The largest school building program ever proposed in New York State outside of Buffalo and New York City wins in Albany, the state capital, after nearly four years of ups and downs.
Four years ago, the City School District of Albany began to evaluate all of its schools buildings. Those findings led to a sweeping plan that would renovate all but one building, including raising and rebuild a few, and construction a new middle school. The plan had stalled after strong opposition to locate a thrid middle school inside a residential neighborhood adjacent to an Interstate and in a wetland led the distirct to look for another site. Mayor Jennings offered the school district some land to build the school at a city park and the plan started to gain steam again. However, there was a strong opposition group developing that opposed to using less than 3 acres at a 20+ acre park to site the middle school building. A coalition of nearly 40 community groups, including neighborhood assocations, the NAACP, and historic preservtionsists, worked to support the plan and to pass the $175 million plan. The community, by a 2 to 1 margin, passed the plan, hailed by supporters as the most important piece of economic development in a city where the old schools are overcrowding were seen as pushing young families towards the suburbs.
Thanks to Sean M. Maguire
FULL STORY: $175M school bond gets a thumbs up
The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall
The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.
Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities
The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.
‘Micro-Apartment’ Trend Underscores Housing Crisis
SROs are making a comeback under a new name as the housing supply remains strained and costs soar.
Indian States Give Women Free Bus Passes
The programs are part of an initiative aimed at helping more women join the workforce and improving access to basic needs.
Study: How to Revitalize Downtown Minneapolis
A proposal calls for a reevaluation of the city’s skyways, a focus on street-facing businesses, and an improved public realm.
Milwaukee Residents Challenge Freeway Expansion
Residents are voicing opposition to a planned expansion of Interstate 94, arguing that the project would eliminate the limited green space in the neighborhood.
City of Yakima
City of Auburn
Baylands Development Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
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.