Security fortifications such as slab barricades and jumbo planters are suffocating our public spaces.
"Since the war in Iraq began, ever more slab barricades and jumbo planter tubs have been set out on sidewalks and curbs around sensitive landmarks, adding tangibly to the edginess of civic life and conveying the messaget...that the only safety lies behind thick masonry fortifications... Even as the threat of car bombs and truck bombs reshapes the cityscape, planners and architects are trying to find alternatives..." More than aesthetics are at stake. The closing and constricting of sidewalks, roadways and plazas diminishes the freedom that is being defended.
Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan
FULL STORY: Envisioning a Safer City Without Turning It Into Slab City

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

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San Diego Votes to Rein in “Towering” ADUs
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Texas Legislature’s Surprising Pro-Housing Swing
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Even Edmonton Wants Single Staircase Buildings
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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.
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Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)