New York City's Ground Zero has sat as an empty hole for years. Though infrastructure work is underway, politics are holding the rebuilding back, according to this interview with New Yorker architecture critic Paul Goldberger.
The Port Authority reluctant to spend money on rebuilding Ground Zero, preferring to focus its funding on bridge and tunnel projects. The developers of the site don't have enough money to push the project forward on their own.
"The dispute has spread into the political realm, with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg asking more flexibility from the Port Authority and the editorial board of The New York Times advocating against such a move.
Goldberger says the dispute spilled over into the naming of his own book. He originally wanted to call it Architecture, Politics and the Rebuilding of New York, but his editors made him flip the order of the words 'politics' and 'architecture' because it's mostly a tale of politics.
'Sadly,' Goldberger said, 'nine years later, that's still the case.'"
FULL STORY: Politics, Not Buildings, Fill World Trade Center Void

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won
A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide
Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code
The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont