With the portion of American's living in cities set to rise to 90 percent by 2050, a new set of accessibility issues will confront the nation's disabled and aging. Metropolis invited 7 teams of designers to develop solutions to meet this challenge.
According to Metropolis editor Susan S. Szenasy, the magazine "asked seven teams of great design thinkers what they predict a fully
accessible city might look like (and better yet, how it would function)...Our goal was to create an ideal city, one fully accessible to all ages
and abilities." Ranging from the "established" to the "up-and-coming," participants include Grimshaw Architects, West 8, Interboro Partners, Linearscape, OPEN, John Ronan Architects, and LUNAR, who each tackled component parts of the city.
One of the more inventive approaches came from Interboro, who were tasked with designing the inclusive "community center" of the future, but instead chose to distribute its component parts (rec
room, meeting space, walk-in clinic, etc.) into the urban fabric.
Says the firm: "A truly inclusive community center is only conceivable in an all-access
community: one that first of all does not discriminate in the sale,
rental, and marketing of homes, in mortgage lending, and in zoning, but
that also affirmatively furthers fair housing and creates a welcoming
environment for all, regardless of income, race, religion, or physical
ability."
In the accompanying drawing, they "present an incomplete (and somewhat eclectic)
collection of tools to help build such an all-access community, ranging
from practical physical features like raised crosswalks and curb cuts;
larger, more policy-based tools like inclusionary zoning, housing
vouchers, and racial quotas; and more irreverent ideas like garage
sales, festivals, and Halloween celebrations."
FULL STORY: Brave New City

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
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