The tour's creator wants to give visitors a different take on the city, pointing out the quirky gems amid its notoriously beautiful buildings.

As Christopher Borrelli reports, a new architectural tour in Chicago highlights its least impressive buildings––and gives tourists and locals a fresh look at the city.
Mike McMains started the tour to bring a critical eye to the buildings that get overlooked. McMains tells Borrelli that "Chicago loves its architecture and loves showcasing it to the world and tourists, but then you don’t see anyone talking about all of these other buildings we have, and if everything you’re seeing is great and beautiful, you need to know the ugly to understand the beautiful."
Borrelli describes his experience on the Ugly Buildings Tour, during which McMains points out structures that, for a variety of reasons, people find unattractive or unwelcoming.
Read more about the tour in the source article.
FULL STORY: Heard enough about Chicago’s oh so lovely architecture? May we suggest a walk with the Ugly Buildings Tour

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)