To ensure its longevity, developers of London's Olympic Park have made integration of its facilities into a larger urban renewal plan a priority.
Other cities have faced similar post-Olympics challenges, and some have never been able to use the infrastructure they built for the Games to its full capacity afterward, says Nikos Karadimitriou, a lecturer in urban planning at University College London, who was hired as a junior urban planner during the Olympics in Athens in 2004. The real question is how to use the venues and infrastructure so that they "impact the social fabric in a positive way for years to come", Mr. Karadimitriou says. "This has been successfully implemented in cities with a long-term development strategy."
Barcelona, which held the summer Olympic Games in 1992, is usually cited as an Olympic legacy success story. Three kilometers of derelict industrial waterfront was transformed by the Olympic village, and after the Games provided locals with new access to the sea and a new and highly popular esplanade, where restaurants and other leisure facilities have flourished. In Athens, however, where the Games were held in 2004, many of the 22 venues built for the Games lie abandoned.
FULL STORY: London Looks to Learn From Others' Olympic Mistakes
Abandoned Olympic Venues Cast Doubt on the Value of Hosting
Though cities hope for an economic boost, these photos show it's far from guaranteed.
For Host Cities, Olympic Legacies Are Mixed
The two-week competition is often touted as a galvanizing force for urban development. But that's only cities include the Games' legacy in their planning process from the start.
In the Shadow of the Olympics: Dickensian Squalor
Simon Clark and Chris Spillane document the illegal, and often squalid, housing that can be found only three miles from the gleaming Olympic Stadium.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.
Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.
LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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