Lacking public open space in downtown Vancouver, the city is taking a nonconventional approach and closing one block off to traffic for the summer months to allow for a pedestrian-oriented public square.
Courtney McLaughlin describes the situation in Vancouver, British Columbia, where the downtown has seen large increases in population but still lacks public space. The approach the city has used over the past two summers and during the 2010 Winter Olympics has been to close off a downtown street to traffic and allow artists and vendors to set up shop. The city is now working with the Vancouver Public Space Network to gauge interest in closing the street permanently and turn it into downtown Vancouver’s only public square.
FULL STORY: Democratizing Urban Design: A Public Square for Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia
Amtrak Cascades Line Breaks Ridership Record
The route linking Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, BC served nearly one million riders in 2024.
Vancouver City Council Eliminates Parking Mandates, Supports TOD
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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Making Mobility More Inclusive
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Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness
A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service