The hottest City Planning Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

Expensive Cities Aren't Attractive Cities: I swear, the last post

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 295 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Housing policy Urban Development City Planning
  1. Cities that are expensive to live in often push out lower-income residents. This leads to a loss of diversity and change in community dynamics.
  2. The income levels in these cities can be misleading. Much of the high income averages come from the remaining, more affluent residents after the poorer ones leave.
  3. Simply being a popular or thriving city doesn't guarantee economic excellence. Many such cities suffer from issues that make them less appealing for all residents.

Expensive Cities Aren't Attractive Cities: One Last Word

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 105 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Housing policy Urban Development Economic Inequality City Planning
  1. Expensive cities aren't necessarily better places to live. They often face issues like high housing costs and displacement of lower-income residents.
  2. Geographic inequality is a big problem, with only a few cities offering better opportunities and amenities. Many other cities have the potential to be great but aren't being developed.
  3. To make cities better, we need to focus on building affordable and accessible spaces rather than just following trends of what is currently expensive.

Make London even greater

Wrong Side of History • 479 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🏝 Travel City Planning Public Transportation Urban Design Architecture
  1. Priority should be given to building more homes in London through ideas like estate regeneration and deregulation of the housing market.
  2. Improving London's aesthetics by creating more open squares and rethinking the design of buildings and infrastructure.
  3. Enhancing transportation in London by expanding the railway system with projects like Crossrail and implementing measures to reduce car dependency and improve cycling infrastructure.

We Need a New Movement for Independent Retail

The New Urban Order • 299 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
💼 Business Retail Economic Development City Planning Commercial Real Estate Small businesses
  1. The uniqueness of independent retail in cities like Cadiz, Spain, highlights the need for a new movement supporting independent retail in American cities.
  2. While American retail may seem to be thriving, there is a concern about the homogenization of street life across cities, showcasing the importance of distinct local retail offerings.
  3. To revitalize independent retail, new solutions such as credit tenant leasing adjustments and promoting corner stores are essential, along with the need for an international movement to advocate for and support independent retail.

Wanting nice cities isn't Nazism

Indian Bronson • 8 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Urban Policy Public Safety Mental health City Planning
  1. Wanting nice cities doesn't mean you're a bad person. It's okay to want a clean and safe environment for everyone.
  2. Some people unfairly label those who care about law and order as extremists. We should challenge those views and believe that improvement is possible.
  3. If we want to make cities better, we need to address the real issues directly instead of ignoring them. This includes finding proper solutions for homelessness and crime.
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The Beginning of the End of Private Cars in American Cities

The New Urban Order • 179 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🏝 Travel Transportation Urban living Autonomous Vehicles City Planning
  1. Private car ownership in American cities is likely to decrease in the coming decades, with a shift towards a variety of mobility options like bikes, scooters, taxis, and rental cars.
  2. Diverse demographic and social trends, including remote work, declining young families, and aging Baby Boomers, are contributing to this transition away from private car ownership.
  3. The rise of car-share options, developments in autonomous vehicles, and the focus on mobility mix in some American cities are further paving the way for decreased reliance on owning cars.

Little boxes — and they all look just the same

City Hall Watcher • 98 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Architecture City Planning Urban Design Development Aesthetics
  1. Toronto's architecture is becoming more monotonous due to recent provincial legislation affecting design approvals for buildings.
  2. City Hall is preparing for a by-election to replace Mayor John Tory, with the process set to begin after Pride weekend.
  3. The development pipeline in Toronto has seen a significant increase in proposed residential units, reaching a record high in 2021.

Moving Past the Old Urban Order

The New Urban Order • 79 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Urban life City Planning Public Service Local Economy Cultural Institutions
  1. Remote work for federal employees is causing low office occupancy rates and potential negative impacts on regional economies and public services.
  2. The idea of place-based workers and professionals being valuable for cities is highlighted, suggesting they are essential for urban civics and progress.
  3. Transitioning to a new urban order requires downsizing or renovating real estate portfolios, empowering better talent in critical entities, and individual support for the desired urban future.

EVs are taking us for a ride

WeBeGreen • 79 implied HN points • 09 Feb 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Electric Vehicles Carbon Emissions Environmental Impact Sustainability City Planning
  1. Electric vehicles (EVs) are seen as a solution to climate change, but their production has a significant environmental impact, especially due to lithium battery production.
  2. Transportation emissions, particularly from cars, are a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives.
  3. There is a pressing need to think beyond traditional car-centric urban planning and explore innovative solutions for more sustainable and eco-friendly transportation.

Manhattan Hotel Futurism

Kneeling Bus • 136 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Nostalgia City Planning Architecture Cultural Preservation
  1. Cities are facing an existential crisis as urban activities move online, disconnecting from physical spaces.
  2. New York is clinging to past eras due to powerful nostalgia, which hinders progress and adaptation to emergent forces like technology.
  3. The future city may resemble suburbs more than traditional urban areas, with less inertia to hold onto the past and more openness to embrace technological advancements.