An underground trolley station in Washington D.C. that later had a turn as a short-lived underground food court is being eyed by local artists as a possible site for a new underground cultural center and art space.
The underground area makes up more than 100,000 square feet and has sat unused since the food court closed in 1996.
"This is where architect Julian Hunt envisions a series of hip galleries called Dupont Underground, where up to 1,500 people at a time would take in avant-garde art shows and exhibits of experimental architecture. Museum-quality lighting would fill curved hallways, and a sophisticated ventilation system would keep the humidity to art gallery standards. As Hunt sees it, the depths of Dupont Circle would become the go-to spot for the visual arts in Washington.
'This enormous piece of infrastructure has just been mothballed,' said Hunt, who said he has been pushing the idea for five years. 'If you get enough people down there and there's interesting artwork and it's well lit, I think it would be quite a spectacular space, unlike anything else in the District.'"
FULL STORY: D.C. art activists see old trolley station as buried treasure

Amtrak Ramping Up Infrastructure Projects
Thanks to federal funding from the 2021 infrastructure act, the agency plans to triple its investment in infrastructure improvements and new routes in the next two years.

Ending Downtown San Francisco’s ‘Doom Loop’
A new public space project offers an ambitious vision—so why is the city implementing it at such a small scale?

Proposal Would Transform L.A.’s ‘Freeway to Nowhere’ Into Park, Housing
A never-completed freeway segment could see new life as a mixed-use development with housing, commercial space, and one of the county’s largest parks.

How to Build for Aging in Place
Why developers should place more emphasis on building homes for aging residents and multigenerational living.

Bringing Planning Back to the People
Has the profession given in to corporate interests, and is there another way forward?

Denver Could Put Pause on New Traffic Circles
The city’s fire department has asked for a moratorium on new traffic circles, installed as a traffic calming mechanism.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
City of Helena
Lassen County Planning and Building Services
City of San Carlos
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.