Coronavirus and Density
Blog post
The latest installment of Planetizen's ongoing effort to track the stories about the future of planning in a world forever changed by COVID-19 notices a recurring theme.
Building more housing where people work is a simple way to come out of the pandemic with a stronger sense of community and shorter commutes, according to this article.
City and State New York
Blog post
The geography for the coronavirus has changed, but most of the debate about the future of cities continues along many of the same lines as in the early months of the pandemic.
The number of Californians adding Accessory Dwelling Units to residential properties has quickly grown during the pandemic, according to industry sources.
The San Francisco Chronicle
Feature
As the pandemic has made clear, a healthy, prosperous future will depend on the development of the kinds of density that encourage strong social infrastructure.
Media is full of stories about people fleeing the city for suburban or even rural climes during the pandemic. The data from real estate search sites tell a different story.
CityLab
Blog post
The third installment of an ongoing, curated list of a particularly contemporary genre of urbanism punditry.
Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong were credited early in the pandemic with having successfully contained the coronavirus without resorting to lockdowns. However, Singapore lost its standing in that elite group. Crowding vs. density may explain why.
NPR - Goats and Soda
"This is a housing disease."
Inside Housing
Blog post
A month or two ago, COVID-19 was primarily a Northeastern problem. Is that still the case?
Feature
Perceptions of what makes density either "good" or "bad" have shifted over the years, and the pandemic is likely to precipitate another shift.
The novel coronavirus is outlasting the narratives of March 2020, and the country will have to reevaluate its assumptions to understand and respond to shifting threats as the public health crisis deepens.
The Washington Post
Some cities are leasing entire hotels to provide rooms for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to infected people, to allow for safe and supportive isolation away from family or household members who risk being infected.
Medium – Bloomberg Cities
The pandemic has raised alarms about density. Post-pandemic, urban planners should fight more passionately than ever for progressive principles that make cities more equitable, pleasant, and, yes, healthy.
California Planning & Development Report
Two more stories to enter into the archive for the great debate of the coronavirus pandemic: How will the public health crisis change the future of cities?
Foreign Policy
Where have all the venues gone?
Los Angeles Times
An opinion piece makes the case for pro-development urban planning as a tool of economic recovery.
The New York Times
A New York Times editorial presents a resoundingly pro-urban call to action regarding the future of planning and investment.
The New York Times
The coronavirus crisis is highlighting the contributions of cities as well as their vulnerabilities and the planning issues that need to be priorities in the future.
The City Fix
Blog post
Even some defenders of urbanism fear buildings that are tall enough for elevators. This fear does not seem to be supported by New York infection data.
