History / Preservation
11 of the Most Endangered Historic Places in the United States
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has announced the 2015 edition of its annual list of the most endangered historic locations in the United States.
The Early History of the 'Smart Cities' Movement—in 1974 Los Angeles
An article in Boom: A Journal of California extends the timeline of "smart cities" and "big data" efforts by a considerable amount—all the way back to the late 1960s.
Mapping the Age of Every Building in Los Angeles
Developed using open data from local government sources, built: LA is a mapping tool that displays the age of every building in the county. Much of the area's built environment is surprisingly old.
The Man Who Made Chicago Easy to Navigate
Edward Brennan waged an extended turn-of-the-century campaign to clean up Chicago's then-confusing address numbering system. Though few recognize his name, Brennan's legacy lives on in modern Chicago.
Paterson: A Postindustrial Portrait
Once a major industrial hub, Paterson, NJ has experienced urban decline since the end of World War II. But the city is rich with history and opportunities for revival. The article chronicles how the city can avail these opportunities through design.
Report: How Did Reagan More than Double the Gas Tax in 1982?
A new report by the Eno Center for Transportation looks at the landmark five cent gas tax increase of 1982, more than doubling the existing tax, and explores its relevance to today's federal transportation funding crisis.
'Big, Excellent News' for Dallas Preservationists
The Dallas City Council surprised everyone by reversing early indications of reticence and giving full support to the recommendations of the Historic Preservation Task Force.
Composing Cosmopolis
It’s wise to search widely across time and space for good examples of processes and products for intercultural city building.
USGS Map Archive Now Easily Accessible
The U.S. Geological Survey has introduced topoView, an intuitive map-based tool making it far simpler to search and access its archive of 178,000 topographical maps dating from 1880 to 2010.
Demolitions Increased After Vancouver's 'Heritage Action Plan' Took Effect
Vancouver, British Columbia's Heritage Action Plan went into effect in January of this year. According to an article in the Vancouver Courier, the policy has failed to achieve its intended goals.
How 3D Laser Scanning Helped Save Earthquake Damaged Buildings in Napa
The 3D scan provided a safe and quick solution for potential restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation by capturing thousands of points a second and creates a virtual photograph of the object that it scans.
Debate: YIMBY vs. Preservation in New York City
New York magazine recently convened a debate between two leading voices of an ongoing conversation in New York City: what to build and what to preserve.
Bay Area's Newest Commuter Rail Service on Display
The Northwestern Pacific RR served Marin and Sonoma counties and the North Coast in the 1890s. The route of the new SMART train, while not as long, will run in the same right-of-way, starting next year. One new train was on display in San Rafael.
The Real Story Behind the Death of Streetcars in the United States
Yes, there was a conspiracy led by General Motors to replace streetcars with their buses in the 1930s. But streetcars were dying well before then, due to competition with the automobile and other reasons apart from nefarious corporate collusions.
MoMA Exhibit Explores Latin American Architecture
A new exhibit at MoMA celebrates the "fitfully idealistic" architecture of Latin America, 1955 through 1980. Broad in scope, the exhibition ranges from Brasília's bold utopianism to the community-focused tactics of Bo Bardi.
Preservation Task Force Hits a Wall in Dallas City Council
Big questions remain about how Dallas will address preservation controversies in the future. Meanwhile the past hangs in the balance.
Los Angeles (Temporarily) Bans New McMansions
Concerns about out-of-character construction, much of it oversized, has led the Los Angeles City Council to prohibit construction of additional 'McMansions.' In some areas, all new development will be held up for two years.
Not All Preservationists Are NIMBYs
In the quest for density and infill, preservationists often stand beside those who want static cities. But both preservation and density can be ideologies, and thoughtful land use demands a nuanced middle ground.
Should a Parking Lot in D.C. Be Saved in the Name of Historic Preservation?
In the wealthy community of Spring Valley, just inside the western boundaries of the District of Columbia, residents are opposing a proposed development by claiming the site—a parking lot—is a historic landmark.
Luxury Condos Versus Philadelphia's Jewelers' Row
Downtown gentrification threatens to displace skilled artisans in a district where workshops go back five generations. Some of the jewelers own their premises, but the rewards for building pricey condos are tempting.
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
