History / Preservation

Hurricane Harvey and the Failure of the National Flood Insurance Program
Houston's most recent natural disaster is only the latest example of how a program created to help homeowners has been a greater benefit to the industries that profit from them.

A Detroit Neighborhood 'Sentenced to Die'
A handful of Delray residents refuse to be displaced by industry, but the plan for a new bridge may mean they don't have a choice.

Can We Know Which Homes in California Will Burn?
As the state's worst wildfire season ever refuses to end, an analyst from UCLA considers how land use and building codes determine the location and extent of the damage.

Researchers Warn Historic Sites Could Be Washed Away By Rising Seas
Researchers have created a digital database of archaeological sites in the U.S.—and thousands could be lost to sea-level rise.

Barrier Wall Could Delay Southwest Light Rail in Twin Cities
A proposed 1.4 mile safety barrier may require additional review, and could further delay the project

Baltimore Confronts Underinvestment in Communities of Color
As part of an interdepartmental effort, the city's planning department is embedding an explicit equity lens into how it considers the distribution of civic resources.

Timber Industry 'Bracing' for Soaring Demand
Building with wood is back in fashion, but lumber producers have to reckon with thorny politics and new timber-based materials that have yet to be truly defined.

The Community Takes Ownership of Harvard Square
Harvard Square bears the name of a prestigious private university, but it's still public space. More community organizations are taking a role in determining its future in an era of change for the historic location.

The Lessons Jane Jacobs and Christopher Alexander Still Have to Teach
Robert Steuteville reviews Cities Alive, by Michael Mehaffy, describing the newly released book as "an important analysis for urbanism."

Recognizing the Achievements of Black Urbanists
Blogger and planners Pete Saunders is acknowledging black urbanists from all over the spectrum of civic involvement.

The 'Deliberately Unkind' Public Art of the High Line
"You could be forgiven for reading the art as a message to less-than-opulent New Yorkers: You’ve lost your place," writes Michael Friedman.

Rebuilding by Design, This Time in Houston
History shows that there's more than one way to control flooding, but the best ideas are also urban amenities.

The 1854 Map That Transformed Public Health in Urban Areas
Disease mapping made a significant leap forward in the 19th century, and data scientists and geographic information scientists are still contributing to the public health field.

Save the Historic Tax Credit, Save Buildings in Philadelphia and Elsewhere
Renovations of historic structures in Philly are an example of the nationwide importance of the historic tax credit.

How Tulsa Beat Flooding Without Saying 'Climate Change'
An oil town in a red state proves we don't have to talk about climate change to adapt to it.

Electric Vehicle Sales Would Take a Hit With GOP's Tax Cut
The House GOP tax plan, which Trump wanted to name the "Cut, Cut, Cut" bill, was intended to cut taxes, but it's also cutting credits, like the federal $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit. How much would its elimination affect EV sales?

David Simon on the Uniqueness of New York
The creator of "The Wire" talks to CityLab about "The Deuce," New York City in the 1970s, and how strategies for one town won't always work for another.

Friday Eye Candy: Highly Detailed Cold War Era Soviet Maps of the U.S.
A new book sheds light on maps created by cartographers in the Soviet Union that dove into remarkable detail about buildings, transportation networks, and other infrastructure in cities across the United States and around the world.

13 Cultural Landscapes At Risk of Disappearing
Threats facing major U.S. cultural sites today include development, drilling, and the federal government.

Adaptive Brew-Use
The Associated Press explores the trend of churches rebuilt as breweries.
Pagination
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