Controversy erupted last week in Washington, D.C., after D.C. Metro decided to paint Union Station's vaulted ceilings—a famous icon of the District, it's regional transit system, and the architectural style of Brutalism.
Martin Austermuhle and Amanda Kolson Hurley both took to the pages of their respective media outlets to document the outcry against a controversial decision by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to paint a coat of white paint over the station's famous grey vault.
Austermuhle reports that the WMATA's Back2Good campaign is responsible for the paint job—one project among plans to power-wash, scrub, and polish all of the system's 91 stations on an annual basis.
The decision to paint Union Station, however, prompted strong responses from writers like Kriston Capps and Kolson Hurley.
After initially voicing concern on Twitter, Kolson Hurley eventually wrote an article for Washington City Paper, describing the decision to pain Union Station as troubling for "multiple reasons":
"First…dirt will show up prominently on a background of white paint," writes Kolson Hurley. "Second, exposed concrete is integral to the Brutalist style in which the Metro system was designed."
An update to the latter article notes that the Washington chapter of the American Institute of Architects had since expressed "deep concern" over the painting of the Union Station vault.
FULL STORY: Metro’s Effort To Create A Brighter Station Is Met With ‘Brutal’ Opposition
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
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
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.