Airports

Historic Preservation vs. Revitalization?

In Willmar, Minnesota, city officials were not pleased when a mandated environmental review concluded that the 68-year old airport building they wanted to demolish was historically significant.

December 14, 2009 - West Central Tribune

Man-Made Mountain Proposed in Berlin

An architect in Berlin has proposed replacing the city's now-unused Tempelhof airport with a giant man-made mountain, dubbed The Berg.

November 13, 2009 - The Architect's Journal

Ocean International Airport

With one of the smallest and busiest airports in the country, San Diego is thinking about upgrading its facilities. One idea is to build a new airport on the ocean.

October 23, 2009 - The Infrastructurist

Berlin Airport to Be Reborn as Public Park

A historic airfield in Berlin will be transformed over the next year into the city's largest park.

September 2, 2009 - The Local

St. Joe Company's Big Plans and Drastic Impacts on Florida's Panhandle

The construction of a new airport and industrial district on Florida's panhandle characterizes the impact of the St. Joe Company, the state's biggest landowner and one in the midst of drastically changing the area's landscape.

August 19, 2009 - Miller-McCune

The Costs and Benefits of the Canada Line

A new rail line connecting Vancouver to its airport is highly anticipated in the region. The costs and construction disturbances, are causing some concern, however.

August 17, 2009 - The Globe and Mail

Home on the Runway

More than 100 trailers and RVs sit in a parking lot at Los Angeles International Airport, creating an odd community of airline pilots and mechanics.

August 15, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Central Park: Perfect Location for an Airport?

The Manhattan Airport Foundation is lobbying to turn Central Park (yes, that Central Park) into an airport. The web is a twitter, and the MAF's elaborate designs are very funny. Aren't they? They're not really serious?

July 22, 2009 - Treehugger

Mad Tea Party At Our Airports

On my coveted “Bane of Americana” list just behind my cell phone company's automated customer support option to “Press '3' To Stay On Hold” (not kidding!), is the so-called “Passenger Pick-Up System” at airport terminals.  Instead of realizing a purported orderly and safe system, by forcing cars to circuit the entire loop road in an attempt to perfectly intercept with arriving passengers, airports are perpetuating a half-brained scheme reminiscent of Disney World's Mad Tea Party ride.   It's Always Six O'Clock At Terminal Eight! 

June 1, 2009 - Ian Sacs

Small Airports Becoming No-Fly Zones

Until recently, small regional airports were seen as the wave of the future. But the ailing economy and a variety of other factors are hitting the industry hard, causing closures across the country.

April 20, 2009 - Governing Magazine

Hawaii Light Rail to Connect With Airport

The Honolulu City Council has agreed to slightly re-work the route of the region's recently-approved light rail system to connect with Honolulu International Airport -- a move that has angered some residents.

February 1, 2009 - Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Creative Ideas Stream In for Berlin Airport Reuse

A massive WWII-era airfield in Berlin has been closed down, but city officials are looking for ways to take advantage of the large space. New ideas abound -- from a proposal for a "red light" district to plans for an artificial mountain.

January 23, 2009 - Der Spiegel

D.C. Airport-Rail Link Heading to Congress

Plans to expand rail transit to link Washington D.C with Dulles International Airport have received federal backing and can now head to Congress for funding approval.

January 9, 2009 - The Washington Post

California Transit: It'll Drive You To Drive

Northern California planner and lawyer Joel Ellinwood has committed himself to riding trains and public transit whenever possible. He's learning a lot along the way.

October 12, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

The Mystery of Ground Transportation

Despite the rising costs of belonging to the jet set, I took my share of flights for a few business trips and boondoggles this summer. Though most of my plane tickets were paid for, my transportation to and from my respective airports were not. Like any good urbanist, I approached each airport as a challenge to see how cheaply and quickly I could get from the airport to my in-town destination. These were challenges that I -- or, rather, the cities -- failed more often than they passed.

September 2, 2008 - Josh Stephens

Can Planning Happen More Quickly?

Members of the British Parliament attempt to speed up the process for planning major projects. But some advocates and observers fear the public's voice will be muted.

June 25, 2008 - BBC

Airport Easements Cause Uproar

A new airport overlay district in Sioux Falls, South Dakota has nearby homeowners crying 'taking!' Airport officials say, 'All we're trying to do is make sure we have good neighbors.'

June 24, 2008 - The Argus Leader

Fly the Costly Skies

With fill-ups costing close to $70,000 for a transatlantic flight, airlines are facing a grim future.

June 6, 2008 - The Globe & Mail

Airlines Desert Small Towns, Despite Costly Investments in Infrastructure

If you build it, will they come? Not in Hagerstown, Maryland, where airlines have left town despite a brand new runway.

May 21, 2008 - The New York Times

New Airport Planned To Ease New York Air Congestion

With high traffic and no ability to expand existing runways, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is redeveloping an old Air Force base into the region's fourth major airport.

March 4, 2008 - The Wall Street Journal

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.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

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