UP|The Urban Planet

Bike registration every two years in Oregon?

JCT — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:31:44 +0000

Bicycles don't cause the wear and tear to infrastructure that cars and trucks do (in the 20 years that I have been commuting, my bike has never created a pothole), so there is no need for an extra tax on them. The small amount of gas tax that we pay in the US goes toward road maintenance projects, but that tax certainly doesn't completely pay for the road system that we all use. We pay for roads and bridges through income and property tax as well. So even if you ignore the fact that most commuting cyclists also own a car, it can still be argued that they pay more than their fair share of the roads they use.

How long is your morning commute?

JCT — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:14:57 +0000

My commute is about 6 miles. Perfect distance for a morning bike ride.

NASA finds 'significant' water on moon

Charlotteman — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:41:29 +0000

Did the astronauts of the "moon landings" in the 1960s and 70s hunt for water? (I'm still not convinced man walked on the moon.)

Video from the top of the Burj Dubai

Lemodular — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:42:19 +0000

Now that's high

Facade restoration of storefronts

krazeeboi — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:39:29 +0000

An example from Columbia, SC

Before:

After:

Mass transit construction time-lapse comparison

Neo — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:03:05 +0000

Here is a time-lapse video of the construction (including future construction plans) of mass transit lines in various cities. What is interesting is how far ahead Atlanta was at one time and how far behind it is today:

How long is your morning commute?

Neo — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:21:53 +0000

This is a questionnaire regarding your method of transportation during your morning commute, the distance and how long it ultimately takes you to get to your destination.

Word Association

zman9810 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:54:18 +0000

backstreet

Video from the top of the Burj Dubai

Neo — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:43:08 +0000

This video is amazing. It was shot from the top of the spire that sits at the top of the Burj Dubai, currently the tallest building in the world. The view is breathtaking and it makes me squirm just watching it on my laptop...I can't imagine being up there in person!

Northstar Commuter Rail (Minneapolis Area)

Neo — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:13:58 +0000

I believe I watched a Dirty Jobs episode where Mike Rowe did a segment for this train.

The Eisenhower Interstate System

Neo — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:07:31 +0000

Here is another awesome representation of the interstate system that I found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/senexprime/4055072020/

[attachment=6051:4055072020_79514c2b2d_o.jpg]

Word Association

andrew69@ltu — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:14:55 +0000

Main Street (USA)

Northstar Commuter Rail (Minneapolis Area)

Minneapolitan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:43:20 +0000

Commuter rail service between Big Lake and Minneapolis began today. Each coach car has seating for 140 seats, but holds a maximum 330 riders. The goal is to have a daily ridership of 3,400 in the first year. NorthstarLink (St. Cloud Metro Bus), which are commuter coach buses, also started service between St. Cloud and the Big Lake Station. This is the first daily transit option between St. Cloud and Minneapolis. Eventually the Northstar commuter line will reach St. Cloud.

Word Association

Gard — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:08:09 +0000

Disney

Campton and Salyersville, Ky.

seicer — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:42:31 +0000

Campton, Kentucky

Campton, Kentucky is the county seat of Wolfe County, and is located in eastern Kentucky at the junction of Kentucky State Route 15 and the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway.

According to local lore, the town was originally named Camp Town after Nim Willis, the first settler, stumbled upon the remains of an old mining camp that he believed was made by legendary Jonathan Swift -- a famous silver miner. The community blossomed along Swift Camp Creek and became known later as Campton.

In 1860, the community was selected as the county seat of Wolfe County. A courthouse constructed from logs was built around 1860 and served until 1884, when it was destroyed by fire. A second courthouse was completed in 1885 but was also consumed by fire in 1913. A third two-story Beaux Arts-styled courthouse, constructed of orange-glazed brick, was completed in 1917. It features a bas-relief of a wolf, paying homage to the county name.

During the Civil War, General George Morgan's Union army passed through Campton on September 23, 1862 en route to the Ohio River from Cumberland Gap. General John Hunt Morgan's Confederate troops passed through in 1864. Because of Campton's central location along an important strategic route, a Home Guard unit occupied Campton during part of the war.

The town was incorporated in 1870. The Mountain Central Railway, a narrow-gauge railroad constructed for several timbering industries, was constructed from the Lexington & Eastern Railway's junction at Campton Junction to Campton, where it terminated.

The line was abandoned in 1928 when the area was stripped of its lumber.

Oil was drilled near Campton in 1903, and just two years later, 58 wells were operating in the region. While the production of oil waned by the 1920s, it was restarted in the 1950s before the field was exhausted by the 1960s.

Campton was also home to the Kentucky Wesleyan College of Winchester, who opened a branch in the community. Constructed by county judge Taylor Center, who also constructed a kiln on the school site to make bricks, Kentucky Wesleyan withdrew its support in 1912. The school continued on by charging tuition until 1934 before becoming the Wolfe County Grade School and High School.

In 1963, the Mountain Parkway was completed to Campton.

Wolfe County Courthouse, completed in 1917.

Bonus!

Campton High School
Campton High School, located in Campton, Kentucky, was opened in 1942. It was the first publically funded high school in Wolfe County, constructed during the Great Depression with funding from the Federal Works Project Adminsitration (WPA).

--

Salyersville, Kentucky
Regarded as the birthplace of the Licking River, Salyersville, Kentucky is the county seat of Magoffin County.

The first attempted settlement was in 1794 by Archibald Prater, John Williams, Ebenezer Hanna, Clayton Cook and several others along the banks of the Licking River, although they were driven out by Indian raids. They returned in 1800 and settled Licking Station on a hill in a horseshoe bend of the river, which was a natural defense against the Indians.

Salyersville was originally named Adamsville after one of the town founders, Bill Adams. Adams owned a hotel, gristmill, tannery and blacksmith shop in the community. In 1860, Magoffin County was formed from parts of Floyd, Johnson and Morgan Counties, and was named for Governor Beriah Magoffin who was governor from 1859-62.(1) On February 22, Adamsville became known as Salyersville for the legislator, Samuel Salyer, who sponsored the creation of Magoffin County.

In 1871, Billy Adams donated land in Salyersville to construct a courthouse. The first courthouse in the county was completed in 1890. It would last until 1957, when the courthouse was consumed in a fire. It was replaced by concrete and steel structure that resembled a supermarket in 1960.

In 1963, the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway was completed from Interstate 63 to Salyersville.

The courthouse was replaced in spring 2006 with a new Justice Center.

New Justice Center, completed in 2006

New Courthouse

Salyersville National Bank, originally constructed in 1902, was enlarged ten years later. It is the county's oldest building.

This is an overlay on a much older facade.

Meh. Enjoy!

Word Association

tombarnes — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:22:23 +0000

thrills

Word Association

Neo — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:13:18 +0000

cheap

Word Association

Charlotte_native — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:31:39 +0000

talk

NASA finds 'significant' water on moon

Neo — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:38:08 +0000

cityboi, on 13 November 2009 - 05:12 PM, said:

its reading like they found liquid water

http://www.cnn.com/2...nasa/index.html

"The satellite, known as Lcross, slammed into it, which kicked up at least 24 gallons of water."

I watched the announcement for this and I'm not sure 'significant' is a word they should have used. They said it is equivalent to what's found in the Atacama Desert in South America which is the dryest place on Earth. Obviously it is better than no water at all, but significant it is not IMO.

NCAA Football

richyb83 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:20:25 +0000

The SEC is no doubt once against the Strongest Conference with the Best Teams....BUT it also has WORST Officials....suspensions; reprimands of coaches; horrendous calls & no-calls...PATHETIC! The SEC's agenda is nearly complete....LATEST excuse?? No HD for the Replay Booth!! Are you kidding me?? What a JOKE! Not sure which call was worse?? Fla/Ark personal foul or the INT call on LSU late in the 4th qtr?? It did not lose the game; but it gauranteed the outcome! There have been plenty more too...not to mention last time LSU played Bama in Tuscaloosa 07' LSU had 14 penalties...Bama...2 So what took place last Sat was not a big suprise!

Is their truly an agenda that favors Florida & Alabama to remain undefeated to guarantee a spot in the National Championship Team?? It's hard to argue...as long as the Offices are in Birmingham anything is possible...the playing field is not even

Credit they both have good teams...but something just smells fishy..too much BIG-TIME $$$ involved now days...

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/polls?pCat=46&sCat=810

Under The Microscope Wonder why??
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/?eref=sinav

No HD??
http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/from_scrimmage/posts/85761-sec-other-conferences-dont-have-hd-in-replay-booths?eref=fromSI

NASA finds 'significant' water on moon

cityboi — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:12:10 +0000

its reading like they found liquid water

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/11/13/water.moon.nasa/index.html

"The satellite, known as Lcross, slammed into it, which kicked up at least 24 gallons of water."

Word Association

Gard — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:45:46 +0000

Trash

Obama on transportation

mallguy — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:53:01 +0000

tombarnes, on 12 November 2009 - 09:54 AM, said:

has said the right things, but what are the facts regarding Amtrak and its future funding? We need a viable plan for rapid rail and the willlingness to make it more than just a plan.

The NARP website (narprail.org) has detailed information about Amtrak funding for next year- going DOWN, despite the talk of "hope and change" from Obama.

Word Association

tombarnes — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:57:22 +0000

rubbish

Abandoned structures photographs

tombarnes — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:21:59 +0000

Stunning photographs as always Sherman! I'm relieved to see that Sweet Springs is being restored.

Why we need architecture

krazeeboi — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:50:04 +0000

I'd be interested in hearing about how world events coincided with the advent of brutalism, that's for sure.

Most dangerous metros for pedestrians...

krazeeboi — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:48:39 +0000

I expected Sunbelt cities to top the list, but I surely didn't expect all of Florida's major metros to be the absolute worst in terms of pedestrian safety!

Abandoned structures photographs

seicer — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:16:43 +0000

It's been a while since I paid a visit to Hayswood Hospital in Maysville, Kentucky. I headed down to the historic community of 4,000 a week ago to recapture many elements of the hospital, and to focus on the details that I overlooked previously. Along for the exploration was a friend from Cincinnati.

Resting atop Market Street, Hayswood overlooks the historic city, and it's a wonder why it hasn't been demolished or renovated into apartments since its closure way back in 1983. The first segment of the current complex was constructed in 1915, but was expanded in 1925 and 1971 to include a total of 87 patient beds. It was landlocked and geographically-challenged, and was relocated to the top of the hill.

One of the only intact patient rooms. In fact, there wasn't much left to see after many years of abandonment. What hasn't rusted through has, for the most part, fallen to the floor and buried by mounds of ceiling tile mush and debris.

Children's Ward

A surgery room. This would make for an awesome band profile photograph.

What's more intriguing was the footsteps we heard slithering away on the floors covered in debris. While you realistically cannot walk about the hospital without making some sound due to the amount of debris in the way, it brought forth both caution and amusement.

Could it be The Cursed Wrestler, who wanders about town protecting the living from the spirits of Hayswood? Or could it be the ghost of Hayswood, whose spirit supposedly still haunts this place?

Yeah, I'll bet it was The Cursed Wrestler.

Check out the Maysville, Kentucky Blog entry, Spooky Footage of Hayswood Hospital for more laughs. The comments are just as golden.

You can find more of my photographs from Hayswood Hospital at my article --
http://www.abandonedonline.net/index.php?catid=386

Obama on transportation

tombarnes — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:54:10 +0000

It will take new thinking. If I'm to judge by recent conversations at my club, transportation ideas are firmly entrenched and must be drastically altered. I'm thought of as something of a nutcase there when I mention that we might think of alternatives to the internal combustion engine. Obama has said the right things, but what are the facts regarding Amtrak and its future funding? We need a viable plan for rapid rail and the willlingness to make it more than just a plan.

Why we need architecture

Neo — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:59:04 +0000

On Point (heard on NPR) had an interesting discussion yesterday about why we need architecture and how architecture integrates with the world around us, not only physically but with world events that occur in the time period things are designed.

You can listen to the podcast (~45 minutes) here: http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/11/why-we-need-architecture

Obama on transportation

Neo — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:46:26 +0000

I can only hope that that is Obama's agenda. If something drastic doesn't change with the current administration, I'm not sure America will have another chance to turn things around anytime soon.

From the Past: Cities of the Future

marcoc — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:36:21 +0000

Hi, i am an italian architect. I think is necessary about the future of the city create e new way to product the material of the city: tiles, paint or asphalt. Something like this: http://www.active-ceramic.com/
A new way to think, a way a new production method geared towards materials whose active principle helps to improve the quality of the environment.The cities need new materials that make an active contribution to creating a better atmosphere and a cleaner environment.

Obama on transportation

ronsmytheiii — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:23:08 +0000

Watching the daily show I realized that Obama might have unexpectedly shifted social consensus to mass transit. Under cash for clunkers, many vehicles were taken off the road and rendered inoperable. The future consequence is a small pool of used cars driving up costs, inother words making buying a car (or having daddy buy it) for teenagers much more difficult. This should lift up the usage of mass transit, which should have a social effect in the future.

Word Association

Charlotte_native — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:39:20 +0000

premise

Word Association

Neo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:36:11 +0000

theory

The Open Road London (1927)

Neo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:12:59 +0000

Here's a video of the streets of London and various landmarks from the 1920's. It is remarkable to watch, even more remarkable is that it is in color and very smooth. Something not seen very often from this time period.

