Urben Field Notes

Urben Field Notes explores the evolving landscape of urban planning in America, examining policies, projects, and challenges in housing, transportation, and urban development. It critiques traditional and emerging approaches, highlighting innovative solutions and potential pitfalls in the quest for sustainable, equitable urban growth.

Urban Planning Housing Policies Transportation Gentrification Urban Development Projects Sustainable Development Public Policy Infrastructure

The hottest Substack posts of Urben Field Notes

And their main takeaways

Trains and transmission: A climate solution hiding in plain sight?

70 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Energy Policy Transportation Sustainability Infrastructure
  1. Building transmission lines along railroads can help reduce climate change and improve both passenger and freight train service. This idea uses existing land to create cleaner energy options and faster trains.
  2. Electrifying trains can lead to less pollution, faster travel, and more efficient freight shipping. New battery technologies make this more affordable than before.
  3. Government plans highlight the right areas for train electrification and better energy transmission. However, significant funding and cooperation will be necessary to turn these plans into reality.

San Francisco grows up and slims down

189 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Urban Development Housing policy Architecture Zoning Laws Social Issues
  1. San Francisco is changing its building rules, allowing taller, skinnier apartment buildings. This is a big shift in how the city builds new homes.
  2. The new buildings will replace old, less useful structures, helping neighborhoods grow without destroying local history. They also offer space for small shops, making the area more vibrant.
  3. A new law is making it quicker to approve housing projects, which could lead to more of these new developments actually being built. This opens up opportunities for people to find homes in the city.

What’s next for New York’s historic preservation movement?

54 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Urbanism Historic Preservation Zoning Housing policy Landmarks
  1. New York has a strong historic preservation law that protects many buildings, but it can also make it hard to build new homes in desirable areas. This creates a tough balance between keeping history and making space for more people.
  2. Some new development plans, like the SoHo rezoning, try to add more housing while keeping important historic buildings safe, which could help both residents and the city's character.
  3. There are better ways to work with historic buildings so new structures can fit in without getting in the way of preserving important parts of the city's history. It's about finding a middle ground where old and new can coexist.

How high-speed rail won over the world

124 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Transportation Infrastructure Public Policy Economic Growth Environmental Impact
  1. Many countries around the world are expanding their high-speed rail systems, while the US is falling behind. It's surprising that America doesn't have more fast trains since the technology has been around for a long time.
  2. High-speed rail is benefitting countries with increased passenger numbers and better environmental impact. Rail travel produces far less carbon pollution compared to cars and planes, making it a cleaner option.
  3. To develop high-speed rail in the US, there may be a need to collaborate with countries that have experience in building these systems. Learning from others could help the US catch up in this area.

Build housing in S.F.'s Presidio? It's not as crazy as it sounds.

48 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Housing policy Urban Development Economic Inequality
  1. Building housing in San Francisco's Presidio is a feasible idea. There is space available that won't harm nature or historic sites.
  2. A new model of social housing could work well in the Presidio. This means creating affordable homes by mixing different income levels in one area.
  3. People should discuss how much new development is right for the Presidio. Finding a balance between more housing and keeping the area beautiful is important.
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Will Trump derail America’s high-speed rail plans?

97 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Transportation Policy Infrastructure Political Analysis
  1. High-speed rail projects in the U.S. are gaining traction, especially in red states, which could change the support they receive from future administrations.
  2. Former President Trump may not prioritize high-speed rail development like Biden did, but the growing popularity of public-private rail projects might appeal to him.
  3. New high-speed rail proposals are emerging, such as those connecting Atlanta and Charlotte, which may succeed if they find private sector backing and support from key political figures.

A 420-foot skyscraper could rise in the heart of low-slung Silicon Valley

37 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
  1. California cities are shifting from anti-housing to pro-housing development, seen in proposed high-rise projects like the one in Menlo Park.
  2. The traditional NIMBY urban development paradigm focused on context, community engagement, and preservation, while the emerging YIMBY paradigm prioritizes building housing in urban areas.
  3. Balancing high-density housing needs and historic preservation presents challenges in urban development, requiring creative solutions and a new consensus in public policy.

Think the city is a museum? Wait until you hear about the suburbs

43 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Urbanism Architecture Housing Historic Preservation
  1. The housing crisis is not just in cities, but also in suburbs where banal cityscapes are treated as architectural gems.
  2. Historic preservation policies in expensive cities like New York often benefit elite areas while ignoring the suburbs and banal neighborhoods.
  3. Efforts to address housing shortages in major cities like New York require redeveloping existing structures and involving suburbs in housing solutions.

California Forever, the tech-billionaire funded city, plans for transit after all

32 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Urban Design Tech Innovations
  1. California Forever, a tech-billionaire funded city in the Bay Area, is planning to include transit connections to improve accessibility and reduce reliance on cars.
  2. The lead urban designer behind California Forever is aiming to integrate rail systems to connect the new city to Sacramento and the Bay Area, highlighting the importance of regional transit connections.
  3. The proposed transit plans involve challenges such as negotiating with Union Pacific for track usage, but the project envisions a cohesive urban ecosystem with high-quality transit services and a compact urban form for easy access.

Amtrak is still riding the nostalgia train

32 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
💼 Business Transportation Finances Government Infrastructure Policy
  1. Long-distance trains are nostalgic but may not be the most efficient way to provide rail service to small towns and neglected regions.
  2. Expanding long-distance train routes could reach more Americans, but issues include unreliable trip durations, inconvenient schedules, and high costs.
  3. Optimizing rail routes by focusing on shorter, higher-demand trips could be a more cost-effective and efficient way to improve passenger rail service in America.

The perils of freeway caps

32 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Urban planning Transportation Community Advocacy
  1. Covering urban freeways with parks through freeway caps is a popular urban planning trend, but it may not fully address the deeper issues of routing heavy traffic through dense neighborhoods.
  2. Freeway caps can be politically attractive solutions, especially in high-traffic areas, but may not be the most imaginative or effective options in all cases, potentially entrenching urban freeways for generations.
  3. Transportation planning often prioritizes vehicles over transit alternatives, showcasing a need for a shift towards more comprehensive approaches like full freeway removal projects, leading to better urban planning and community connectivity.

Is this the first wave of de-gentrification?

37 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Neighborhoods Gentrification
  1. Some trendy neighborhoods are experiencing potential de-gentrification, with shifts in economic fortunes and high crime rates.
  2. Urban neighborhoods are constantly evolving due to various social and economic factors, leading to their identities being fleeting and dynamic.
  3. De-gentrification is not solely about crime and economic decline; it can lead to opportunities for new businesses and residents as neighborhoods change.

A Genealogy of Gentrification

48 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🎭️ Culture Urban Studies History Sociology Politics Gentrification
  1. Gentrification can have different meanings to different people, leading to a complex perspective on urban change.
  2. Historically, gentrification has roots in the ideologies and actions of the first-wave gentrifiers in Brooklyn.
  3. The narrative around gentrification has been influenced by brownstoners, shaping the understanding of urban inequality and development.

The Magic of Electrified Trains

27 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Transportation
  1. Electrified trains can decrease travel times and increase transportation capacity in urban areas.
  2. Caltrain's electrification project will significantly reduce travel times and increase service.
  3. Rail electrification projects can serve as superior transportation technology and improve mobility.

A Robotaxi Regulation Wishlist

27 implied HN points • 11 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Regulations Transportation Urban planning Public Policy Technology impact
  1. The decisions made now by San Francisco and California about robotaxis will have a significant impact.
  2. Implementing specific regulations for robotaxis can help in managing traffic congestion and improving city transportation.
  3. There is a need for regulations like congestion pricing, robotaxi-free corridors, and designated pickup spots to enhance the integration of robotaxis in city transportation systems.

California is on the brink of a transportation nightmare

27 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Transportation Budget Legislation
  1. California is facing a transportation crisis that could lead to serious service cuts and canceled bus lines.
  2. New York recently passed a multi-billion dollar transit rescue package, highlighting the stark difference in funding support for transit between California and New York.
  3. The future of transit in California will have broad implications for the state's policy commitments and urban identity.

“Housing reform must not be allowed to make house famines”

27 implied HN points • 13 Dec 22
  1. The housing crisis in America is caused by both restrictive regulations and lack of funding for affordable housing.
  2. Minimum housing standards and government-funded affordable housing need to work together for a comprehensive solution.
  3. Striking a balance between housing regulation and government support is crucial to prevent house famines and homelessness.

What's holding America's freeway removal movement back?

10 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Infrastructure Community Public Health Environmental Impact Urban Development
  1. Pioneering freeway removal projects are being completed, but more difficult challenges remain
  2. There's a need for a stronger response to concerns about displacement and gentrification in freeway removal projects
  3. There is a lack of attention on the pollution and public health impacts of urban freeways, requiring clear data for advocacy

America's Unsung Rail Renaissance

3 HN points • 26 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Transportation
  1. Improved conventional rail is becoming more widespread across the country.
  2. State-initiated projects are significantly upgrading passenger rail services in various states.
  3. Potential for growth and modernization exists in various regions, making passenger rail a viable transportation option.

The real problem with California Forever

1 HN point • 18 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Urban planning Transportation
  1. The new city California Forever lacks regional transit planning, which is a significant flaw.
  2. The city focuses on good urban design, such as mixed-use buildings, bike lanes, and bus-rapid transit corridors.
  3. Despite thoughtful transportation planning within the city, the project neglects regional transportation solutions, missing opportunities for better transit connectivity.

Learning from Houston

3 HN points • 05 Feb 23
  1. Houston's permissive housing policies contribute to affordability and dense housing stock.
  2. Houston's lack of zoning regulations has both positive and negative impacts on development.
  3. Houston's diverse townhouse architecture and development patterns offer lessons for other cities to ensure balanced and equitable growth.