Four unincorporated communities in Atlanta have become new cities...and outsourced neary all government services to private corporations.
"When the affluent suburban community north of Atlanta won its independence in 2005...And rather than set up a city hall, the city chose to outsource the bulk of the administration to a private corporation...Since then, three more unincorporated enclaves in the county...have asserted their independence....Instead of establishing bureaucracies, the new cities have chosen to outsource nearly all government services to private corporations, making this the nation's most ambitious experiment in privatizing city administration..."
"All the new cities in the Atlanta area have hired CH2M-Hill Inc., a Denver-based company specializing in full-service engineering, consulting, construction and operations, to execute their particular visions of cityhood."
"Some fear that private companies could be too stringent in enforcing codes and ordinances to boost revenue for the city at the expense of enhancing an overall vision for the city. Others say that's the point: Code enforcement is the vision of city leaders."
FULL STORY: An experiment in government
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
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
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.