The city of Berkeley has a radical idea for how to build more transitional housing for its sizable homeless population.
Ashley Wong reports: "The city of Berkeley passed an innovative new proposal to build more transitional housing for homeless residents this week — and officials say they plan to put a measure on the 2018 ballot to help pay for it."
The decision culminated a process by which the city considered four options for its "Pathways Project," also detailed in another article by Wong from June 2017. In the end, the council decided on the low cost option: "to fund 100 new beds at city-operated temporary and transitional-housing shelter, to the tune of approximately $2.5 million a year."
In another twist to the plan, the housing "will be constructed in the form of a “tent village,” using bungalow-style tent-cabins, along with port-a-potties, mobile showers, trailers for office and storage space, and security fencing around the perimeter." Mike Zint, a member of the First They Came For The Homeless organization is quoted saying what many are probably thinking in the article, calling the idea "like a concentration camp."
Read the full story: Berkeley Passes Ambitious Plan To Tackle Homelessness, Wants Ballot Measure in 2018 to Help Pay for It
UC Berkeley Commits to Supportive Housing Project in People's Park
The university will work with the city and local nonprofits to provide 42 units of housing and supportive services to unhoused people living in Berkeley's iconic People's Park.
Seattle Tiny-Home Villages Facing Host of Challenges
The villages offer much-needed housing for homeless people, but controversy is brewing over their operations.
Tiny House Communities Popping Up to Shelter Homeless
Villages of tiny homes are being prepared in Portland and Denver to help individuals transition out of homelessness
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.
Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners
Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents
NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting
New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.
California appears to reject Prop. 45
The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.
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
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority