A $1.7 billion high-rise development proposal that would jut out into the Brisbane River has prompted the protests of many planners and architects in Brisbane, Australia.
"Their main objection is that North Bank, to be situated on the northern bank of the Brisbane River alongside the city's central business district, involves the construction of a giant concrete pad that would extend more than 70m into the river at a point where it is only 260m wide."
"While there will be some public space in the development, there will be six buildings, one of them 46 storeys tall."
"Queensland University architecture lecturer Peter Skinner said the Government had not accurately portrayed the scheme during the consultation, and this had compromised the integrity of the project."
"Associate Professor Skinner questioned Ms Bligh's claim that because 90per cent of the people who had made submissions had wanted 'something done', there was strong public support for the Multiplex proposal. 'I meet widely with architects and planners in this city and am yet to find a single design professional, independent of the project, who sees merit in the Multiplex scheme,' he said."
FULL STORY: Planners pour cold water on $1.7bn project

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.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
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