The newest Drew Carey video at Reason.tv—Mexicans and Machines: Why Its Time to Lay Off NAFTA—is (IMHO) brilliant, and triggered more than a couple of thoughts about how technology and progress creates practical challenges for planning.
Planning
Architects Say Planners Waste Their Time
According to a recent survey of architects in Ireland, 80% think that local planning decisions do not support good design and are essentially a waste of time.
The Irish Times
A Journalistic View of Cities
Thu, 06/26/2008 - 08:19
I was reading the New York Times Magazine special architecture issue a few weeks ago when something jumped out at me. On the intro page to the issue of the “Mega-Megalopolis” one of the by-line says “How does an architect plan for a city with no history? Or a city that just keeps growing?” Interesting questions particularly given the fact that to charge architects with the task of planning our cities is affording too much power to a profession that simply doesn’t have it.
Can Planning Happen More Quickly?
Members of the British Parliament attempt to speed up the process for planning major projects. But some advocates and observers fear the public's voice will be muted.
BBC
Watch for Desire Paths
Mon, 06/02/2008 - 16:19
My graduate school education left me with a lot of general ideas and a handful of specific ones. One that stuck with me is a concept from landscape architecture: the desire path. Technically, the term means a path where there isn't supposed to be one, a trail of wear and tear that wasn't planned.
Sealed Landfill Leaking 'Orange Goo' Into Residential Area
Oshawa, Ontario residents have noticed a suspicious substance leaking into their community. Development next to the former landfill almost didn't happen because city planners worried about this very possibility.
durhamregion.com
Students Bring Neighborhood's Plans to Life
Students in Ohio State University's City and Regional Planning department worked closely with the Franklinton neighborhood in Columbus to create a new vision for the community.
Columbus Alive
Best Buy Refuses to Conform to Design Standards
Waynesville, North Carolina Mayor Gavin Brown is forced to give up on pedestrian-friendly design to save potential jobs from Best Buy.
The Smoky Mountain News
New Life for Ebenezer Howard's 'Garden City'
A campaign is underway in Wales to revive the "Garden City" concept, first brought to life in 1898. This time, supporters are claiming the radial, suburban plan is a sustainable alternative to cities.
Western Mail, Wales
Beneath the Bright Lights, But Not Talking Energy
In a report back from the APA conference in Las Vegas, Daniel Lerch worries that planners are not concerned enough about planning for a constrained-energy future.
Post Carbon Cities Blog
End Powerpoint Abuse
Mon, 05/12/2008 - 07:04
We’ve all been subject to them – the endless powerpoint presentations that extol the worst aspects of animated text and mind-numbing bullet points. While Edward Tufte has written about the horrors of powerpoint, I see it as just a tool and like any tool it can be used wisely or poorly. After all, David Byrne, the former Talking Heads front man, makes art with powerpoint so it can’t be all bad. But one thing struck me at the American Planning Association’s (APA) conference two weeks ago: some sessions would have been much better if the powerpoint presentation (or abuse thereof) didn’t get in the way. In actuality, some of the best presentations I attended didn’t use powerpoint at all.
An Interview With The New Dean Of Harvard's Design School
Planning students today care as much about the social aspects of cities as they do of their physical design, says Mohsen Mostafavi, the new dean at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design.
The Boston Globe
New York Regional Plan Association Advocates 'America 2050' Plan
According to RPA Executive Director Robert Yaro, global competition requires that the United States focus on regions for future infrastructure investment.
The Planning Report
Green Buildings Need Green Cities
While cities are focused on promoting green 'buildings', planners and landscape architects need to advocate more green city planning.
BBC News
When Professionals Plan Their Own Neighborhood
In Somerville, Massachusetts, a group of community residents -- many of them professional architects and planners -- have organized themselves to help the city address problems in their neighborhood.
The Boston Globe
Salt Lake City Takes Steps To Fix Dysfunctional Planning Department
After a recent audit revealed that long-time problems that have plagued the city's planning division, local leaders are taking action to remedy the situation.
Deseret News
City Hires Developer To Lead Planning Department
Winnipeg, Manitoba has selected a local developer to fill the city's top planning job, with some left wondering what direction the city's growth will take under the new director.
Winnepeg Free Press
Questioning New York City's Sustinability Plan
With Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan defeated, can the city's vision for long-term sustainability be achieved?
The Gotham Gazette
Creating A New Vision For The Nation's Transportation System
With Americans driving less for the first time ever, its time to create a new comprehensive plan for transportation in the United States.
Detriot Free Press
A Holistic Approach To Planning For Traffic Impacts
Instead of requiring developers to complete traffic studies for individual projects, one Northern California city has commissioned a comprehensive traffic study, and asked developers to help foot the bill.
San Mateo County Times
