A Dallas suburb considers whether to change its sign regulations to allow a massive cuckoo clock in a public space. European cities often have them, but American cities rarely do.
"For years, Karl Kuby says, his customers have been entertained by the cuckoo clocks in his German restaurant and market.
He and his son would like to provide the same kind of amusement to shoppers throughout Snider Plaza by installing a clock on top of his building at the southern end of the shopping center.
University Park's sign regulations prohibit such displays, but the idea could be kept alive if the city changes its sign law.
As early as next month, a city committee will study whether to allow exceptions for special signs. The ordinance bans signs such as clocks that move, rotate, flash, reflect or blink, so unless the change is made, the Kubys won't be able to install the 10-foot-tall, 6 ½ -foot-wide cuckoo clock.
'We feel that it would be an asset to Snider Plaza and an asset to University Park and to Dallas,' Mr. Kuby said, noting that such outdoor clocks are common in European towns but almost unheard of in Texas."
Read the full story: Is it time for a cuckoo clock in Snider Plaza?
Planning Juno
Many viewers may not fully appreciate movies as a visual story-telling medium, but that fact came home to me dramatically the other night while watching “Juno,” the off beat, smart and funny film that just snagged a best screenplay Oscar. The deliberate use of architecture and public spaces, in particular, was quite effective although you probably won’t find these references in plot summaries or synopses.
Planning for Love, Part 1: The link between urban form and dating
A brief exploration of dating through history highlights how the spaces in which we live and move shape our social lives and relationships.
Federal Government Will no Longer Recognize Architects as ‘Professionals’
The change could dramatically impact how many people can afford to enter graduate professional degree programs.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Malls are becoming the midtowns of the future
Mall and office park redevelopments are a generational opportunity to create new nodes of urbanity.
NYC breaks ground on anti-flooding infrastructure project
New York City's new system will reduce stormwater flows to local sewers by 90%.
One Kentucky town’s secret to affordable housing
The Smoketown Community Land Trust has already built seven affordable homes for community members.
Houston gains petal-shaped cooling infrastructure to make streets more ‘delightful’
The city has installed the pavilions along 15 blocks in Houston.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority