A trip to Baja California -- with its ubiquitous taco stands -- inspires one resident of a New Urbanist community to deal with his neighborhood's lack of eateries by developing a plan for a taco stand.
"When my family and I moved to the New Urbanist community of Civano seven years ago, we looked forward to strolling among the landscaped paths of our neighborhood to a local restaurant or pub. Indeed, for the first month or two, the neighborhood center hosted a café, with its handmade sandwiches and fresh-brewed coffee and tea. Without the resident population required to support such a shop, however, it soon closed.
Then rumors swirled and some meetings were held about Johan's Tavern, an English-style pub on the corner of Civano's two primary streets -- Seven Generations Way and Civano Boulevard -- to be built and operated by Civano pioneer and brewmaster Alan Boertjens. Today the vibrant yellow shell of the tavern anchors the corner, but the restaurant itself seems no nearer to completion."
"So we continue to drive to southeast Tucson restaurants that are too distant to walk to -- all in different neighborhoods, none with the ambiance inherent in the community of Civano. With a "mixed-use" neighborhood core -- where a combination of residences, retail, and restaurants was envisioned from the start -- we're as sublime a place as any for a venue like Johan's. Why then do we not have a restaurant here? What can the residents of Civano -- and any primarily residential, mixed-use neighborhood -- do to get a café or pub or other chuck wagon?"
"What our community needs is not to wait for the pub, though I yearn for it dearly. Rather, the time has come for an independent neighborhood taco stand: Tacos de Civano."
FULL STORY: A Taco Stand in Every Neighborhood

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?

Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap
The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.

Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan
Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.

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.
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