The historic city of Pingyao, China, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, faces an uncertain future as it tries to find a balance between managing modern threats and petrification by preservation, as it attempts to maintain its historic character.
Debra Bruno examines the two extreme fates facing Pingyao, a 2,700-year-old village in the Shanxi province of China. One possibility allows tourists, overpopulation, pollution, rain, and dust from local coal mines to disintegrate the ancient city. The other is to preserve the town; but some are worried that preservation efforts could come off looking too perfect or even fake, as was the case with the overly restored city of Lijiang.
UNESCO, the Global Heritage Fund, the China Cultural Heritage Foundation, and the Pingyao county government have been working to define conservation and repair guidelines for the close to 4,000 Ming and Qing-era courtyard buildings inside the walled city.
Another element of the effort to maintain a living, working city is to slash the population down from 40,000 to a more fitting 20,000. But, more room for the residents would bring other complications. "'The exodus of indigenous residents and the loss of confidence in local Pingyao cultural traditions' may be the single biggest threat to Pingyao today, says UNESCO's [Dr.] Du [Xiaofan]. 'There are threats that the Pingyao could become nothing but a city full of souvenir shops, restaurants and hotels,' adds Tongji University's Shao Yong.
FULL STORY: Can an Ancient Chinese City Pursue Preservation Without Disney-fication?

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

San Francisco Muni Raises Fares a Second Time
A 10–cent fare hike for adults is part of the agency’s plan to chip away at a growing budget deficit.

Electric Grid Capacity Could Hamstring EV Growth
Industry leaders say the U.S. electric grid is unprepared for the increased demand for power created by electric cars, data centers, and electric homes.

Texas Bill Supports Adaptive Reuse in Commercial Areas
Senate Bill 840, which was preliminarily approved by the state House, would allow residential construction in areas previously zoned for offices and commercial uses.
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.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions