For many locals, Williamsburg in Brooklyn was a weird neighborhood one passed by when getting into lower Manhattan. Now it is the center of gravity of creativity in New York City. Metropolis magazine takes a walkabout in the neighborhood.
"What I've learned in the two months since I've arrived" writes Karrie Jacobs in Metropolis magazine, "is that-for all the generalizations about this being a hipster's paradise (true), or the victim of a scorched-earth approach to development (also true) -- Williamsburg is a neighborhood that's uncannily attuned to the pleasure of its residents, or, at least, its more recent arrivals."
"The story of these failed condos, bought out and converted into rentals, was repeated again and again. As a result, most of the properties abandoned at the bottom of the recession are suddenly full of affluent and young... renters. I feel as if we moved not to another neighborhood, but to a completely different city... Today, Williamsburg has that mixture of alternative culture and tasteful indulgence that I associate mostly with San Francisco."
Thanks to GigaOM
FULL STORY: Welcome to Williamsburg

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?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
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