Montreal architect Vedanta Balbahadur writes about his hometown's fall from its status as Canada's premier city through the lenses of baseball and the built environment.
The first Canadian city to host a World's Fair and Olympic Games and the first outside of the United States to acquire a major league baseball franchise, Montreal's thriving economy, modernist building boom, and future-oriented outlook attracted attention from around the world in the middle of the twentieth century. Since then, however, the city has seemed to rest on its laurels. Despite its undeniable charms, it is now in some ways seen as an example of how not to build a city, with crumbling infrastructure that has become the butt of jokes across Canada.
Balbahadur explores this evolution in detail and describes his speculative vision for restoring some of Montreal's lost glory: a new baseball stadium and public park designed for the return of a major league team.
Thanks to Sarah Wesseler
FULL STORY: Baseball, Architecture, and the City of the Future
Editorial: Toronto’s Snow Clearing Plan Isn’t Fair
The city’s plan for dealing with snow and ice on sidewalks this winter doesn't address past problems and won't meet the needs of residents, say critics.
Trudeau Reveals Huge Plan to Build New Canadian Infrastructure
In an effort to stimulate the Canadian economy and modernize Canada's infrastructure Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a plan to spend $120 billion CAD on infrastructure over the next decade.
The Significance of Architecture in Music Videos
What can be learned from music videos about popular culture's relationship to architecture?
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
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.
In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City
If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
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)