It's been six months since Amazon rescinded its plans to build a second headquarters in New York City. The neighborhood planned for the facility could still see a huge benefit from an ambitious development, according to this opinion.

Carlo Scisurra, president and CEO of the New York Building Congress, pens an opinion piece for Crain's New York Business that calls for a new comprehensive plan for Long Island City, six months after Amazon cancelled its plans to build a second headquarters in the New York neighborhood.
The key now is to create a comprehensive plan for the area to ensure the site that Amazon targeted is used intelligently to better Long Island City, the borough and the entire region. To develop this blueprint, all stakeholders must come together—the private owners, city and state officials, and, of course, the local residents. It is essential that the community is involved throughout the entirety of the planning process to ensure that whatever is built benefits the people and businesses that call the neighborhood home.
According to Scisurra, most New Yorkers supported the Amazon plans, reflecting a desire for development in Long Island City. Now the city has to capitalize on the opportunity presented by the site, and "return to a spirit of aspirational planning":
Just imagine: LIC could be the home of what would be New York’s only dedicated soccer stadium, creating a new, vibrant cultural landmark in Queens. It could include other venues and amenities as well, such as a new museum, a much-needed second convention center (to complement Manhattan’s Javits) or a modern park or public space.
Scisurra offers other ideas for how the former Amazon site could be developed, and why it can and should be.
FULL STORY: Plan B for LIC

In Most U.S. Cities, Archaic Laws Limit Roommate Living
Critics argue laws preventing unrelated adults from living in the same home fail to understand the modern American household.

Ten Signs of a Resurgent Downtown
In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe continues his exploration of a holistic and practical approach to post-pandemic urban center recovery, anchored in local context and community-driven initiatives that promote livability, safety, and sustainability.

Off-Peak is the New On-Peak
Public transit systems in major U.S. cities are starting to focus on non-rush hour travelers as pre-pandemic commuting patterns shift and transportation needs change.

Tacoma Coalition Calls for ‘Tenants’ Bill of Rights’
The group wants to put more power in the hands of tenants, but the city has its own, competing proposal for addressing the housing crisis.

New Power Transmission Line Approved in the Southwest
The proposed transmission line will transfer wind-produced power from New Mexico to cities in Arizona and California.

The Limitations of ‘Reconnecting Communities’
The Biden administration has pledged to correct the damage imposed on communities by highways and infrastructure, but many projects are only committing to minor improvements, not transformative changes.
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
Code Studio
TAG Associates, Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Knox County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
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.