In Lowell, Massachusetts, planner Jeff Speck painted a picture for locals of a transformed city that capitalizes on the strengths of the city to move forward with a greater vision.
Speck took the unusual step of moving to the town with his family to develop the plan over 8 months.
In this editorial, The Lowell Sun team is effusive about Speck's vision:
"Speck's drama unfolded from the simple and inexpensive ways to transform the city -- painting bicycle paths onto the city's widest streets -- to the sublime -- a $100 million waterfront project that would be the envy of any similar-sized city in America."
The Sun says that although the project is ambitious, it is broken down into long-, medium- and short-range plans.
Read the full story: Sound plan, sweet dreams
Living the Car-Free Life In Order to Plan It
New Urbanist Jeff Speck has moved his family to Lowell, Massachusetts without a car in order to experience the perspective of a carless household.
Tear It Down, Says Speck
Planner and author Jeff Speck pays a visit to Lowell, Massachusetts, and tells an audience to tear down their civic center. "If you don't tear it down now, it will become protected in 10 years," says Speck. "Tear it down now."
Company Towns: A Fraught 19th Century Idea is Getting a Second Life
From Lowell to Elon Musk’s Starbase, we trace the rise, fall, and resurgence of company towns.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan
Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.
Detroit to transform waterfront with $2.2 billion investment
Developers will convert about 18 acres of unused parking lot space into civic spaces.
U.S.-Iran war may have ‘devastating’ impact on cost to warm homes
Vermont and Maine residents may see a 76% increase in the cost of warming their homes this winter.
Senate bill would ‘overhaul’ environmental permitting laws
Under the proposed act, government agencies would also not be able to suspend or rescind permits after granting them.
Exemption applications for NYC’s pied-à-terre tax see 55% success rate
The city sent nearly 40% of its initial pied-à-terre tax warnings erroneously.
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.
One Hundred Miles
County of Mendocino
planning NEXT
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority