The Republic National Convention dominated the news last week, and for good reason. There was also eye candy for New York transit advocates and lots of new housing research to enjoy.
The 2016 version of the Republic National Convention made its visit to Cleveland last week, and while the mainstream media focused on the speeches, urbanism-focused media focused on the up-and-down recovery of Cleveland. Don't forget the Republic Party's official 2016 platform, however, which lays out a policy agenda of consequence for the federal government's approach to the built environment.
Making the rounds on some of Planetizen's favorite websites last week were dueling takes on the housing market and a bunch of fancy new renderings for a proposed $27 billion redesign project for the New York subway. Finally, the National league of Cities did a semantic analysis of 100 "State of the City" speeches.
For more information on the stories in the latest Planetizen Week in Review:
Republicans Reveal an Anti-Urban, Anti-Public Transit Platform
Study: Bureaucracy Restricts Housing Supply
Study: Land Use Regulation Restricts Housing Supply
Ambitious Design Overhaul Proposed for New York Subway Stations and Cars
What Mayors Talk About When Everyone Is Listening
FULL STORY: Planetizen Week in Review: July 25, 2016
Study: Bureaucracy Restricts Housing Supply
A recent study by Trulia concentrates on elasticity (i.e., the rate at which housing stock grows, relative to demand), and arrives at the conclusion that bureaucracy, not regulation, is responsible for rising housing prices.
How Houston Achieved Lot Size Reform
Nolan Gray of George Mason University and Adam A. Millsap of the Charles Koch Institute write about a recent article they authored in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.
How Much Does it Cost to Rent an Apartment, Anyway?
Geoff Boeing of the University of Southern California writes about a recent article he co-authored in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
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.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
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Planning for Universal Design
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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)