From Dallas to Denver, Las Vegas to Oklahoma City... and now tiny North Adams, Mass. The wildly successful Better Block model has primarily spawned projects in large urban areas, but small towns are starting to pay attention.
In April, students at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts launched "Eagle Street Rising" - a project to remake a street in North Adams, MA's (pop. ~13,000) tiny downtown using ideas and principles from the Better Block Project, reports Edward Damon.
Students in a Green Living Seminar worked from December-April to brainstorm, plan and pull off this one-day event, which is one of the first Better Block events in a small town.
"Students in the class were split into groups to work on different components of the project, including growing flowers to be placed on the street and organizing live street music...One of the most popular features of the event were several 'parklets' along the street, which turned parking spots into an extension of the sidewalk....Another popular component was the One Day Cafe, a 'pop-up business' in an empty building at 19 Eagle St., which provided complimentary coffee and pastries for attendees."
FULL STORY: MCLA students unveil ‘Eagle Street Rising' project to show how to revitalize city blocks
Tactical Urbanism: A Look Back at 2012
From guerrilla wayfinding to future-tising, these are my top five, perhaps lesser known, highlights of a banner year for Tactical Urbanism.
Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path
Community members, aided in part by funding from the city, repurposed a vehicle lane to create a protected bike and pedestrian path for the summer season.
Community-Led Initiatives To Beautify and Reclaim Neglected Areas
Explore successful community-led initiatives that revitalize neglected urban spaces, fostering beauty and reclaiming areas for public benefit and enjoyment.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Washington Legislature Passes Rent Increase Cap
A bill that caps rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation is headed to the governor’s desk.
From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.
New Mexico Aging Department Commits to Helping Seniors Age ‘In Place’ and ‘Autonomously’ in New Draft Plan
As New Mexico’s population of seniors continues to grow, the state’s aging department is proposing expanded initiatives to help seniors maintain their autonomy while also supporting family caregivers.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
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