Chris Stines is Planetizen's former Editor and the founder of Urban Insight, a leading digital agency. Chris has 25 years of experience in technology consulting and urban planning and has served as a consultant to public sector state, county, and local agencies, Fortune 500 private firms, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations.
Booming Bay County, Florida
For the St. Joe Co., Panama City, Florida's proposed new airport is about transit-oriented development -- in a big way.
US Ambassador Called 'Chiselling Crook' Over London's Congestion Pricing
London mayor Ken Livingstone reportedly calls the US Ambassador in London a "chiselling little crook" after the US Embassy decides it's staff will not pay the £8-a-day congestion charge when driving into London's central city.
Watching The Development Of An EcoContemp Prefab House
The EcoContempo prefabricated house is a collaboration between Northern Steel and architect Gregory La Vardera. FabPrefab presents an interview with the architect and an overview of the manufacturing and on-site assembly process.
A Mobile Marketing Ecosystem?
Will the new urban ecosystem be wireless? And if so, will corporate American own this new ecosystem?<br /> <br /> That's the fascinating point Jeffrey Chester makes in his new article, "The Dangers of Corporate Wi-Fi", published on TheNation.com and distributed through <a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/34018/">AlterNet</a>. Chester argues that there's no such thing as a free wireless lunch:<br /> <br /> <blockquote>"Consumers and public officials should have no illusions that what is being touted as a public benefit is also designed to spur the growth of a mobile marketing ecosystem, an emerging field of electronic commerce that is expected to generate huge revenues for Google, Microsoft, AT&T and many others. Soon, wherever we wander, a ubiquitous online environment will follow us with ads and information dovetailed to our interests and our geographic location."</blockquote>
Pricing Smart Growth
Smart growth and other land use restrictions cost U.S. homebuyers at least $275 billion in 2005, according to a new report by Randal O'Toole and the American Dream Coalition. O'Toole calls the additional costs 'The Planning Penalty.'