New Light Makes Street Look Cleaner

The Trafalgar Pole cleans up cluttered streetscapes, consolidating utility boxes in the base of a street light.

1 minute read

January 14, 2004, 2:00 PM PST

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


Toronto area developer Fred DeGasperis used to hear frequent complaints from home builders that buyers expected a discount for lots containing "street furniture", the term used by the industry to refer to the utility boxes that sit on front yards and distribute telephone, cable or hydro services. DeGasperis' solution was to design a new light post called the Trafalgar Pole that is capable of housing these utility services in its wide base, thereby removing them from nearby lawns. While purchasers are not always able to immediately identify what is different about developments that use the pole, they do recognize that the streetscape is significantly improved. Utility companies also like the pole because it makes locating utilities much simpler, particularly during Canadaian winters when ordinary utility boxes can disappear under a snow bank.

Thanks to Geoffrey Singer

Tuesday, January 13, 2004 in The Toronto Star

Aerial view of homes on green hillsides in Daly City, California.

Depopulation Patterns Get Weird

A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.

April 10, 2024 - California Planning & Development Report

Aerial view of Oakland, California with bay in background

California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million

Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.

April 11, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Large blank mall building with only two cars in large parking lot.

Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House

If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.

April 18, 2024 - Central Penn Business Journal

Young woman and man seated on subway car looking at phones.

Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features

It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.

April 19 - BGR

Ohio state capitol dome against dramatic lightly cloudy sky.

Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production

A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.

April 19 - Daytona Daily News

Aerial view of Interstate 290 or Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant

Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.

April 19 - Streetsblog Chicago

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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.