To share construction and maintenance costs and reduce school crowding, many planners are working with school administrators to create mixed-use community schools.
Schools co-located with a public library, museum, or other civic institution can stay open past 3 p.m. and be used for other purposes, though wings that don't serve a dual function can be closed to the public. For example, Medina High School in Medina, Ohio, shares space with city-funded leisure facilities, which are also used by a local hospital's physical therapy branch. When not occupied by students, the school's 1,200-seat auditorium is booked by the local performing arts foundation. Multiple uses for the same roads, parking, and other infrastructure can also reduce sprawl and ease traffic concerns, experts say. (Thanks to KnowledgePlex for the article summary.)
Thanks to KnowledgePlex Week in Review
FULL STORY: The ABCs of Mixed Use Schools: Schools, Communities Learn Meaning of 'Co-location'
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.
