History / Preservation

Friday Eye Candy: Tour Downtown L.A. Before Urban Renewal
The New Yorker has produced a video comparing the streets of Downtown Los Angeles on either side of a 70-year span of history.

A Case Study of Rural Gentrification
Concepts like erasure, greenfield development, and easements figure into this story about a rural community on the fringes of suburban development in Maryland's Montgomery County.
Alleys as a Community Asset
Often overlooked, alleys can be transformed into valuable community spaces

Supreme Court to Decide on Interpretations of Historic Preservation
A brief by the Cato Institute describes historic preservation laws as arbitrary and ambiguous. A case before the Supreme Court could decide on either side of the issue.

Philadelphia Discovers the Difficulties of Restoring a Wood-Paved Street
A failed 2012 restoration of South Camac, meant to last five years, only made it until 2015. Now it will have to wait until 2017 to see the historic street paved in wood again.

The Biggest Stories from Five Years of Independence Days
Here's what the Planetizen audience was reading on the July 4ths of yesteryear.

Debate: Why Did Trams Die in the 20th Century?
A Toronto professor pushes against Christian Wolmar's assertion that the tram's demise can be connected to anti-worker policy. For one thing, trams never went away in some cities.

What 6,000 Years of Population Data Looks Like
We can now watch 6,000 years of urban settlements and movements unfold on our computer screens.
Manhattan Developers Go 0-2 in Recent Preservation Battles
Local advocates have won a string of political victories against developers in New York City.

1,100 Waldorf Astoria Hotel Rooms to Make Way for Condos
A Chinese company has sent a dramatic signal about the evolution of New York, moving forward with a plan to convert most of the rooms in the famous Waldorf Astoria into condominiums.

Building a Thriving Economy in Downtown L.A.’s Historic Fashion District
As Downtown L.A. sees an impressive renaissance, learn how the Fashion District in L.A. spurred growth through piloting the first-ever "Business Improvement District" program.

University of Washington Prevails in Preservation Battle Over its 'Nuclear Reactor Building'
It's a story of Goliath beating David in a preservationist fight in Seattle, but not before raising questions about how a university fits intot he city's regulatory environment.

Vote: $2 Million for National Parks Preservation Funding
The 2016 Partners in Preservation contest is open until July 5. Now is your chance to #VoteYourPark.

What Separates Georgetown From the Rest of D.C.?
Georgetown's grid of small blocks is starkly different from the L'Enfant-designed city that surrounds it.
Losses Compounding for Preservationists in New York
The Architect's Newspaper reports on the potentially outsized implications of a recent decision by the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Welcome to a Changed Climate: It Even Floods When it's Sunny
A new report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration documents the increasing frequency of nuisance floods and "clear-sky flooding."

When Urbanism Was a Weapon in the Cold War
The founding of Ciudad Techo in 1961 just outside of Bogota, Colombia played a key role in a strategy by the United States to beat back communist intrusions into Latin America during the height of the Cold War.

Anchorage Reconsiders Iconic 4th Avenue Theatre Development Proposal
Request for tax breaks to redevelop deteriorated property in downtown Anchorage are recommended for denial by Chief Financial Officer Robert Harris.

Watch the Documentary 'Cleveland: Confronting Decline in an American City'
In May, the documentary film "Cleveland: Confronting Decline in an American City" was made available in full on YouTube.

Inside the Mysteries of St. Paul's Wheelock Parkway
An exploration, historical and geographic, of St. Paul's Wheelock Parkway reveals the twists and turns of transportation infrastructure.
Pagination
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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Planning for Universal Design
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Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
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