Recode reveals a radical idea for how Amazon could consolidate delivery services in urban areas.

"Amazon has applied for a patent for tailoring its fulfillment centers for a future where drones are delivering items to people’s doorsteps in urban areas," reports April Glaser.
"The e-commerce giant imagines beehive-like towers filled with robots, where drones can dock and be restocked before flying out again for another delivery," adds Glaser.
An important goal described in the patent application is the ability to locate fulfillment centers in urban areas, instead of on the outskirts of metropolitan areas where such facilities are currently located.
Glaser also notes that filing a patent application does not mean this vision of the future is a sure thing, "but it does pull the curtain back to show how the online retailer is thinking about the integration of drones into its shipping process."
FULL STORY: Amazon’s idea for a massive drone dock looks like a cross between a beehive and a spaceship

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

NYC Outdoor Dining Could Get a Re-Do
The city council is considering making the al fresco dining program year-round to address cost concerns from small businesses.

HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City
The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.

Washington State Legislature Passes Parking Reform Bill
A bill that would limit parking requirements for new developments is headed to the governor’s desk.
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