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Preservationists make wish list
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania) May 16
The Blairsville Armory in Indiana County, a 1909 building on the National Register of Historic Places, is the Young Preservationists Association's leading cause on this year's Top 10 best ... more

Residents seek to keep say in growth
The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina) May 16
DURHAM -- Some of Durham's many neighborhood activists are worried that speeding up the development review process means cutting them out of it. Outrage has radiated from neighborhood e-mail lists ... more

Initiative to protect mobile home parks qualifies for ballot
Ventura County Star (California) May 16
Supporters of a proposed initiative to add to mobile home park protections in Thousand Oaks have gathered more than 10,000 petition signatures - more than enough to place it on the November ballot, ... more

Douglas County planners see need for wind turbine rules
Duluth News-Tribune (Minnesota) May 16
May 16--As the hunt for cleaner, domestic sources of energy continues, some Wisconsin counties have adopted wind farm ordinances, but Douglas County isn't one of them. ... more

Historic building renovated for housing
Brattleboro Reformer (Vermont) May 16
GUILFORD -- A restoration project through the Windham Housing Trust and the Friends of Algiers Village Inc. is breathing new life into a historic building. The Tontine building, which sits opposite ... more

Postal facility closing a blow to E. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania) May 16
When the U.S. Postal Service opened its Remote Encoding Center in East Pittsburgh in 1995, it was considered a high-tech facility. Now it's being upstaged by more advanced technology, forcing the ... more

Plans for strip club trouble
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania) May 16
Neighborhood leaders are concerned about the likely reopening of a strip club at the site of the shuttered Bare Elegance, but seem resigned to the fact that they can't stop it, in spite of the ... more

City's museum debate lands in plan panel's lap
Chicago Tribune May 16
After months of public-relations jockeying, both sides of the high-profile divide over the Chicago Children's Museum's plan to relocate to Grant Park packed City Hall Thursday to sway leaders who ... more

Pace chief promises better ride for disabled
Chicago Tribune May 16
Stung by criticism from disabled-rights activists, Pace officials on Thursday sought to convince the Regional Transportation Authority that they have overcome problems that snarled Chicago's ... more

Contractor might have a tough go of trying to legalize concrete dump site
The Beaufort Gazette (South Carolina) May 15
May 15--Contractor Joe Pizzo went before a Beaufort County administrative body Tuesday and said he wants to rectify any issues with his concrete recycling operation on St. Helena Island. His options ... more

Couple pick up city's historic trolley tour
The Wichita Eagle (Kansas) May 16
May 16--Charter business must be handled privately, feds say Homer and Julie Price have had plenty of luck over the past six months. Unfortunately, a lot of it has been bad. The couple started River ... more

Garage sale that started big fight gets day in court
Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) May 16
May 16--As Minnetonka worked on revising its suddenly controversial garage sale ordinance Thursday night, the fight that started the controversy got its day in court that afternoon. Last fall police ... more

High-tech home for disabled has age-old barrier
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Pennsylvania) May 16
May 16--A family that hoped to be the first residents in a McKeesport neighborhood of high-tech houses for the elderly and disabled has run into an obstacle. The three-bedroom ranch on Penny Avenue ... more

Restaurant owner ticketed for opening illegally
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin) May 16
May 16--OCONOMOWOC -- Citations have been filed by the city against Tony Pipito, owner of the Club Porticello on Silver Lake, after the bar and now the restaurant opened for business without ... more

City Lights residential-retail project is a go, again
The Dallas Morning News (Texas) May 16
May 16--More than four years have passed since developers announced plans for the ambitious City Lights project -- a combination of shops, homes and commercial space just east of downtown Dallas. ... more

Northeast Ohio leaders say local governments should stop competing
Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio) May 16
May 16--INDEPENDENCE -- Northeast Ohio mayors voted Thursday to pursue joint land use planning and sharing of new tax revenue in a 16-county region, arguing that local communities must change their ... more

