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

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

Conservatives’ Decongestion Pricing Flip-Flop
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Electric Surge: EV Chargers Outnumber Gas Nozzles in California
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How Orphan Oil Wells Threaten West Texas Communities
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Protecting Birds From Window Glass
Glass windows kill billions of birds each year. Simple fixes can help.
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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