A Treehugger column picks up on the historic idea of the "Linear City" as a counter point to the current pressures to build up in cities around the world.
"There is a lot of talk these days about Vertical Cities, the idea we should build supertall buildings that include all necessary functions of a city, and surround them by green space for park and agriculture," writes Lloyd Alter, "but there is another alternative that I always thought made more sense, the linear city."
Alter goes on two provide a brief history of the idea, starting from the Jersey Corridor Project, proposed by Michael Graves and Peter Eisenman in 1965. The current Michael Graves exhibition, Past as Present, showing at Grounds for Sculpture in New Jersey through April made the video below to describe the Jersey Corridor Project.
Alter concludes by arguing for the pertinence of the idea to the current development climate: "All over North America, lots of money is being spent on rail and transit infrastructure; perhaps the linear city is an idea whose time has finally come, and could help pay for it all."
FULL STORY: Instead of Vertical Cities, should we be thinking about Linear Cities?
Portland Building, Remodeled Instead of Demolished, Might Lose Historic Status
A renovation saved the Portland Building, designed by postmodern pioneer Michael Graves, from demolition, but its likely doomed its status on the National Register of Historic Places.
Obituary: Michael Graves, Leading Post-Modern Architect
Michael Graves, founding principal of Michael Graves & Associates, who produced some of the world's most recognizable examples of post-modern architecture, passed away this week at 80 years old.
Will City Demolish Graves' Pioneering Postmodern Portland Building?
Faced with $95 million in necessary repairs just 32 years after its Michael Graves-designed administrative headquarters was opened, Portland officials are considering razing the nation's first major work of postmodern architecture.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.
Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.
Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service