Joel Kotkin looks to Reston, Virginia, and other suburban villages as the new way for America to handle an increasing population without succumbing to the negative aspects of traditional sprawl.
"Despite their unrelenting march to the peripheries, Americans remain deeply uneasy about its social and environmental impacts. The New Urbanists are correct in one important aspect: many suburbanites express a real yearning for the type of social cohesion created by authentic places."
"Clearly we need a planning model that embraces both the need for community and our continuing desire for privacy, space, and autonomy. We call our model the Suburban Village. Individually these villages would be self-sustaining communities-vibrant hubs-offering a variety of economic, cultural, and social benefits. Nationally we see the potential for a network of such communities-an archipelago of villages-that if smartly designed and fully wired would eliminate the need for unnecessary commutes, provide a better quality of life for residents, and create opportunities for the preservation of open space."
FULL STORY: Toward a New Archipelago
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Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
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The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
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Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
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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.
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