East Lansing wants to ditch some of its surface parking to encourage economic activity and walkability.
East Lansing, Michigan is wrapping up a new master plan for parking in the city in the hopes of fostering walkability and economic activity in the city. Josh Kaplow reports on the plan after the city concluded the public engagement process. A draft plan is expected this month.
“East Lansing is partnering with Walker Consultants, a planning and design firm, to assess the current parking climate and how it is impacted by various factors including seasons, times of the day and times of the week,” writes Kaplow. “The 2018 edition of East Lansing’s master plan noted that surface parking lots consume valuable real estate and decrease a city’s ‘walkability’ and ‘urban atmosphere’ while multi-level parking structures, especially those ‘fronted by first floor real estate,’ cater to a more centralized downtown.”
The new master plan is expected to replace surface parking capacity with parking structures, though the new plan is also expected to account for an increased trend toward public transportation and biking, as well,” according to Laplow.
FULL STORY: East Lansing plans parking to increase downtown walkability, urban atmosphere
L.A. Reimagines Parking for New Uses
In famously car-centric Los Angeles, developers and city officials are changing the way they view parking space, opting instead to allocate the space to more effective uses.
Chicago Planning Department Rejects 'Overparked' Six Corners Proposal
In a decision that is still impossible in most of the country, Chicago's Department of Planning and Development is requiring housing and reduced surface parking to approve a retail project.
Charlotte's North Tryon Vision Plan Focuses on People, Not Cars
Charlotte's North Tryon Vision Plan is "among the more ambitious long-term urban planning projects in American cities," this article. Released in 2015, the plan's work is not done.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service