Finca Bellavista is a development on the southern coast of Costa Rica with 5 houses and 24 other buildings, all sustainable treehouse structures.
Nigel F. Maynard at Builder Magazine pays Finca Bellavista a visit:
"Today the community consists of 300-plus acres (the couple [Erica and Matt Hogan, the founders] sold lots to pay for the purchase of additional land) of secondary rainforest and reclaimed pasture and is billed as the world's first planned, modern, sustainable treehouse community. The real estate adage about location still applies, as the site is situated near national parks, beaches, whitewater rivers, hiking trails, and 'mountainscapes.'"
FULL STORY: A (Seriously) Rustic New Home Community Grows in the Treetops of Costa Rica
Hurricane Nate to Test New Orlean's Drainage System
Nate will make landfall southeast of New Orleans on Saturday night as possibly a category 2 hurricane after leaving at least 22 dead in Central America. It's not so much the levees but the pumps and generators that have city officials worried.
Costa Rica Off Fossil Fuels for 75 Days and Counting
Kudos are in order for the Central American nation of Costa Rica. We suspect running your country without burning fossil fuels is its own reward, however.
New Global Environmental Performance Rankings Released
The Dirt reports on findings disclosed by this year's iteration of the Yale and Columbia University produced Environmental Performance Index (EPI). A new metric unveiled this year tracks the trend in each country's environmental performance.
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.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
‘Architectural Epidemiology:’ Centering Public Health in Urban Design
A new book asks, what if cities were designed around health equity?
Study: London Low-Traffic Neighborhoods See 35% Drop in Road Injuries
London’s effort to reduce speeds and limit vehicles in parts of the city are contributing to improved road safety.
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
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Laramie
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency