A new program enables everyday citizens the chance to work as building inspectors in the nation's capital.
Nena Perry-Brown reports on the launch of a program in Washington, D.C. that trains residents to perform on-demand building inspections.
"Since the resident inspector pilot program was announced, more than 600 residents have registered for training. Presently, there are 31 participants working to inspect either vacant residential buildings or code violations in occupied apartment buildings, and 30 people are certified to inspect illegal construction, issuing stop work orders when needed," according to the article.
The District touts the program's ability to scale up its inspection operations as the city's population and built environment grows.
Read the full story: DC Residents Are Now Conducting Building Inspections
D.C. Adds New Safety Requirement in Wake of Recent Collapses
A series of incidents including the fatal collapse of a condo building in Surfside, Florida have prompted the District to implement safety enhancements to its building safety review.
From robotaxis to robotrains: LA, DC weigh driverless transit
If approved, the projects will take years to implement and face financial and technical hurdles.
NYC Puts 250 Most Distressed Apartment Buildings on Enhanced Oversight List
The city’s Alternative Enforcement Program prioritizes buildings with the most unaddressed code violations, allowing the city to make repairs where needed.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
How a Chicago-sized wind farm beat the odds and powered on
The project spanned five presidential administrations and a standoff with a U.S. military base.
MTA gives itself 30 days to transform pit into basketball court
The site has been under construction since 2022; the city originally estimated it would finish the court in 2024.
Non-stop party: Chicago voters weigh permanent festival grounds
A stable place for bleachers, stages and drainage may streamline the setup and teardown of large events.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority