Whether you've realized it yet or not, soccer is a big deal in this gloabalizing world. And every four years it's a huge deal for one country: the host of the FIFA World Cup. All eyes are on the host country for the 32-team tournament, which is the most-watched sporting event in the world. And though showtime is just one month long, the host spends years vying, preparing and investing for the tournament. It has major potential to spur broad countrywide improvements and economic development. So when the U.S. made news recently by offering forth 70 stadia as possible host sites for either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup (along with a reputation booster from President Barack Obama), I had to filter out my national pride. Sure, the U.S. would make a good and clearly able host for the event, but it seems that the potential of the World Cup could be better directed towards a country that really needs large-scale civic improvement and investment.
Chicago
Burnham Memorial Planned, But Designs Are Secret
A memorial to famed planner Daniel Burnham will be built on the lakefront in Chicago, and three finalists were recently chosen to design it. The designs haven't been made public yet, to the frustration of some locals.
Chicago Tribune
Unofficial International Olympic Committee Tours Chicago's 2016 Venues
The Chicago Tribune formed its own panel of international judges -- made up of tourists -- to tour and evaluate the city's proposed venues for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Chicago Tribune
Chicago's Spire May Get Union Funding
The site of the Chicago Spire, now an undeveloped eyesore, may soon see progress, as its developer and AFL-CIO negotiate for funding.
Chicago Tribune
Unbuilt Skyscrapers Mean Sky-High Unemployment
No work has been done on the Chicago Spire, the city's latest planned skyscraper, since the credit market froze up in January. A brief look at the blow to the building industry, in which joblessness is at a rate of 21.4%.
Reuters UK
De-isolating the Pedestrian Mall
Car-free for more than 15 years, Chicago opened its dying pedestrian mall on State Street to vehicular traffic in 1996, with huge success. Should Boston planners and officials consider a similar strategy for its Downtown Crossing?
The Boston Globe
'No Small Plans'? Burnham Never Said It
That's just one of the interesting tidbits in this celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Plan of Chicago and Daniel Burnham in The New Yorker.
The New Yorker
Designing a Memorial Befitting Burnham
The author of this article expresses their concern for a potential Daniel Burnham memorial that does little to represent his ideas--or good planning.
Chicago Tribune
America's Most Congested Cities
Forbes has released its list of the most congested cities in America. Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas and Washington D.C. top the list.
Forbes
Midwest Expecting High Speed Rail Windfall From Stimulus
The Midwest has high hopes on capturing a big chunk of the federal stimulus money directed towards high speed rail projects.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Achieving Burnham's Green Vision for Chicago
Recognizing that urban greenery is crucial city dwellers' health and well-being, experts in Chicago spent the 100th anniversary of Daniel Burnham's "Plan of Chicago" by discussing ways to attain its vision.
Medill Reports
Grassroots Tour Organizers Knock Down "Environmental Racism"
An organization in Chicago's Little Village gives tours to educate its Mexican-American residents on how they can improve their notoriously polluted community. Grassroots efforts like this are being lauded by environmental justice groups.
Chicago Tribune
From Utility to Amenity: Greening the Alleys of Los Angeles
Green alley projects are popping up in cities all over the U.S. and Canada in an effort to make the concrete jungle a little better at absorbing rainwater. A new alley program in Los Angeles goes beyond the runoff to actively integrate these unique spaces into the urban fold.
A Year For City Ideas in Chicago
Chicago's 100-year anniversary of the Daniel Burnham city plan offers an opportunity to rethink how the city works and how it should look for the next 100, according to this piece from Blair Kamin.
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Misses Deadline for $153 Million Transit Grant
The city of Chicago has missed a deadline to approve a pending parking fee ordinance that would have helped the city qualify for $153 million in federal grant money.
Crain's Chicago Business
Agreement to Increase Freight Train Traffic Roils Suburbs
A new agreement has been made that would divert more freight train traffic through Chicago area suburbs. Local communities upset about the increased traffic are expected to challenge the decision.
Chicago Tribune
Corrupt Officials in Chicago Allowed to Trump Zoning and Planning
In a continuing investigation, the Chicago Tribune reports on the bribes and corruption that have resulted from the Chicago policy of allowing local aldermen final say -- over local zoning and planning -- on what gets built.
Chicago Tribune
Congregation Hits Wall in Bid to Raze Historic Chicago Church
The high costs of preservation and the current economic downturn have pushed the Chicago archdiocese to request a demolition permit for a historic church. But preservationists are pushing back.
Chicago Tribune
Protests Arise as Historic Chicago Park Eyed as Olympic Site
As part of its bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, the city of Chicago has proposed a slight change to the layout of its Olympic stadia. The only problem is that the newly proposed site for the aquatics center is listed on the National Register.
Chicago Tribune
The Planetizen News Brief - 12/11/08
4:15 minutes (3.95 MB)
A weekly rundown of some of the most interesting and important news and issues, airing every week on the nationally-syndicated radio program "Smart City". Read, download or listen to this week's News Brief, which looks at Chicago's privatization of its parking meters and how cities across the country are struggling to stretch federal stabilization funds.
Planetizen picks
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- Boomburb Growth Must Go Up, Not Out, To Retain Viability
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- The Robots Behind Interactive Architecture
- Michigan Urged to Keep Film Incentive Program
- Change the Built Environment, Make the World Better
- Broad Plan to Reshape San Francisco's Skyline
- The Totalitarianism of Le Corbusier
"Hoboken Daylighting" In Lieu Of Bump-Outs -- Ian Sacs
Learning from TTI -- Michael Lewyn
Automobility and Freedom: Conflicts and Resolutions -- Todd Litman
Somewhere Between Blight and Gentrification... -- Diana DeRubertis
The Future of American High Speed Rail: Regional and Slow -- Robert Goodspeed
Student Writing Competition - Deadline Extended!
APA Urban Design and Preservation Division
Nov 20, 2009
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) Request for Proposals
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH)
Nov 19, 2009
NEW NCI 2009 Best Practices Report
National Charrette Institute
Nov 19, 2009
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