World
Global issues, U.N., etc.
GM and Segway Team Up For Small Street Vehicle
The P.U.M.A. is an experimental prototype that takes Segway technology and fits it to a two-person commuter car frame.
Architecture, Downloaded
Online sources for house plans are cutting the architect out of the home building process. One site is now making available the plans of well-known architects like William Turnbull.
Can Trade Reform Beget Economic Recovery, Environmental Sustainability?
Apropos to the debates dominating the G20 conference in London, former U.S. Trade Rep and Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor argues for trade as the centerpiece of economic and environmental sustainability.
Planning for Spontaneity
According to this opinion piece, planners must ease up on "big bang" planning--an approach centered around sweeping changes with fixed ideas of what the outcome must look like.
White House Urban Affairs Agenda Based on Late-Night Sim City Game
It has been revealed that the White House's Urban Affairs Agenda is entirely based on a late-night round of the computer game "Sim City", played by President Barack Obama and Urban Affairs Secretary Adolfo Carrion.
Closed Wal-Mart Re-Used for New Wal-Mart
The economic recession has caused a shakedown in the retail sector, and retail powerhouse Wal-Mart has been forced to close many outlets. One city has found an innovative solution to the empty big box building left behind: put in a new Wal-Mart.
High Speed Rail Funding Dedicated Solely to Disneyland Monorail Improvements
The entire $8 billion set aside in the federal stimulus plan for high speed rail has been dedicated towards improvements on the Disneyland Monorail, a 2.5-mile train system in Anaheim, California.
Hardcore New Urbanist Can't Stop Mixing Uses
Bradley Archer, a long-time champion of New Urbanist principles, spends nearly every waking hour finding a way to get two, maybe three, uses out of everything.
Foreclosed Homes To Be Counted As Race in 2010 Census
Officials at the U.S. Census Bureau announced today that foreclosed homes had seen such an increase in numbers over the past two years that they would be included as an official race in the upcoming 2010 Census.
City Officials Favor 'Stupid Growth'
Officials in Shelbyville, Kentucky are officially adopting a citywide "Stupid Growth" policy. The city plans to release the new Shelbyville Stupid Growth General Plan, which emphasizes "building whatever."
Godzilla Named Tokyo Planning Director, Announces Broad Urban Renewal Plan
Legendary gigantic lizard monster Godzilla has been named planning director for the city of Tokyo. Shortly after his appointment, Mr. Zilla revealed his urban renewal program by smashing through buildings and stomping across entire city blocks.
Resident Demands 'Everything in My Back Yard'
The public comment period at a recent planning commission meeting in Wheaton, Illinois was commandeered by resident Joann Davies, who aggressively demanded that a variety of land uses be approved in her neighborhood.
Replacing Kyoto
This report from KQED radio looks at efforts to craft a replacement for the Kyoto Protocols.
Water Problems Call for Action from Obama
Global water shortages are an issue the Obama Administration will need to address, according to this piece from Citiwire.
Facing Climate Change, U.N. To Propose Major Economic Reforms
In response to the widening threat of climate change, the United Nations will release a note of suggestions that propose a dramatic change in global economic relations, tarriffs, and taxes, according to this piece from Fox News.
City Dwellers Do Less Harm
A new study has shown that city dwellers are less of a burden on the environment than those outside of city and metropolitan areas.
Government Boomtowns: The New Detroit?
While the number of private sector jobs shrinks, places with higher proportions of government workers are doing quite well. It's estimated that public servants will see wage increases of 2% or more this year.
Unbuilt Skyscrapers Mean Sky-High Unemployment
No work has been done on the Chicago Spire, the city's latest planned skyscraper, since the credit market froze up in January. A brief look at the blow to the building industry, in which joblessness is at a rate of 21.4%.
Urban Emergence
The concept of 'emergence', in science refers to the way complex systems and patterns arise among groups without planned organization. Emergence is now being applied in interesting ways to study urban areas that evolved spontaneously.
The 'Outdated Ethic' of Iconic Architecture
Many of the iconic structures designed by 'starchitects' are extravagant in their use of materials and the energy required to assemble them, writes Jack Diamond.
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
