Urban Planning Blog

Being a relatively new city that has grown drastically over recent decades and is entrenched in modern planning practices, we can clearly see and experience “beliefs made physical” and its effects. These can be felt at all levels of the built environment – from the location and style of individual buildings (such as City Hall) to large-scale urban patterns.

This graphic speaks to the latter, compiling several census-based maps, graphs, and tables to explicitly show the direct ties between specific  policies, neighbourhood densities and population distribution.

An excellent infographic that aids visualizing the pattern and trends of policies on urban density and population distribution.

[Link to Visualizing Policy, Density, and Population Distribution]

The Public Servant Blog lists the top 20 Urban Planning success stories. Recent projects like New York City's High Line to city-wide success like in Eugene, Oregon feature in the excellently-compiled list.

[Link to Top 20 Urban Planning Successes of All Time]

"A new report, released by the American Public Transportation Association, which surveys current research has found that people who live in communities with high-quality public transportation drive less, exercise more, live longer, and are generally healthier than residents of communities that lack quality public transit."

One of those studies with a 'duh' conclusion. But in this age of skepticism, every such study helps. As the study concludes, "this analysis can help transport and health professionals better coordinate their efforts to create communities where people can live long and prosper…. When all impacts are considered, improving public transit can be one of the most cost effective ways to achieve public health objectives."

[Link to Residents Who Live Near Public Transportation Live Healthier, Longer Lives]

"It was two hours into one of the city’s newest delights: the Around Manhattan Official NYC Architectural Tour. The Chicago Architecture Foundation’s similar tour has been a popular attraction since 1983, but until now, this city’s closest equivalent was the Circle Line — a very distant second. What took the New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects so long? Whatever the answer, its timing is fortuitous. It’s only recently that Manhattan’s waterfront has become the playfield of outsize architectural ambition."

My cousin, Rama Dadarkar, who is now an official New York City tour guide can be heard in the video toward the end. She is a Historic Preservation major from Columbia so consider asking for her if you plan on taking the tour

[Link to New York City gets its own architecture tour]

"The area is part of the “Special Midtown District” that has its own distinct zoning code. Part of the mission of these regulations is to preserve and protect the “unique combination of building scale, large illuminated signs and entertainment and entertainment-related uses” that are central to Times Square’s history."

Ever wonder why Times Square, New York is the way it is? Surprisingly, you can blame the zoning laws that forbid any kind of tasteful restraint and subdued advertising.

[Link to Why Times Square is the way it is]

Pelli Clark Pelli Architects showcase their design for the upcoming San Franscisco Transbay Transit Center and Tower. Looks fantastic.

[Link to San Franscisco Transbay Transit Center and Tower]

"Abogo is a tool that lets you discover how transportation impacts the affordability and sustainability of where you live."

It costs me $611 in College Station, TX but would cost $288 in New York City. Obviously, other cost of living expenses are much higher in NYC

[Link to Calculate your Transportation Cost]

"The Social Bicycle System (SoBi) is a public bike share system that uses GPS, mobile communications, and a secure lock that can attach to almost any bicycle and lock to any regular bike rack."

Much like zip cars, SoBi tries to introduce the social bicycle system. I wonder why wasn't it done before doing it with cars. This would work great in any large university campus or town as well.

[Link to Social Bicycles]

The Good blog finds a photo from 1917 showing San Diego firemen converting a vacant lot next to their fire station into a garden.

Things have changed so much that now urban farmers have to battle city authorities to do some gardening in vacant lots.

[Link to Gardening a Vacant Lot]

"Just how much should Uncle Sam do to help Americans buy their own homes? For 70 years — and for the last 15 in particular — the answer has been: Whatever it takes.

Now, policymakers are pausing to reconsider."

Government's role in promoting home ownership is being reconsidered after the housing market crash. Perhaps a little diversification of subsidies into other sectors of the economy will not hurt.

[Link to Rethinking home ownership]

“This year, the town’s annual sale has been absorbed into the World’s Longest Yard Sale, an event that stretches 675 miles down the Route 127 corridor from Hudson, some 10 miles in from the Ohio state line, all the way to Gadsen, Ala.”

Are yard sales indicative of community in decline? If so, this part of the country is in serious trouble. And if everyone is selling, who is buying?

[Link to World's Longest Yard Sale in U.S.]

"As one mortgage broker I recently spoke with observed, “The whole idea of buying with resale value in mind is gone. All the countertops, the backyards, all those things are meaningless.”"

People are finally buying homes to live in and not for resale.

[Link to Home for Life]

"Proposed by Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Co., Ltd, the model looks like a subway or light-rail train bestriding the road. It is 4-4.5 m high with two levels: passengers board on the upper level while other vehicles lower than 2 m can go through under. Powered by electricity and solar energy, the bus can speed up to 60 km/h carrying 1200-1400 passengers at a time without blocking other vehicles’ way."

Definitely an idea worth exploring to reduce congestion. Just don't call it socialized transportation please.

[Link to “Straddling” bus–a cheaper, greener and faster public transit]

"A new app for the iPhone 3GS, that allows the user to locate nearby property development proposals just by pointing their mobile at a home, is likely to send shudders through potential vendors and landlords."

Reducing information asymmetry is always a good thing. What sends shudders through the potential vendors and landlords is good for the consumers. It'll keep them honest.

[Link to There is an app for that]

Taking old World War II photos, Russian photographer Sergey Larenkov carefully photoshopped them over more recent shots to make the past come alive. Not only do we get to experience places like Prague, Vienna, and Moscow in ways we could have never imagined, more importantly, we are able to appreciate our shared history in a whole new and unbelievably meaningful way.

[Source: My Modern Metropolis] Excellent juxtaposition of images of structures from the World War era and present day.