Oracle Park, the Blue Shield of California Theater, Ford GoBike—branding abounds in San Francisco.
Urban design critic John King considers the plethora of not-so-subtle branding that has swept through San Francisco. He describes the naming of Salesforce Park and Salesforce Transit Center as brazen:
The brazen part is how Salesforce drove a deal with the Transbay Joint Powers Authority to place its name front and center — rather than, say, "The Transbay Transit Center, presented by Salesforce." Astro, one of the software giant’s cartoon-like mascots, even adorns the rugged boulders that direct you to the park.
Branding opportunities give cities revenue streams they need, says King. But he points out that nonprofits are also cashing in. "This is what’s insidious. Brandopolis respects no boundaries, even if familiar landmarks are cheapened as a result."
He also notes that the commercialization of cities is not anything new and change is constant. "Heck, I’ve been around long enough to remember when the Giants welcomed us to brand-new PacBell Park. Which begat SBC Park. Which begat AT&T Park and, as of this season, Oracle Park."
FULL STORY: Goodbye, San Francisco. Hello, Brandopolis
SF Transbay Transit Center Cracks Isolated to Beams, Say Experts
As the investigation continues, cracks found in girders supporting the building do not appear to be due to a design issue.
Cracked Beams Repaired, S.F.'s Transbay Transit Center Ready to Reopen
Buses and people will soon return to the Transbay Transit Center, which operated for just over a month at the end of 2018 before structural flaws forced the closure of the facility for inspections and repairs.
S.F.'s Transbay Transit Center Won't Reopen Until June at the Earliest
The Transbay Transit Center, opened for a brief stint in the latter half of 2018 before structural flaws were discovered, won't be open to the public again anytime soon.
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.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
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