Designers and architects are teaming up to provide the Gulf Coast region with pre-fabricated buildings meant to serve as temporary general stores and community centers for areas still struggling to recuperate.
"Leading architects, designers, engineers, local governments, and community organizations are launching an ambitious initiative to help the Gulf region address one of the pressing needs still faced in many communities two years after the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Katrina: a dearth of retail outlets to provide basic goods and services."
"The Retail Deployment Initiative (ReDI) is developing a low-cost solution for areas still without local access to staples such as groceries, clothing and telephone and other communications services/equipment."
"ReDI, spearheaded by Metropolis magazine and prefabricated design/build firm Modern Modular, will create a series of prefabricated buildings that will serve both as transitional retail 'general stores' and community centers."
FULL STORY: Designers Aid Gulf Area with New Retail Initiative

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?

Car Designs Make it Harder to See Pedestrians
Blind spots created by thicker pillars built to withstand rollover crashes are creating dangerous conditions for people outside vehicles.

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie