As Toronto contemplates the future of its crumbling Gardiner Expressway, columnist Christopher Hume suggests looking to Boston’s Greenway for a glimpse of what downtown might be like without the elevated eyesore.
“The Greenway, the 'roof' of Interstate 93, the formerly elevated highway that was buried in [Boston's] Big Dig project, runs through the heart of Beantown," writes Christopher Hume.
“For Torontonians, of course, the Greenway is interesting as an example of what this city might do were it to take down the Gardiner Expressway.”
“Whatever criticism one might level against the Greenway; the conclusion is not that there’s no reason to get rid of a raised highway. Boston’s problem is that it didn’t go far enough; it didn’t face its car dependency with honesty and courage, but settled for easy gestures and half-measures.”
“Still, cities around the world are removing their Gardiners. Even Toronto is contemplating razing its raised expressway … it could be the start of a transformation more profound than anything Toronto has ever seen.”
FULL STORY: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/11/22/toronto_could_learn_from_bostons_big_dig_hume.html

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
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
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont