David Morley, AICP, asks if growth is a necessary prerequisite for long-term community health and prosperity, and whether it might be possible to rethink "the dominant planning paradigm in the United States."
In his post, Morley examines to the profession's long tradition of growth-oriented planning, and its increasing failures: "The fundamental problem with the classic, growth-oriented planning paradigm is that it simply doesn't work for the hundreds, if not thousands, of cities in the U.S. who've suffered decades of depopulation and disinvestment due to sprawl, deindustrialization, or Sun Belt migration."
Morley bases his discussion of the failures of the growth-oriented planning model for post-industrial shrinking cities and inner-ring suburbs, and potential solutions, on a new PAS report titled Cities in Transition (PAS 568), written by Joseph Schilling and Alan Mallach, FAICP.
For cities and suburbs such as Detroit, Buffalo, Euclid, Ohio, and Orange, New Jersey, in which a growth-oriented planning and development strategy are not viable, "The key theme of Cities in Transition is that planners working in these cities need to embrace a new paradigm based on sustainability instead of growth. As Schilling and Mallach explain: 'This is not planning for shrinkage but planning that recognizes shrinkage as the reality and a starting point for thinking about the future.'"
According to Morley, "As discussed at length in Sustaining Places (PAS 567) this new planning paradigm must embrace a livable built environment, harmony with nature, intergenerational equity, community health, authentic engagement, and economic resilience."
FULL STORY: Is Growth a Prerequisite for Long-Term Community Health and Prosperity?
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.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
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.
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.
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
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.