulletin

Indexing Gas Taxes: Kentucky Shows How

While some state struggle to raise the gas tax by even a few cents a gallon, indexing the excise tax to inflation avoids these costly battles. Kentucky approved such legislation over 10 years ago. On July 1, the gas tax will increase by 2.4 cents.

June 5, 2013 - The Courier-Journal

Downtown Louisville

Louisville is America's Hottest City; But That's Not Cool

Recent analysis shows that Louisville, Ky. suffers from the worst 'heat island' conditions among America's 50 largest cities. The city is also one of the few without a tree ordinance. Coincidence? Sarah Goodyear investigates.

May 8, 2013 - Next City

Digital Urban Planning: Take Control of Your City's Digital Future

How much of a role does your city play in controlling its digital representation? Colin Wood examines the efforts of Louisville's director of innovation to link the city's assets digitally and integrate them with the prevailing platforms.

April 9, 2013 - Government Technology

Can Technology Help Involve More Low-Income Residents in the Planning Process?

Louisville will be the testing ground for an initiative that seeks to develop technologies to increase the engagement between low-income city residents and their local governments.

February 22, 2013 - Living Cities

Lexington Looks Underground to Guide Downtown Redevelopment

Town Branch Creek was once the lifeblood of Lexington, Kentucky. Now, more than a century after it was rerouted and buried, city leaders want to resurrect the historic waterway as the focal point of downtown redevelopment.

January 15, 2013 - The Architect's Newspaper

Louisville Wrestles With Freeway Dilemma

Critic Michael Kimmelman, fresh back from Louisville's Idea Festival, questions why that quickly emerging city wants to double down on a new freeway expansion through its downtown while other progressive cities are tearing theirs down.

September 26, 2012 - New York Times

New Initiative Brings 3D Planning to the Public

Eric Jaffe writes on a new interactive planning initiative in Louisville, Kentucky, that takes a hands-on approach to public engagement.

September 25, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Power Play Imperils Preservation in Louisville

A contentious new ordinance gives Louisville's Metro Council final say in the city's landmarks decisions. Some are blaming a recent preservation victory for spurring what could be a major setback for historic preservation in Derby City.

September 11, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Showdown In Coal Country

The battleground is the Big Sandy coal power plant in eastern Kentucky. The owner, American Electric Power, under pressure from coal proponents, agreed to do a $1 billion retrofit rather than switching to natural gas. Victory was short-lived.

May 31, 2012 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

What Are the Biggest Challenges Facing America's Mayors?

Earlier this week, Charlie Rose hosted a roundtable discussion with the mayors of Chicago, Baltimore, Jacksonville, and Louisville on how they're working to revitalize their cities in challenging economic times.

April 20, 2012 - Charlie Rose

PoMo Not a Four-Letter Word in Louisville, KY

Blair Kamin takes an appreciative view of Michael Graves' Humana Building, now a defining icon of Derby City, and the much derided postmodern architecture movement.

April 13, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.