In order to preserve its working waterfront, the City of Portland, ME, must balance the pressures of urban redevelopment in the city's thriving Old Port district with the needs of the fishermen who have worked there for centuries.
Custom House Wharf, which extends 450 feet from Commercial Street into Portland Harbor, is an artifact of that era. With its sagging fish shacks, funky odors and dilapidated buildings, it's the kind of place tourists judge to be authentic and quaint, if not a little scary.
But change could be coming. Custom House Wharf is part of the central waterfront zone, the collection of 16 wharves and piers closest to the Old Port. A city task force is looking at the area's infrastructure needs and determining whether Portland should overhaul the restrictive zoning rules adopted in 1992 to block the creep of high-end condominiums and trendy restaurants into the working waterfront.
FULL STORY: Gritty Waterfront in Flux?
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Research Shows More Roads = More Driving
A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.
Judge Halts Enforcement of Anti-Homeless Laws in Grants Pass
The Oregon city will be barred from enforcing two ordinances that prosecute unhoused residents until it increases capacity and accessibility at designated camping sites.
Advancing Sustainability in Los Angeles County Schools
The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Green Schools Symposium brings together educators, students, and experts to advance sustainability in schools through innovative design, climate resilience strategies, and collaborative learning.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
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.
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport