John King is surprised to find that a bold plan for a public space has somehow squeaked through the Berkeley, CA planning process in an area between BART and campus.
The project is the last piece remaining of an extensive UC Berkeley proposal that had included a hotel, conference center and museum before the recession hit.
King writes, "the plan's less-controversial aspects include "a major public gathering place" on Center Street that would be "a model for sustainable design." And Hood has fleshed out this notion with pragmatic grace."
King dings the Bay Area for worshipping public process over quality results.
"So when an inventive approach to urban space gains traction in a city as fractious as Berkeley, I'm happily surprised.", writes King.
Read the full story: Berkeley plan weds the natural, the practical
Berkley bans e-bikes from parks, sidewalks
City Council hopes the new limits will improve public safety.
Berkeley promised to build supportive housing in People's Park. Where is it?
More than two years after People's Park was cordoned off, there is no word on a timeline for a promised affordable housing project.
Berkeley Approves ‘Middle Housing’ Ordinance
The city that invented single-family zoning is finally reckoning with its history of exclusion.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Los Angeles just elected an urban planner as its mayor
Transportation analysts are optimistic that Raman will be more aggressive in addressing transit issues than Bass.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority