Lisa Rochon hosts a roundtable conversation to examine the reasons for the city's architectural mediocrity.
A panel of leading Toronto architects including Ken Greenberg, Don Schmitt, Bruce Kuwabara, Janet Rosenberg and Siamak Hariri outline the systemic and other factors they believe are responsible for Toronto's failure to foster quality urban design. These include a lack of a design champion, a fractured council with no executive branch, an inability for decision makers to think long term, and a planning tool kit that contains the wrong tools. The panel members relate their experiences working abroad, drawing comparisons between how the planning process operates in Toronto versus other world cities.
Thanks to Geoffrey Singer
FULL STORY: Can our city be beautiful in the next five years?

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

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.

‘Quality Work, Fast’: NC Gears up for Homebuilding After Helene, Trying to Avoid Past Pitfalls
The state will field bids to demolish, repair and rebuild homes in the mountains. After struggles in eastern NC, officials aim to chart a different course.

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.
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.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions