An architectural critic charges that the design guidelines required for the WTC rebuilding will ensure mediocrity.
"Deciding how to rebuild the World Trade Center is a moment in our history that calls for greatness. But the choices made by the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have all but guaranteed mediocrity. The rules established for the selection of the architects who will design the buildings to be constructed on this site eliminate from consideration every great architect in the entire world. Rather than employing the vision of extraordinary architects, the buildings will be the product of commercial architects not known for their design ability."
Thanks to Laura Kranz
FULL STORY: WTC Plans Should Reach the Stars

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

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.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won
A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide
Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code
The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.
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