Replacing a '70s era shopping mall that was intended to revive the city's downtown, the new town center of Rockville, Maryland returns to urban planning's roots.
Rockville Town Square is a new $360 million redevelopment project that aims to give the Washington, D.C. suburb a vibrant mixed-use downtown.
"The design of the 15-acre pedestrian-oriented town square project -- which has wide basket-weave brick sidewalks, large trees, islands of flowers, and colorfully painted residences overlooking a fountain and benches in the town square -- is modeled after Italian piazzas."
"In the early 1970s, [the city's] first urban renewal plan included the behemoth mall that was torn down 25 years after it was built. ''In the first case.'' Mr. Chambers said, ''we created a place that everyone had to drive to, and once they got there, they had to stay indoors.''
''Now we're using the experience of the last several thousand years,'' he said. ''We're not separating uses in our communities from one another. We're bringing them all together.'' "
FULL STORY: A Piazza for a Maryland Suburb
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
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.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
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.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie