Category: Policy
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Detroit Goes Bankrupt?
Detroit filed for bankruptcy. City planners received this news with shock and dismay, like the death of an ailing uncle, the conversations around the water coolers made it sound like the City was living on borrowed time. But the big question is why? Why Detroit, which in the 1950’s was the nation’s fourth largest city, with a population of 1.8 million, was allowed…
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NACTO Urban Street Design Guide available 9/23/2013
About a year ago talk began about the NACTO* Urban Street Design Guide. This video indicates that it might be out next month! September 23, 2013 to be precise. You can even pre-order, if you are are into that sort of thing. This guide may be an important step in helping to adjust Federal…
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End of the Suburbs by Leigh Gallagher
PRESS Pass: Leigh Gallagher. A couple of interviews with Leigh Gallagher have recently been published (including the above video link) about her new book The End of the Suburbs. Her book looks at the history of the suburbs and the recent demographic shifts that have been occurring and what it means for the future…
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Arsenal
So I recently discovered by way of the Guggenheim that there is going to be a new book published by Actar entitled, The Arsenal of Exclusion and Inclusion, out next spring (2014) on the subtle tactics and tools humans have used to shape their territories. Often this means excluding unwanted residents and visitors. The…
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Taksim Square: Istanbul Residents vs Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
This is our second post about Taksim Square. For city planners and architects looking in from the outside there are two issues; 1) what are the merits of the development proposals for Taksim Square; and 2) did Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality consult civic groups and organizations representing business owners and residents of the area before commencing construction? The answer to both questions is a…
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Taksim Square: To whom does this public space belong?
Taksim Square is a central public space and transit hub located in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey. It is a major tourist attraction with hotels, shops, restaurants, and cultural landmarks. It is also a place where public events, parades, and New Year celebrations take place. Also, one of the largest and most visited pedestrian commercial corridors…