The Slow Food movement has lessons for giving cities a humane density.
SF Chronicle urban design critic John King summarizes a recent paper by Richard Bender and John Parman that argues for cutting through the current gridlock of no-growth vs. smart growth by aiming for a "humane density" that recognizes how people actually experience - and enjoy - the city.
" "We need a robust vision of the region's urbanity that takes lessons from its rich culture of food and wine ... that challenges and changes tastes, and is unafraid of outside influences, knowing that the region will absorb them and make them its own," Richard Bender and John Parman write in "Neither Too Slow Nor Too Smart: Contemplating the Growth of the Bay Region," delivered at a conference on urban issues last month in Rome."
The article links to the paper, delivered at a recent urban design conference held in Rome and jointly sponsored by the University of Rome and U.C. Berkeley.
Thanks to John Parman
FULL STORY: Bay Area design could use a taste of Slow Food's philosophy

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?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont