The Lost City

A city frozen in time since the 1950s is threatened by developers. Architects and planners work to save priceless architecture and public spaces.

1 minute read

February 26, 2003, 8:00 AM PST

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"It is an image Jeffrey Horowitz cannot bear: Havana, the crumbling colonial gem of the Caribbean, transformed into a generic city of shopping malls, glass office buildings and cul-de-sacs sprouting with as much beauty and planning as garden weeds.So Horowitz, a leading U.S. architect and urban planner, is in Havana this weekend with a group of high-level colleagues to confer with their Cuban counterparts about the future of a city whose architecture and development have been essentially frozen in time since Fidel Castro took over in 1959. 'This is an innocent, lost city that is going to be raped by the world,' said Horowitz, noting that cash-flush developers from around the world are lining up to get into Cuba the moment the four-decade-old U.S. economic embargo is lifted."

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan

Tuesday, February 25, 2003 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Bird's eye view of manufactured home park.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

March 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Aerial view of schoolyard in Oakland, California with newly planted trees, sports courts, and playground equipment.

Greening Oakland’s School Grounds

With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.

4 hours ago - FacilitiesNet

Power lines at golden hour with downtown Los Angeles in far background.

California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas

Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.

5 hours ago - Los Angeles Times

Green roadside sign with white text reading "Entering Nez Perce Indian Reservation" against grassy field and blue sky.

Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship

In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.

6 hours ago - The Conversation