Residents in Passaic County, New Jersey, have assumed the power of urban re-design, as community charrettes from early 2006 have resulted in county grants of $164,000 to revitalize numerous main streets in the county.
"A group of residents and shop owners recently put their dreams on paper: trees shading sidewalks, wide and textured sidewalks, landscaped plazas with resting benches, flower pots, fountains and outdoor cafes."
"That's just a taste of what local folks envisioned, according to a study conducted by a Rutgers University urban planning professor hired by Passaic County planning officials. The county received a $164,000 grant from the state to help revitalize main streets in communities such as Pompton Lakes and Bloomingdale."
Many in the community are welcoming the participation and effort of the public, but city officials are hesitant to begin celebrations. Even though the funding has come through, the revitalizations could be years away. However, the process has shown promise for planning officials that the public can play an interested role in community development.
FULL STORY: A town creates a 'vision' for future
The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall
The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.
Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities
The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
New York Congestion Pricing Approved by MTA Board
The program took another step forward as the board approved a proposed pricing scheme, but lawsuits still stand in the way of full implementation.
Video: Making Transit Better
How trackless trams and other innovations can make U.S. transit more efficient.
LA-to-San Francisco Night Train Closer to Reality
A train operator has entered into formal negotiations with Union Pacific to move the project forward with a projected launch date of 2025.
City of Yakima
City of Auburn
Baylands Development Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
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.