Opinion: 'Overdevelopment is an understatement'
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution May 16
Duluth blogger Bill Allen wrote last week about the traffic issues that downtown Duluth faces and how they must be resolved if retail is to survive. Here are a few of the comments online readers ... more

Hollywood comeback continues
Los Angeles Times May 16
Denser, taller and less-pricey neighborhoods are ahead for Hollywood under a revitalization plan approved Thursday by the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. Agency commissioners voted ... more

I-10 design plan presented
The Advocate May 15
LAFAYETTE - A plan for future development along Interstate 10 calls for a balance of commercial and residential areas, buffers to shield neighborhoods from traffic, and better road connections in a ... more

Have your say about the future of Cedar Park public transportation
Austin American-Statesman (Texas) May 15
Got something to say about Cedar Park's public transportation, or lack thereof? Well, consider yourself invited to an open mic night to talk about it. The city is offering an online survey as well ... more

Land-use taxation program 're-validated' unanimously
The Clover Herald (South Carolina) May 15
May 15--Albemarle County supervisors unanimously decided Wednesday to take a step they say would "re-validate" a program that allows rural area landowners to defer a hefty portion of their ... more

River Bend launches data-rich Web site
Belleville News-Democrat (Illinois) May 15
May 15--GODFREY -- The economic development organization serving smaller communities in Madison County has introduced a new online mapping tool to help bring business and interest to the metro-east ... more

Nevada developer revives huge Sahuarita-area plan
The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) May 15
May 15--For the second time in as many years, a Nevada-based developer is moving toward creation of a 15,000-home project west of Sahuarita. American Nevada Co. recently submitted to the town a ... more

Waiver granted for tribal complex
Bangor Daily News (Maine) May 15
The planning board granted the Penobscot Indian Nation a waiver Wednesday night allowing it to proceed with drafting preliminary plans for an 80-unit complex the tribe hopes to build on Mayo Road. ... more

Lawmakers agree on ocean zoning plan
The Boston Globe May 15
Massachusetts legislative leaders have agreed on a bill that would allow wind farms and other renewable energy projects in state waters, putting the measure on track to become law in the next few ... more

CTA gives itself poor report card
Chicago Tribune May 15
In releasing the first of what will be regular report cards on its own performance, the Chicago Transit Authority Wednesday gave itself mediocre but improving grades on key measures important to ... more

Tide of opposition to park
Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) May 15
More than 80 people piled into Town Hall on Wednesday to speak against proposals for the long-contested Milani Park. Palm Beach County bought the 5.39 acres of beachfront property in 1987 with hopes ... more

Revised zoning map still a work in progress
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania) May 15
Buffer zones, parking and whether a neighbor's vacant lot could become a commercial site are some of the concerns that have been raised as Richland officials continue to hone a revised zoning ... more

Museum hearing likely to be intense
Chicago Tribune May 15
Critics and backers predicted the plan to put the Chicago Children's Museum in Grant Park would be endorsed Thursday by the city's Plan Commission -- but only after a lengthy, contentious hearing ... more

Carport disputes flare up
Times-Picayune (New Orleans) May 15
Recent squabbles between Westwego City Council members and city residents about illegally constructed carports have spotlighted some inconsistencies in the city's enforcement of its zoning code that ... more

Opinion: Transit next step for Lauderdale evolution
Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) May 15
All great downtowns have convenient, fun and efficient transit systems. In looking at Fort Lauderdale's evolution toward a more vibrant and modern downtown, the next big step is clearly transit. ... more

Historic preservationist says demolition may not be most sustainable option
Daily Journal of Commerce (Portland, Oregon) May 14
Donovan Rypkema doesn't want to save every building. As a historic preservationist, he knows there are limits. "I'm not one to say nothing should ever be torn down," said Rypkema. "Every time we ... more

Museum plan still a bald land-grab
Chicago Tribune May 15
So maybe the Chicago Children's Museum won't be the Chicago Children's Mausoleum -- a dark, dank kiddie dungeon. But in finally solving the problem of how to draw natural light into a mostly ... more

