"There is just too much to learn," from open streets events, says Philadelphia Inquirer Architecture Critic Inga Saffron.
According to a column by Inga Saffron (and professional planners might be happy to hear this), "urban planners are starting to pile up the wins. They've introduced amenities that encourage the slow-movers - things like sidewalk cafes, parklets, bike lanes, and riverfront trails. It's no accident that the emphasis on people-friendly attractions has coincided with the greatest urban revival since American cities crashed in the 1960s."
That remarkable summation of the current zeitgeist in American planning comes courtesy of Saffron's take on the open streets movement's latest in-roads in Philadelphia. In fact, Saffron sees open streets as a way for Philadelphia to make even more substantive contributions in the advancement of people-first planning.
Saffron's column counters the predictable outcry from the "car-first lobby," which has already commenced with berating the idea of car-free days in Philadelphia's Central City, following the accidental model provided by Pope Francis's recent visit to the city. To counter the apocalyptic future imagined by such naysayers, Saffron provides a more sober explanation of the current proposals for open streets events in Philadelphia as well as some of the benefits such an event could bring to the city. One potential benefit would follow the example of Atlanta in gaining new understanding about the city's traffic needs.
FULL STORY: Changing Skyline: Why Open Streets is not the apocalypse
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
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.