Urban Development
NASA Says Agriculture Is Draining Groundwater in California
NASA satellite imagery reveals that two of California's main groundwater sources are being rapidly depleted by agriculture and exurban development.
Smart Growth From the Environmental Perspective
Kaid Benfield of the NRDC reviews The Smart Growth Manual by Andres Duany, Jeff Speck and Mike Lydon. Benfield gives it high marks for style and substance, and for the way it incorporates environmental issues.
SF's Transbay Terminal Project Edges Closer to Groundbreaking
The New York Times looks at plans for the new Transbay Terminal in San Francisco, which could break ground within months.
The Ruins of Detroit and New Orleans
Bryan Finoki looks at the devastated cities of Detroit and New Orleans and finds "blueprints for the manufacture of ruin".
Urban Planning in Los Angeles, 2009
Curbed LA takes an amusing look at the urban planning proposals that bubbled up in L.A. throughout 2009.
Stadiums Draining City Coffers
Sweetheart deals using public monies to fund stadiums have backfired across the country, causing more drain than gain.
Japanese Women Shack Up
Sharing apartments as roommates is a foreign concept in Japan- single people have traditionally preferred their own tiny living quarters. A new glut of large, fancy apartments has created a new market for roomies.
What to Look For in 2010 in Sustainability
New Urbanist Steve Mouzon lists the sustainable building trends to watch out for in the new year, including the growth of live/work spaces and a move towards greater durability.
Sub-Urban Planning
Triple Canopy translates a Chinese interview with Shu Yu, one of the world's foremost underground urban planners. He talks about the potential of underground space for urban habitation.
Marin TOD Planning: Drop The 'D'
Marin County, long known for its environmental awareness, is concerned about anything that is "growth inducing", and that certainly includes the new SMART passenger rail system, approved by the voters in November, that will serve Sonoma and Marin.
Metro Portland's Internal Growth Dilemma
The three counties in the Portland Metropolitan area are at odds about what parts of the region should and should not be protected by urban growth boundaries.
Closed Auto Dealerships Find New Life
Closed car dealerships across the country are finding new life as yoga studios, classrooms, and day care centers.
Air Quality Rules May Hinder Densification
New air quality guidelines aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of new housing developments may turn out to hinder the approval of dense projects in California.
Treasure Island A Future Atlantis?
The City of San Francisco recently inked a deal to purchase the man-made Treasure Island sitting in its bay. But some wonder if an island threatened by rising sea levels was really such a smart buy.
Creating Car-Reduced and Car-Free Pedestrian Habitats
It will take a long time for the US to embrace pedestrians, bicycling, and electric carts as substitutes for cars in our communities. And yet an inevitable change is coming that will significantly increase environmental quality, and restore real community and economic viability. Changing legislation, master planning, and the development of car-reduced and car-free communities will move us forward, writes Greg Ramsey.
Disconnected from Society? Gated Communities: Their Lifestyle versus Urban Governance
Peer Smets (VU University Amsterdam) investigates the socio-cultural impacts of specific patterns of urban segregation (gated communities) on local urban politics and urban governance.
New Research: Effect of Suburban TODs on Surrounding Property Values
Mention 'density' in suburban areas and the knee-jerk reaction is, "there go the property values". But is that really the case? In this study from San Jose State University, 4 suburban TODs are evaluated for their effects on nearby property values.
A Floating Airport?
A private group is proposing a wild scheme to build a much-needed new airport for San Diego as a floating offshore platform.
Convention Centers Can Be "Deadly, Single-Purpose Monoliths"
Robert Campbell argues that Boston's planned expansion of the convention center should be mixed-use and urban in nature.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
