Japanese cities and citizens look to Portland for inspiration.
While some in the States may see Portland as too hip for its own good, in Japan that hipness is celebrated. The Economist reports that Japan is home to festivals, bars, and blogs dedicated to all things from Portland (especially beer). Many American businesses looking to cash in on the cachet of the city have opened Japanese franchises.
City leaders have looked to Portland as well, "The mayors of several small Japanese cities, which face gradual extinction if young people cannot be persuaded to stay instead of moving to Tokyo or Osaka, have been visiting Portland in search of ideas."
It remains to be seen how many insights Portland can provide to struggling Japanese cities, some of which have been forced to try some unconventional strategies to cope with an aging population. According to the Economist "Japanese are interested in Portland not just because of its nifty gadgets or funky food, but because of its 'future vision'—a combination of individualism, enterprise and greenery."
FULL STORY: Bottling Hipness
Friday Funny: Portlandia Is Over
It's a sad day. Portlandia will no longer skewer the idiosyncrasies of enlightened urban lifestyles.
Planning Director Susan Anderson Separates Fact from Fiction in Portland(ia)
Planetizen's "Planners Across America" series continues in the city that put many contemporary best planning practices on the map: Portland, Oregon.
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Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
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Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.