RTD has gap between riders, revenue
Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) May 15
RTD buses and trains are attracting new riders in record numbers as fuel costs and congestion drive more commuters to abandon their cars. In fact, ridership is up so much that the agency is having ... more

Pineville residents protest recycler
The Charlotte Observer (North Carolina) May 14
May 14--PINEVILLE -- A public hearing Tuesday night to allow a concrete recycling business to move to Pineville drew concern from residents and business owners about noise, dust and increased truck ... more

River Bend Growth Association launches new online mapping tool
Belleville News-Democrat (Illinois) May 14
May 14--GODFREY -- The economic development organization serving smaller communities in Madison County has introduced a new online mapping tool to help bring business and interest to the metro-east. ... more

A pizza slice of new urbanism life
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (Georgia) May 15
May 15-- For decades, urban planning has been a separatist movement. All your different land uses -- office, retail, residential, manufacturing -- you had to keep 'em separated. The result is what ... more

Attracting new businesses means having infrastructure
The Star (Shelby, North Carolina) May 15
May 15--SHELBY --For Kristin Fletcher, vice president of economic development at the Cleveland County Chamber, there are many components to attracting businesses, but a site without proper ... more

Parish takes new tactic on Fat City
Times-Picayune (New Orleans) May 15
For the past three decades, designers and dreamers have taken aim at revamping Fat City, a ramshackle confluence of gaudy signs, neon-lit bars, loud nightclubs and renowned eateries spread below a ... more

From a sketch pad, a new home blooms
Los Angeles Times May 15
Janna LEVENSTEIN tells first-time visitors that they can't miss her L.A. home. It's the only modern one on the street: a bright, sleek, indoor-outdoor living space, a tree-cloistered mini-greenbelt ... more

Duluth planning Commission delays vote on allowing chickens
Duluth News-Tribune (Minnesota) May 14
May 14--Duluth planning commissioners balked at allowing chickens to step foot in the city, at least for now. But it wasn't the eight commissioners who chickened out Tuesday night, opting instead to ... more

Patience key for bus commuters
Daily Oklahoman May 14
May 14--As I waited for the Edmond Express bus to arrive at N University Drive and E Ayers in Edmond on Tuesday morning it became apparent that for bus commuters patience is not a virtue. It is a ... more

Residents seek vote on light rail
The Columbian (Washington) May 14
May 14--Worries that light rail is coming to Clark County regardless of public opposition prompted a group of local residents Tuesday to request an advisory vote. "It's important for citizens to be ... more

Toledo City Council to debate convenience store zoning
The Blade (Toledo, Ohio) May 14
May 14--Toledo City Council is poised to once again tackle the proliferation of convenience stores in the city -- this time with a proposal to reinstate spacing requirements to the zoning code. ... more

Lawmaker proposes using slots money for water projects
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania) May 14
HARRISBURG -- The 2004 law that legalized slot machines in Pennsylvania created a new Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund. Fueled by a 5 percent tax on gambling revenue, the fund is to be ... more

Bid to kill housing rules fails
Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) May 14
Two years of sliding home values failed to persuade Palm Beach County commissioners on Tuesday to do away with affordable housing requirements for new development. Developers pushed for the ... more

Planners: Raise impact fees in steps
The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina) May 14
RALEIGH -- The city's Planning Commission softened its stance on raising impact fees Tuesday, recommending that Raleigh increase the fees gradually over four years. That approach is likely to face ... more

Mark Twain forest plan stirs up critics
Columbia Daily Tribune (Missouri) May 13
May 13--A 30-day public comment period is coming to a close for a Mark Twain National Forest proposal that includes plans for clear-cutting mature oak trees in the Cedar Creek area of south Boone ... more

Opinion: Living with $4 gas
The Baltimore Sun May 14
Marylanders appreciate the environment, worry about global warming and love their cars. But gasoline prices approaching $4 a gallon are prompting thousands of commuters to park their first love and ... more

Shopping center would rise on ex-refinery site
The Baltimore Sun May 14
Pushing gentrification of Canton's industrial waterfront farther east, developer Edwin F. Hale is planning a "Main Street"-style shopping center on a former oil refinery site that would likely be ... more

City urged to support new bridge with light rail to college
The Columbian (Washington) May 13
May 13--Build a new Interstate 5 bridge, bring light rail across the Columbia River and end the line along the freeway's east side near Clark College. Vancouver transportation officials made that ... more

Megasite incentives on tap despite cuts
Chattanooga Times and Free Press (Tennessee) May 13
May 13--NASHVILLE -- Tennessee Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz said Monday that Gov. Phil Bredesen intends to merge $100 million from reserves with savings from several other areas as a ... more

Condo plan for historic site decried
Buffalo News (New York) May 13
May 13--LEWISTON -- Angry neighbors filled Village Hall on Monday night to discuss plans for the historic Frontier House at a Planning Board meeting, and they went as far as suggesting they buy the ... more

Proposed commercial building standards criticized by developers
The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Virginia) May 13
May 13--Developers once again have stalled a two-year effort to improve the appearance of development on 18 county roads and highways. At a Spotsylvania Planning Commission public hearing May 7, ... more

Anthropology hits home - and homeless - for students
The San Francisco Chronicle (California) May 14
For many San Franciscans, it's a scary place that you rush through to get somewhere else - or avoid altogether. But to 20 anthropology students at San Francisco State University, the forlorn U.N. ... more

Proposed measure would strip mayor of transit authority
The San Francisco Chronicle (California) May 14
The mayor of San Francisco would be stripped of control over the city's transit system under a proposed ballot measure that would hand more control to the Board of Supervisors. ... more

Building moratorium fails
Times-Picayune (New Orleans) May 14
A proposed moratorium on commercial development in Folsom was taken off the table this week after it failed to gain the support of aldermen. Since the 1980s, the village's population has inched ... more

Bright lights, big payday for MTA
Los Angeles Times May 14
Local buses, trains and even some train stations have been slathered in advertising in recent years to raise money for cash-strapped transit agencies. On Tuesday, commercial messages on mass transit ... more

A $60 fill-up? Time to start taking the bus
Buffalo News (New York) May 13
The tipping point arrived Saturday night at a gas station on Main Street in Clarence, as the numbers on the pump trickled past $60. Sixty bucks. That's double what I spent to fill the tank three ... more

Neighbors split on mixed-use project
Chapel Hill Herald (Durham, NC) May 13
... more

Board backs charrette proposal
Hartford Courant (Connecticut) May 13
- The concept of a charrette got a boost from the board of selectmen Monday. The board unanimously voted to hold a special meeting to develop a request for proposals from companies to conduct a ... more

Architects argue for a different site for a new arena
The Baltimore Sun May 13
Did Baltimore make a mistake by opening what is now called the 1st Mariner Arena on a prime downtown parcel 46 years ago? That's the conclusion of a group of local architects who recommend Baltimore ... more

Public transit grows popular
The Baltimore Sun May 13
As gasoline prices climb toward $4 a gallon, more commuters in Maryland are leaving their cars and trucks at home and hopping a bus or train to work. The Maryland Transit Administration will seek ... more

$12 million approved for transit studies
Los Angeles Times May 13
In Anaheim, planners are mulling a monorail to move passengers from the city's train station to its resort district. In Santa Ana, the idea is a bit more old school -- trolleys. ... more

Three cities look to land key train stop
Detroit Free Press (Michigan) May 12
May 12--When a long-planned commuter rail line eventually begins taking hundreds of passengers daily between Ann Arbor and Detroit, Joyce Parker wants Inkster to be in the mix. As Inkster's city ... more

Chicago roads may undergo bumpy transition to bus-only lanes
Chicago Tribune (Illinois) May 12
May 12--While CTA buses bunching up bumper-to-bumper in heavy traffic are among the top complaints about public transportation, a big piece of Chicago's proposed solution--bus-only lanes--faces a ... more

