Kaid Benfield returns to his popular blog at the NRDC's Switchboard site after a three-week hiatus, with thoughts on the purpose of his writings and how "overly familiar vocabulary can lead to overly familiar thinking."
Returning from a restorative, and introspective, break from writing, Benfield muses on the role of our common vocabulary, and his role in particular, in advancing (or obfuscating) a professional discourse. Diving into this summer's simmering debate over the use of the term "vibrant," Benfield swears off his own use of the term, and promises to retire "urbanism," as well, for good measure.
"While I am definitely pro-city," writes Benfield, "my first problem with urbanism
is that in some circles it has taken on the air of a cult, providing a
verbal badge of identification....I would rather discuss what
makes a particular solution appropriate to a particular situation than
apply a formula... I also
believe that, just as the principles of smart growth have gotten stale,
so have the overlapping principles of urbanism."
"I want this blog – this is post number 1,125 – to be not about
advocating any script or preset system of belief but instead about
thought, the pursuit of truth and, yes, sometimes about finding a balance
among the various competing interests – planetary health, local
environmental health, individual aspirations, community, solitude,
economy, equity, the whole messy gumbo – that, pretend as we may, cannot always be aligned when it comes to
cities, neighborhoods or the environment. "Isms" of any sort can get in
the way of those objectives."
FULL STORY: Cities, sustainable placemaking, & the careful use of words
Solving the 'Female Advocate Dilemma'
Melissa Bruntlett pens a thoughtful essay on the importance of female involvement in urbanism issues and activities.
Selling Urbanism: Don’t be an Aristarchus
As urban planners, we must not only innovate, but make our innovations count in the marketplace of ideas. We must make the benefits of livability easily understood, with a clear path for making them happen. Scott Doyon encourages rooted innovation.
Is This Urbanism?
Chuck Wolfe ponders a recommended subscription list of Substack urbanists and wonders — as have others — about the utility of the "urbanist" moniker.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars
Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)