Can Minnesota's massive Mall of America, now a dinosaur, be saved from the 'Wal-Marting' of America?
"Big malls need the browsers to survive, and so developers are experimenting with a new design format called 'lifestyle centers' -- generally with open-air pathways, even apartment complexes, which are somehow supposed to create the long-lost pedestrian experience of 'downtown,' itself a mythical concept to many suburban 18-year-olds.Malls are said to have turned downtowns into ghost towns, but now malls are resurrecting the spirit of "downtown" to survive the Wal-Marting of America. When the new downtowns arrive, with or without seven vintages of cheddar cheese, it will be worth at least a one-way segment drive to have a look."
Thanks to Laura Kranz
FULL STORY: Shop Till You Drop
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
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San Diego Votes to Rein in “Towering” ADUs
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Texas Legislature’s Surprising Pro-Housing Swing
Smaller homes on smaller lots, office to apartment conversions, and 40% less say for NIMBYs, vote state lawmakers.
Even Edmonton Wants Single Staircase Buildings
Canada's second most affordable major city joins those angling to nix the requirement for two staircases in multi-family buildings.
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.
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