Most dangerous metros for pedestrians...

Neo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:40:00 +0000

Transportation for America just released rankings of metro areas over one million based on pedestrian safety. The worst rankings belonged to cities in the south. Southern cities are obviously known for low density development so this should come as no surprise. Perhaps we should look up to cities like Minneapolis even more when designing our own cities to be more pedestrian friendly.

[attachment=5928: Most Dangerous Large Metro Areas for Pedestrians_1257954548144.gif]

What is the future of transportation?

Neo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:45:46 +0000

I agree that maglev technology is in the cross-hairs for future transportation, but it is unfortunately just getting of the ground even though it has been around for some time. There are currently some studies being done for maglev projects like between the Chattanooga and Atlanta airports, but I don't have a great deal of faith for actual construction beginning any time soon for any of these projects. Maglev projects in the US can be found here: http://www.usmaglevcoalition.com/projects.php

You are most correct in the future of transportation being directly attributed to political willingness to pump money and faith into mass transit in America. Without it we'll always be stuck with the inefficient automobile network we currently invest most of our dollars into.

Christmas

cloudship — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:39:30 +0000

I travel a lot. One of the interesting things when traveling to smaller cities during the holiday times is you get to see the way they celebrate the holidays. I find smaller cities, where there is a big sense of tight community often show the best holiday spirit.

For instance, I visited San Antonio just after the holidays. That city goes all out decorating for the holidays. The warm weather and tight nit but green city core really made for a great backdrop. Portland Maine also had a nice holiday feel to it. Though small, they make up for the lack of a big budget by spending as much time outside socializing even in the cold of December.

To keep up my airline status this year I have to make one or two flights this December, and I am looking for a city that has a great sense of holiday spirit. It doesn't have to be big, doesn't have to be cold OR warm, or religious. I want to find the place with the best sense of spirit. Where should I go this year?

What is the future of transportation?

cloudship — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:33:16 +0000

Light rail and Metro (subway) rail are not extremely different. Steel Wheel on Steel Rail has many advantages, and one of those is that it is cheap, tried and tested. It is about as conservative as you can get and still be mass transit.

Busses of course will always remain popular. Cheap upfront, most people still have difficulty thinking far enough ahead to see the ultimate savings trains provide.

Monorails prove an interesting anomally. They have the benefit of a guided transit way with the conventionality and cheapness of the rubber tired bus. Yet ironically they are seen as too futuristic and gimicky to be taken seriously. But as Asia and the Middle East start building more and more monorail systems, at some point they are going to become commonplace, and at that point we may suddenly see a surge of interest.

An interesting new technology is MagLev. Still relatively new, if promises hold true such savings in costs will end up making them highly desirable. But if they don't see those savings, they may become just another passing fad.

The real change in transportation will come, though, not in the technology but in the politics. Mass Transit systems are held to much higher standards than cars and busses. And they often are seen as a public subsidy and not a public convenience. But as more and more transit systems in other countries prove the US standards to be out of touch, and that public transit is more than just for the poor, those standards will change, and more systems will be built.

What is the future of transportation?

Neo — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:33:52 +0000

I see light rail as being what many medium sized cities are investing in in an attempt to future proof their cities...likewise larger cities (particularly fast growing Asian cities) are still investing in subway technologies that have been around for over a century. Have we made much gain in transit methods for our cities? Are existing technologies so well designed that they are the most efficient method available?

What is the future of transportation for our fast growing cities? What technologies are being developed and what types of transit should we stay away from if we really want to future proof the world in which we live?

NCAA Football

Spartan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:41:27 +0000

The national championship game this season will be Texas vs the winner of the SEC championship. I can't fathom any other outcome at this point. The only possible upsets that could change it are SC over Florida or Auburn over Alabama, though neither is likely, IMO.

Transit systems under construction

varider — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:58:37 +0000

Norfolk, VaLRT

Update of Norfolk Light Rail Transit.

Resized to 93% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge

Resized to 93% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge

Resized to 93% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge

Best Urban Planning Master's Programs

phase123 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:19:48 +0000

good discussion.

I wonder is there anyone like me who's spent all years in architecture field and now wants to get into the business academic field? I wonder what's the chance getting a MS in urban planning and economics at the same time? I've 5yrs architecture work experience but NO previous planning experience. will that be a no go for my application?

Bio-architecture...is this really the future?

marcoc — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:59:29 +0000

The future? product tha provide a way to recover part of the environmental impact generated by our system of life, by reducing the effects produced daily by pollution and smog and respecting the ecosystem. Materials like this http://www.active-ceramic.com/ or this http://eu.toto.com/site/TOTO/Templates/Hydrotect.aspx?pageid=131&cc=GBl

Bio-architecture...is this really the future?

cloudship — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:38:28 +0000

I think the term "bio-architecture", or as used in the US at least "Green Architecture", is a bit vague right now. For some it means traditional buildings with new technologies, for others it means new technologies and modern designs, and for yet others it means a total rethink about our buildings.

On one hand, I think we are going to see more technology being applied to our buildings in attempt to make them more efficient. While people may think green, energy efficiency speaks the language of money, and as builders realize this they are going to start including those technologies in simply to make their buildings more marketable. The risk is that too many untried technologies become popular, and as they age they become cost prohibitive to maintain, thus in the long term giving some green technologies a bad name.

From a design standpoint, many people are equating green design with a total rethink of architecture. We may be moving beyond typical 20th century modernism and into a new era of building - something which not only brings a new look to our buildings, but radically rethinks what the building is. I think there will eventually become a movement where the building and it's surroundings blend. The notions of urban versus rural will change, so that urban does not equate to a built environment, and rural no longer means isolation.

Bio-architecture...is this really the future?

Neo — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:52:24 +0000

I would say that all of the above are the future of architecture and growth in cities. While it may not be the near future, I'm certain that it will be the future long-term and cities that build with the plan of being sustainable will pull ahead of those cities who continue to keep current and yesterday's standards as part of their growth plan.

How is your city dealing with the recession?

Sam Trevino — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:14:27 +0000

Neo, on 01 July 2009 - 03:39 PM, said:

Most cities are hurting right now for the loss of tax revenue from closed businesses and a downturn in consumer spending. To balance the budget, most cities have taken steps to reduce their budget. One example for my own city is the elimination of being able to pay your utility bill with a credit card. This saves over $200k just in credit card processing fees alone, and while I'm not happy about being charged a couple of bucks to use my credit card to pay the bill, I understand the need for it.

What are some of the things your city is doing to ride through the downturn?

The City of Austin has not done anything that I could determine. Texas was not hit as hard as the rest of the country. However, it does seem that it would be prudent to cut costs and save money during a recession. I think I'll investigate further to determine if Austin actually did anything in response to the recession, but my preliminary research has not shown any direct governmental reactions. I'll see if I can get any responses directly from city officials and follow-up here within a few days (or when I get replies).

Some factors in comparison to the rest of the U.S. as per Texas A&M Real Estate Center economist Jim Gaines:

Official start of recession was December 2007. Texas did not join the recession until the begining of this year (2009). We have had about 4 months of continuous job loss (as of July 2009). Texas job growth for 2009 was estimated around -2% compared with U.S. job growth at -4% to -6%. Commercial real estate is hurting. The Austin Business Journal recently reported about a 21% vacancy in commercial real estate. Residential real estate markets are tightening in Texas due to the credit (mortgage) market. Austin has been doing well despite this factor when compared to the rest of the U.S.

The Austin Chamber of Commerce: "Forbes named the Austin metro as the best poised for recovery in its list of the 10 U.S. cities poised for a rebound..."

The Dallas Fed indicated, "Dallas has small shares in noncyclical industries such as health, leisure and government. Austin has large shares in such cyclically sensitive industries as construction, wholesale trade and information." It indicated that Dallas and Austin would be hurt the most in 2009. This coincides with Jim Gaines comment on home builders being out of business.

Sources:

http://www.austincha.../InTheNews.html

http://www.dallasfed...09/swe0901b.cfm

http://www.austinhom...fo/AHSLive.aspx "Economic Outlook for Central Texas Real Estate"

Bio-architecture...is this really the future?

marcoc — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:11:55 +0000

Hi, i am an italian student of architect. In italy since many times on the specialistic magazine, on Tv and on internet the people and the opinion leader speak about Sustainable Architecture and Building Biology. But...is thi really the futture of architecture? And what really is the new frontier of Sustainable Architecture Architecture?
Saving energy?
Using renewable energy sources?
Using sustainable and recyclable materials?
Thanks

Abandoned structures photographs

Maddie2008 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:24:27 +0000

These image tags are fickle for me. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.

Here's an abandoned shed.

And its abandoned house

An abandoned house, which has had a roof collapse since last fall.

That house at left and the shed at right

And an old fence on the property.

This house is right at the edge of town. At this point the road turns to gravel.