This article from Governing Magazine looks at the planning process along the Gulf Coast as cities and towns look to rebuild, but struggle to decide what to rebuild into.
In Long Beach, Mississippi, the planning process has been long and slow, frustrating many citizens and public officials. Many people have an idea about what they want, but not many of those ideas mesh. Public officials are leaning toward New Urbanism, but the citizens and business owners object to what they see as uncharacteristic of their community.
"One alderman chimed in that he wanted downtown Long Beach to resemble Paris, at least in terms of its stroll-worthy ambiance. Others suggested models closer to home, such as the French Quarter in New Orleans or Ocean Springs, a quaint Gulf Coast neighbor whose sidewalk boutiques and sushi counters survived Katrina pretty well intact. It was then that a faction of merchants who had been grumbling quietly to themselves finally spoke up. 'We aren’t those places,' one of them shouted. 'We live in Long Beach, Mississippi.' Another opponent piped up. 'The fact is, people don’t want to walk,' he protested. 'It can’t happen here.' "
FULL STORY: Mississippi’s Urbanist Odyssey

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?

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.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

San Francisco’s Muni Ridership Grew in 2024
The system saw its highest ridership since before the Covid-19 pandemic, but faces a severe budget shortage in the coming year.

Colorado Lawmakers Move to Protect BRT Funding
In the face of potential federal funding cuts, CDOT leaders reasserted their commitment to planned bus rapid transit projects.

Safe Streets Funding in Jeopardy
The Trump administration is specifically targeting bike infrastructure and other road safety projects in its funding cuts.
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