Failing to receive protection from the St. Petersburg, Florida city council, a historic downtown block faces an uncertain future.

Downtown St. Pete's First Block, comprising 15 historic, low-rise structures in the heart of downtown, has failed to gain protection from potential redevelopment after the city council failed to support a bid to preserve the block. As Linda Saul-Sena of Creative Loafing writes, First Block is a magnet for "energy, activity and authenticity" with a number of bars and restaurants and a music venue anchoring the block. However, after a surprising 4-4 vote by the City Council, which leaves the block unprotected, the Mayor and preservationists are worried for the block's future. A report prepared by staff for the City Council in 2014 identified First Block as an ideal candidate for preservation.
The official city report states, ”The existing building array provides a highly distinctive experience set apart from all other blocks in the urban core. The fully extant row of buildings along Central Avenue represents an existing stock with a large percentage of primary inner constructed skeletons dating no later than 1913.
“Certain visual aspects of the block, as well as its compactness amid surrounding redevelopments encourages feelings of historic quaintness, messy vibrancy, and a certain beauty of age that deliver a strong sense of place. The attraction to the core of mostly brick, low-scaled buildings is delivered in part by how the buildings relate to the visitor in a human scale.”
FULL STORY: Last gasp for First Block? History goes unprotected in Downtown St. Pete

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.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses
The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.

Austin Launches $2M Homelessness Prevention Fund
A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.

Alabama School Forestry Initiative Brings Trees to Schoolyards
Trees can improve physical and mental health for students and commnity members.
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.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
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