A plant company owner in San Diego, California, is hoping his new vegetated roof will help the concept catch on with others in the region.
"In a gritty industrial section of Kearny Mesa, 'plantscaper' Jim Mumford is putting down roots. On his roof. The result, which will come to life this morning, is an elevated oasis in a desert of concrete and metal."
"Experts in the expanding field of ecologically friendly designs don't expect hordes of Mumford's neighbors to join him any time soon. But the idea of vegetated roofs, already popular in Chicago, New York and elsewhere, is growing in Southern California."
" 'You are going to see it more and more,' said Pat Caughey of San Diego, president of the American Society of Landscape Architects. 'It isn't as technically difficult as it used to be.' "
"One local hang-up has been a lack of examples of how to make a vegetated roof look good and function properly. That could change with Mumford's installation."
" 'I think having a local project that takes the lead like this will definitely help with the naysayers,' said Stephen L. Kapp, San Diego chapter president of the U.S. Green Building Council."
FULL STORY: No garden-variety roof
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population
In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.
Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan
City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.
Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?
The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.
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.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research