Nate Berg
Nate Berg is a former contributing editor for Planetizen and a freelance journalist.
Contributed 6128 posts
Nate Berg is a former contributing editor for Planetizen and a freelance journalist. He has contributed to The New York Times, National Public Radio, Wired, Fast Company, Metropolis, Next American City, Dwell, the Christian Science Monitor, the Guardian, and Domus, among others. Nate studied print journalism and environmental planning at the University of Southern California. He lives in Los Angeles.
Green Roofs May Be Mandated in Toronto
Toronto City Council is planning to vote on a measure that would require green roofs on most buildings over 54,000 square feet, which would make it the first North American city to require green roofs. Developers are opposing the move.
Un-Developing Abandoned Housing Developments
A stalled and abandoned development along the Florida coast is being scouted by the Trust for Public Land as a possible site for "un-development" -- a return to its natural state as open space.
The Disproportionate Costs of Resort Developments
A new report out of Oregon suggests that the fiscal costs of successful resort developments significantly outweigh their benefits -- and taxpayers are burdened with the tab. Erik Kancler of Central Oregon LandWatch explains.
Who Really Needs A World Cup
<p> Whether you've realized it yet or not, soccer is a big deal in this gloabalizing world. And every four years it's a huge deal for one country: the host of the FIFA World Cup. All eyes are on the host country for the 32-team tournament, which is the most-watched sporting event in the world. And though showtime is just one month long, the host spends years vying, preparing and investing for the tournament. It has major potential to spur broad countrywide improvements and economic development. So when the U.S. made news recently by <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hAf04GntIiIkl5LwxXs5V8nyvDMAD97F6TRG0" target="_blank" title=""US Soccer: Plenty of time for new stadiums" - Associated Press, April 9, 2009">offering forth 70 stadia as possible host sites for either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup</a> (along with <a href="http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/140/world-cup/2009/4/15/1211332/president-obama-trying-to-help-us-world-cup-bid" target="_blank" title="President Obama Trying To Help US World Cup Bid - Goal.com">a reputation booster from President Barack Obama</a>), I had to filter out my national pride. Sure, the U.S. would make a good and clearly able host for the event, but it seems that the potential of the World Cup could be better directed towards a country that really needs large-scale civic improvement and investment.
Inside a 20-Minute City
This piece from <em>Worldchanging</em> looks at the Seattle-area city of Ballard. It's a "20-minute city", where people can get to practically everything they'd want or need to within a 20-minute walk.