More than a decade ago, the city sold control of its curb parking to private investors.

Writing in Jalopnik, Colin Woodard argues that the city of Chicago’s decision to sell control of its parking meters to a group of private investors in 2008 was, in retrospect, “a disaster for the city.”
“Not only did Morgan Stanley jack up the hourly rate on all 36,000 parking meters, but it also requires the city to compensate it for lost revenue any time something such as a parade or road construction temporarily prevents access to a parking meter.” This includes adding new bus stops, raising another hurdle to expanding the city’s bus network.
Woodard adds, “As it turns out, Morgan Stanley actually paid billions less than the deal was worth, and the contract doesn’t expire until 2084, which means most of us will be dead by the time it’s up.” Woodard links to a video from Climate Town that explains the issue in more depth.
FULL STORY: Chicago Selling Its Parking Meters To Morgan Stanley Has Been A Disaster For The City

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

Montreal’s Gorilla Park Repurposes Defunct Railway Track
The park is part of a global movement to build public spaces that connect neighbors and work with local elements to serve as key parts of a city’s green infrastructure.

Art in Action: USC Event Calls for an Urgent Green Energy Transition
The El Respiro / Respire event at USC uses a large-scale human geochoreography to demand an urgent and equitable transition to green energy, blending art, activism, and community engagement to amplify the message of climate justice.

Safe Parking Programs Help People Access Housing
The safety and stability offered by Safe Parking sites have helped 40 percent of unhoused San Diego residents who accessed these programs get into permanent housing.

Study: Single-Staircase Buildings Pose No Additional Risks
Zoning codes have long prohibited single-stair residential buildings due to safety concerns, but changing that could lower the cost of construction and allow for more flexible housing designs.
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.
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research