What makes a model neighborhood? GOOD Magazine devotes an issue to the topic, beginning with a list of traits that make a neighborhood great.
Top of their list? A signature event.
Patrick James writes, "There's nothing like a recurring event to celebrate and shape a neighborhood's identity-though everything needn't be as massive as, say, Munich's Oktoberfest. Anything works-from the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon, to 1st Fridays in the Abbot Kinney neighborhood of Venice Beach, California, to the annual ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan-as long as it gets people out of their houses and interacting."
Human scale, third places, and diversity all make the list.
FULL STORY: Model Town

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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

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Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
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Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
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