With only four months to go until the opening ceremony, Gwen Webber checks in on the progress of London's Olympic preparations, and the wider redevelopment effort that the games have sparked.
Located on 500 acres of a former brownfield site in "the depths of East London," the vision for the 2012 Olympic Games was founded on providing an opportunity to kick-start redevelopment of one of the most disadvantaged areas of the capital.
As Webber explains, "London's is the largest regeneration project in the U.K. since the Second World War and, once the Games are over in September, it will also be the biggest new public park in Europe. To achieve these ambitions, the park's infrastructure has been developed with two layers: 'Games time' and 'Legacy-mode.'"
Webber reviews the progress of elements crucial to providing that legacy:
- The Athletes Village, designed by a consortia of 16 architects, will provide 2,818 mixed income homes after the games
- The main stadium (called the Lily), by Populous and Peter Cook, which has been planned to shrink from 80,000 capacity to 25,000 after the games
- The Aquatics Center, by Zaha Hadid Architects, which has been built with a system of flexible floors and boons that will enable the pools to be divided up and their heights to be divided for future use
FULL STORY: Feature> Passing the Torch
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Understanding Road Diets
An explainer from Momentum highlights the advantages of reducing vehicle lanes in favor of more bike, transit, and pedestrian infrastructure.
New California Law Regulates Warehouse Pollution
A new law tightens building and emissions regulations for large distribution warehouses to mitigate air pollution and traffic in surrounding communities.
Phoenix Announces Opening Date for Light Rail Extension
The South Central extension will connect South Phoenix to downtown and other major hubs starting on June 7.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service