An advocacy group is republishing the 1974 regional plan for sustainability, and finding that it's just as relevant now as it was then.
Almost 35 years ago, two MIT professors conducted a study on the city of San Diego, eventually releasing an analysis and long-range plan titled "Temporary Paradise?" Today, the group Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 plans to re-release it with additional essays from academics and planners—including Bruce Applewood, the son of one of the original authors.
Recently, Applewood spoke to Bisnow about how the plan is "as relevant today as it was when it came out."
While most planning exercises are either driven by highly local interests or disciplinary silos (such as our regional transportation plans), this document is unique in that it provides a comprehensive regional vision showing how everything is connected through an environmental quality and urban design lens.
According to Roger Showley of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the new edition was originally supposed to come out during the 2016 presidential elections, but the current administration's "priorities on border security, immigration and other issues make the document’s viewpoint even more timely."
FULL STORY: How A 1970s Plan For San Diego Sustainability Still Has Relevance
San Diego Regional Transportation Plan Shifts Away From Big Projects to Focus on Improving Existing Infrastructure
SANDAG’s 2025 Regional Plan scales down plans for new rail lines in favor of expanding rapid bus service.
Book Review: Combining Sustainability and Smart Growth
A review of The Sustainable Urban Design Handbook, by architects Nico Larco and Kaarin Knudson.
Designing Cooler Cities: Lessons from Ancient Civilizations
Ancient Rome had ways to counter the urban heat island effect. As climate change raises global temperatures, can urban planners and designers apply any of those lessons to cities today?
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association