Kiran Stacy looks at some of the challenges facing what is intended to be the world's first carbon-neutral city.
In an interview with Masdar City Director Alan Frost and CEO Sultan al-Jaber, Stacy learns that the city's plans to be self-sufficient from the outset--both energy-wise and financially--may have been overly ambitious, given the regional economic climate. Bank financing for new development in Abu Dhabi is non-existent and commercial tenants are hesitant to move into new commercial space, forcing the project to rely heavily on government funding, writes Stacy. Masdar has only signed 13 of the 800 commercial tenants it hopes to attract by 2020. Furthermore, the city is still taking some of its energy from non-renewable sources.
Given the innovative nature of the project, difficulties should be expected, says Sultan al-Jaber:
"Do you think that a silver bullet solution exists to help Masdar city achieve its goals today? Obviously it does not. If it did we would have seen Masdar city developed in a number of places around the world."
FULL STORY: Masdar: ‘No silver bullet’ for problems facing cleantech city
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.
Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?
Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
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