Tourists can get a close-up look at the transformation of a formerly depressed part of East London into what will be the site of one of the world's largest spectacles when it hosts the 2012 Olympics.
Tour companies are bringing visitors up close to the site of the Olympics in London, where massive amounts of construction and urban development are underway.
"The majority of the games will take place in the massive 500-acre Olympic Park, which is currently a flurry of fenced-in construction in progress on the site of the extensive Rail Lands in East London. Small portions of the site are accessible to the public, and if guided tours are your thing, Blue Badge - that is, professional and registered - tour guides with organizations like Guided Tours of 2012 Sites and Go East London offer two-hour long walk-throughs and bus tours, crammed with details about what's gone into readying the area to host the thousands of expected daily visitors.
A recent walking tour with Tim Martin, a registered guide, was filled with a dizzying list of facts and tidbits about what the plot of land was like before it became a cluster of cement trucks and cranes."
FULL STORY: Seeing the London Olympics, Still in Progress
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.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie