Urban Planning « World Landscape Architecture – landscape architecture webzine

Legislature takes aim at urban sprawl and global warming – Los Angeles Times

Will Californians drive less to reduce global warming? Maybe not on our own — but state officials are ready to nudge us.

Read more @ the SOURCE: LA TIMES – Legislature takes aim at urban sprawl and global warming – Los Angeles Times.

San Jose leaders try to reverse urban sprawl

Strip malls and low-rise office parks dominate the landscape of northern San Jose, but a long-term redevelopment plan could make over large swaths of the area along decidedly more urban lines.

Over the next three decades, the city wants to add more than 30,000 new homes and 80,000 jobs within walking distance of a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light-rail line on North First Street.

Read more @ the SOURCE: SFgate.com – San Jose leaders try to reverse urban sprawl.

A megalopolis in making on India’s southwest coast – Sindh Today

Propelled largely by funds sent home by people working abroad, mostly in the Gulf countries, Kerala’s coastal belt is undergoing rapid urbanisation of a kind not witnessed elsewhere.

Kerala has five cities, 53 towns and about 1,000 village panchayats. The division into urban and rural areas is arbitrary. Many urban areas retain their rural character and many villages boast of urban amenities. Continuous habitation from one end to the other gives the state the character of a rural-urban continuum.

Read more @ the SOURCE: Sindh Today – A megalopolis in making on India’s southwest coast (Letter from Kerala)

‘Superblocks add to green space’ – The Jakarta Post

Public parks within superblocks run by private developers can alleviate the lack of green public space and help urban revitalization, an expert said Friday.

“The city administration needs to revitalize the city but doesn’t have the cash. So permitting private superblocks is a part of urban revitalization,” University of Indonesia economist Faisal Basri said at the launch of Podomoro City, a superblock in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta.

SOURCE: The Jakarta Post – ‘Superblocks add to green space’.

Shanghai closes in on green roof target – China Daily

Shanghai is well on the way to turning most of its rooftops green.

The Shanghai landscaping administration bureau said Monday that so far more than 95,000 sq m of rooftops have been covered in grass and shrubs, very close to the annual target of 100,000 sq m. The city will spend 5 million yuan ($710,000) this year on the campaign.

SOURCE: China Daily – Shanghai closes in on green roof target.