A planner reflects on one of New Mexico's great planning successes, the Santa Fe Railyard.
Sandra Geiser,AICP, the president of the APA New Mexico chapter, writes praise for the work of planners in restoring the Santa Fe Railyard in the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, which was named one of the APA's Great Places in America in 2015. Geiser describes the planning process that spearheaded the successful rebirth of the Santa Fe Railyard:
What makes for good planning? Community engagement. The city purchased the 50-acre property and led a community-based planning process involving more than 6,000 residents. The master plan approved by the city envisioned a gathering place for all Santa Feans built on the industrial heritage, with local businesses, nonprofits and cultural institutions woven together by a network of public spaces.
A six-year planning and redevelopment process, including design work by the Trust for Public Land, culminated with a re-opening celebrated by 20,000 people, and invigorated with revitalization momentum that continues to today. "The past year has marked the success of the stunning Violet Crown Cinema, the groundbreaking for the much-anticipated expansion of SITE Santa Fe, and the development of a 58-unit apartment complex adjacent to the track and park scheduled for construction in spring 2017," according to Geiser.
Read the full story: Reader View: Planning has helped make Santa Fe great
Providence Plans Ambitious Public Space Makeover
Take a virtual tour of the new public spaces proposed in the Providence Unified Vision Plan.
Reimagined Public Spaces and Programming During the Pandemic
Public spaces have become more important than ever. Here are five case studies of innovative and safely designed programming that engages people of all ages and backgrounds.
Anti-Racist Reforms for the Urban Planning Status Quo
An urban planner in Vancouver defines the roots of racism in city building, and calls on urban planners to be more effective anti-racist allies.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Housing is the top priority of Seattle’s sole new councilmember
Jenks campaigned on building 1,000 new units of affordable housing.
New tax cuts may slash $1.5 billion in funding for Miami transit, public parks
Amendment 3 will save Miami-Dade residents homeowners $2,700 in 2028.
Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania hope to finally advance climate goals post-midterms
The three states have spent years under Republican or divided control.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority