• Actions for rebuilding health and opportunity

    A Pandemic Toolkit describes 22 actions that local governments can take to safely jumpstart their economies.
    In the last seven months, many of us have turned our attention to cataloguing and collecting planning practices of how cities, towns, and suburbs are responding to COVID-19 in an attempt to rebuild health and opportunity. Thanks to those of you who contributed to the PlaceMakers Pandemic Response...Read more

  • Is HOD the next TOD?

    Hospital-oriented development, with parallels to transit-oriented development, should be the next big thing.
    Compact, mixed-use, walkable communities have been revolutionizing the land use and real estate development paradigm in the Unites States over the past 30-years. Transit-oriented development, innovation districts, university town centers, main street retail, “healthy communities,” and revitalized...Read more

  • Where are building types needed in land-use codes?

    Regulation of building types helps to provide predictability and clearly articulate the intended outcomes in many kinds of walkable neighborhoods, but they are not helpful everywhere.
    As I wrote in May , building types are important in land-use regulations for many reasons. Now, let’s explore where they are needed. This post focuses on where building types are most effective, where they could be helpful but aren’t necessary, and where they are not necessary and should not be...Read more

  • A Tactical Urbanism guide for pandemic voting

    Streets for Voting is a useful tool for communities across the US struggling with new requirements for polling sites in a crucial election.
    Whatever happens on November 3, we can be assured of big presidential election turnout. How do officials deal with lines at polling places that demand social distancing and protection of workers and voters during a pandemic? Local governments and elected officials should consult Streets for Voting...Read more