During a severe drought, one commentator looks at Western town development.
Irrigated bluegrass blankets many western cities. Why is this tradition so rooted? "..Instead of adapting themselves to the landscape, the Colorado immigrants of 1860-1900 worked very diligently to adapt the landscape to themselves."They didn't look at such plants as grew around here and find uses for yucca and prickly pear. Instead, they cleared fields and dug ditches and sowed the plants they were familiar with...The New Mexico colonists who got here a little earlier had their own visions of how towns should look. The plaza with the church, not the railroad depot, was the focal point. Rather than build frame houses that needed extensive heating systems, they used thick adobe walls fabricated from local mud. Rather than install yards with lawns for greenery, they built sheltered courtyards so that the harsh sun and wind wouldn't desiccate their plants."
Thanks to Adam Krom
FULL STORY: How did lawns get here?
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
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
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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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.
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