Zoning rebel now wants to be enforcer
The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York) May 12
Roger Scott's defiance of the zoning code in Skaneateles was so egregious 17 years ago that the town ripped down his then-half-million-dollar lakeside home. These days, the village of Elbridge is ... more

Ditch that car, hop a train
CNNMoney.com May 12
The soaring price of gas has convinced New Jersey resident Eric Scott to trade the comfort of his car for a seat on the train every morning after 17 years of driving to the office. "It's a huge ... more

RTA chief raps state legislators
Chicago Tribune May 13
The chairman of the Regional Transportation Authority lashed out at state politicians Monday for failing to work aggressively toward completing a capital spending plan for mass transit and repairing ... more

Civic group says no to Grant Park idea
Chicago Tribune May 13
The Metropolitan Planning Council announced Monday that it could not support the proposed move of the Chicago Children's Museum to Grant Park, citing unanswered questions and a lack of "thoughtful" ... more

Japan faces backlog of unsold homes
The International Herald Tribune May 13
When a regulatory hurdle hit the Japanese housing sector last year, Tokyo assumed any delays would be short-lived. But almost a year later, a growing backlog of unsold homes threatens to dent ... more

Chapel Hill project elicits lots of concern
News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina) May 13
May 13--CHAPEL HILL -- Residents told the Town Council on Monday night that they are concerned about traffic, building height and inefficient pedestrian and bicycling connectivity in the plans for ... more

University-area proposal's rejection will discourage 'green' building, developer says
Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico) May 12
Developer Sheffield Partners is sending a warning to the city. Deny its proposal to build a "green" condo project at 2000 Gold SE near the historic Silver Hill neighborhood and send a message to all ... more

Can the Foothills handle three more developments?
The Idaho Statesman (Boise) May 12
May 12--More than 5,000 new homes. With 13,192 people. Driving 10,655 cars. Making 56,321 trips per day. That's what three proposed Foothills developments would add to the roads north of Hill Road ... more

Highland Beach continues to fight against public beach
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale) May 12
May 12--Not in our backyard. That's the sentiment Highland Beach residents have expressed for years when it came to proposals for a public beach park within the town limits. ... more

Commissioner looking into alternatives to bus system
Journal-World (Lawrence, Kansas) May 12
May 12--It is classic Lawrence water cooler talk, frequent fodder for morning coffee clubs or big fish in the sea of anonymity known as message boards. Surely you've heard it: "I bet you could run ... more

Lawrence swaps vacant lots for much-needed cash
The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Massachusetts) May 12
May 12--LAWRENCE -- A series of overgrown vacant lots will soon be transformed into new homes, stylish townhouses, parking lots and bigger yards. Better yet, no longer will these lots, among 200 ... more

Completing U.S. Census survey helps community
Cumberland Times-News (Maryland) May 12
May 12--CUMBERLAND -- It's not something everyone wants to get in the mail, but the American Community Survey helps your community -- and it's required by law. Shelly Lowe, a spokesperson for the ... more

Higher crop prices have farmers leaving conservation effort
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin) May 12
Intensified farming this season to capitalize on high corn and soybean prices could be a boon for Wisconsin farmers but also could have a harmful effect on wildlife habitat, water quality and soil ... more

Public housing might be halved
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) May 12
... more

Billboard issue at impasse for now
Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee) May 12
For the time being, it is still illegal to install a new billboard - traditional, digital or otherwise - within the city of Knoxville. After more than a year of research and discussion over whether ... more

Rail cars on fast track to sea
The Baltimore Sun May 12
OCEAN CITY -- Just weeks ago, New York City commuters were packed in 46 stainless steel subway cars like sardines. This week, the rail cars will begin housing real fish as part of a project to ... more

MARTA board plans job cuts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution May 12
MARTA officials project a budget deficit of about $43 million for the coming year, and they plan to make job cuts to help cope, according to board chairman Michael Walls. ... more

Davie laws tackle housing
Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) May 9
As a mobile home resident, Scott Cristle expects to get an eviction notice. Maybe not tomorrow, but some day. Cristle watched as the Town Council approved a measure to help residents when their ... more

Fayette officials to join windmill dispute
Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pennsylvania) May 9
May 9--Fayette County commissioners will intervene in a civil lawsuit over proposed windmills in Georges and Springhill townships, but not necessarily because they favor or oppose the project. ... more

Trying to unclog S.F.'s Market Street
The San Francisco Chronicle (California) May 9
More than a decade ago, then-Mayor Willie Brown declared in his state of the city address that private cars should be banned on Market Street to make it a more inviting roadway for buses, bikes and ... more

Santa Monica Mountains expansion to be considered
Los Angeles Times May 9
The federal government on Thursday took the first step toward a massive expansion of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area as President Bush signed legislation ordering the Interior ... more

Citizens' committee re-examines study areas
Chico Enterprise-Record (California) May 9
OROVILLE -- The Citizens' Advisory Committee held final discussions on their recommended land use alternatives for Butte County's 2030 General Plan Thursday evening, with public input being somewhat ... more

Land use talks slim on input
Oroville Mercury Register (California) May 9
OROVILLE The Citizens' Advisory Committee held final discussions on their recommended land use alternatives for Butte County's 2030 General Plan Thursday evening, with public input being somewhat ... more

Work begins on industrial park
Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City) May 9
WEST VALLEY CITY -- Some developers would have considered putting off launching a $300 million industrial park -- slated to be the largest of its kind in the region -- because of the downturn in ... more

Residents rip plan for park
Chicago Tribune May 9
Opponents of a plan to build a senior center in a park on Chicago's North Side said they are worried about losing open green space, but they also see the threat as the latest proposed development ... more

Community leaders working on program to revitalize west side
The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois) May 9
May 9--BLOOMINGTON -- A fire-damaged home on Mulberry Street remains a skeleton as neighbors pass by its boarded-up entrances nearly four months after the fire. -- | While the property could remain ... more

Ball Homes ordered to halt plans until permits in hand
Lexington Herald-Leader (Kentucky) May 9
May 9--The Planning Commission on Thursday told Ball Homes, which has a history of building on federally protected wetlands, work can't proceed on portions of a residential development in southeast ... more

Opinion: Get moving on Florida mass transit
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) May 9
Mass transit should be a top priority right now for Florida and its major cities. Gas prices are soaring. Road congestion threatens the environment and growth. Cash-strapped governments are looking ... more

Rental of Wright house spurs neighbors' questions
Buffalo News (New York) May 8
About 50 Parkside neighborhood residents showed up Wednesday in the Mitchell Building on the Nichols School campus to learn more about plans to open up the Walter V. Davidson House at 57 Tillinghast ... more

Public housing 'subdivision' feted
The Advocate May 8
The new housing development adjacent to the Howell Park Golf Course looks like a typical subdivision. Each of the 25 single-family homes, sitting on well-tended yards, has a unique color scheme, ... more

City hearing scrutinizes live-in treatment centers
The Baltimore Sun May 8
Members of a Baltimore City Council committee grilled officials in Mayor Sheila Dixon's administration at a hearing last night over a bill that would permit more live-in drug treatment centers to ... more

Long Island to challenge census data
Newsday (New York) May 8
With the loss of millions of federal dollars at stake, Nassau and Suffolk county officials said yesterday they plan to join forces to challenge U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for 2007 they ... more

Transit systems travel 'green' track
USA TODAY May 8
NEW YORK -- This year, the surging current of the East River will help provide power to a nearby subway station. The lights that lace the ornate interior of Manhattan's Grand Central Station have ... more

Business trash has downtown boxed in
Los Angeles Times May 8
Fourteen tons. That's roughly how much illegal litter is cleared each day off the streets of downtown Los Angeles' industrial and warehouse districts. Fourteen tons, every day, seven days a week. ... more