British Prime Minister David Cameron wants to build a Silicon Valley-like "tech city" at the site of the 2012 Summer Olympics. But some question whether his plan can work.
Cameron is hoping the massive urban regeneration project fueled by the Olympics will allow for the creation of a new technology business hub in London's East End.
"His government pledged £200 million to build technology and innovation centres, one of them in the Olympic Park. More than a dozen tech giants -- including Intel, Google, Cisco and BT -- would invest in the area, along with a clutch of universities. The zone would stretch from Shoreditch to Stratford, where the Olympic Park media centre would become an "accelerator space" offering cheap, flexible offices for startups and tech firms that would be, in Silva's words, "fibred to the nines".
Yet within hours The Guardian's digital content blog dismissed the plans with the headline "Tech City: the Tories' corporate, top-down vision for UK tech". And the editor of Computer Weekly, Bryan Glick, blogged that the challenge in growing the next Google had nothing to do with geography.
Did the doubters just not get it? Or was there a flaw in the plan?"
FULL STORY: Silicon comes to Stratford: Developing London's 'Tech City'
How Would Project 2025 Affect America’s Transportation System?
Long story short, it would — and not in a good way.
California Law Ends Road Widening Mandates
Housing developers will no longer be required to dedicate land to roadway widening, which could significantly reduce the cost of construction and support more housing units.
But... Europe
European cities and nations tend to have less violent crime than the United States. Is government social welfare spending the magic bullet that explains this difference?
California Room to Roam Act Prioritizes Wildlife Connectivity
A new state law requires new development and infrastructure to minimize disruption to local wildlife habitats and migration patterns.
Oregon Releases Historic Preservation Plan for Next Decade
A plan from the state’s State Historic Preservation Commission outlines priorities for preserving Oregon’s cultural and historic resources.
Austin’s Vision for I-35 Cap Parks Takes Final Shape
The city’s plan includes parks, entertainment pavilions, commercial space, sports fields, and other facilities over 30 acres of deck parks spanning a sunken Interstate 35.
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.
Placer County
Mayors' Institute on City Design
City of Sunnyvale
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), the Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP)
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
City of Portland, ME
Baton Rouge Area Foundation