In an attempt to discourage urban youth from hanging out in the foyers of apartment buildings, French authorities in Le Havre built them their own faux foyer -- with mixed results.
"Authorities in the French port of Le Havre have found a bizarre way to solve the problem of urban delinquents hanging about in the entry halls of apartment blocks: an entry hall with no apartments.
For several weeks, a "false lobby" has been erected on a stretch of grass in Graville la Vallée, a poor neighbourhood nicknamed "Chicago" in the northern city that houses about 1,500 people, mainly of immigrant extraction.
A red 12-metre-long metal shipping container has been furbished to create the illusion that it is the foyer of an apartment building, with a door and windows, an intercom, a wall of mail boxes, a false elevator and a staircase leading to the roof.
The idea - according to the city's social housing department - is for youths to use it as their recreation area rather than real-life entry halls, where many local people find them an intimidating presence.
Some locals praise the "false lobby" initiative as an imaginative answer to a pressing social need, but the response of most of its intended beneficiaries has been caustic.
Le Figaro newspaper reported yesterday that the buildingless entry hall this weekend attained a new level of verisimilitude: It was vandalized."
FULL STORY: Hall or nothing

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.

The Unseen Aftermath: Wildfires’ Lasting Health and Emotional Burden
Wildfires in Los Angeles not only pose immediate physical health risks but also lead to long-term respiratory problems and mental health struggles, underscoring the need for a coordinated public health response to mitigate their lasting effects.

Public Parks as Climate Resilience Tools
Designed with green infrastructure, parks can mitigate flooding, reduce urban heat, and enhance climate resilience, offering cost-effective solutions to environmental challenges while benefiting communities.

What the Proposed Federal Budget Means for Transit, Rail
The proposed FY 2025 budget keeps spending for public transit and passenger rail essentially the same as in 2024.
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