Paul Keogh, the new president of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, says that a politically-driven planning system ran unabated during the Irish boom, emphasizing development at all costs.
Frank MacDonald interviewed Keogh, a friend of his. In the interview, Keogh stated that he "agrees that architects were under huge pressure during the boom and that much of what happened was 'unsustainable'. But he blames a lot of this on a planning system that was largely 'politically-driven and, at worst, corrupt', with councillors over-zoning land and local authorities allowing over-development in order to get revenue from levies.
'Development at any cost was too often the norm,' Keogh says. 'There was little strategic planning, developers speculated to maximise profits, and a light-touch regulation regime prevailed. The overall results of poor planning, bad design and minimal consumer protection are evident throughout the country, with many people in negative equity, some in floodplains.'
Keogh is working on an 11-point action plan to promote the idea of design-led planning and sustainability in architecture.
FULL STORY: Good design must be central to economic recovery
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.
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.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
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.
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Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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