News

"This is where community planners can be your biggest asset, your new best friend.."

Jenn Goldson, AICP, member of the Massachusetts Association of Consulting Planners

http://www.jmgoldson.com/posts/2020/5/31/whats-on-the-other-side-of-this-pandemic

In the Era of Coronavirus one of the few opportunities to be liberated from our shelter-in-place mandate is to go for a walk — as long as we wear a surgical mask and don’t go near anyone.

Mark Favermann, long time member of the Mass. Association of Consulting Planner

https://artsfuse.org/200930/visual-arts-feature-a-walk-in-the-city-seeing-architectural-details-and-history-in-a-time-of-covid-19/

"We are in transition and will be so for at least the next 30 months"

Carol Todreas, a longtime member of the Mass. Association of Consulting Planners

https://nerej.com/retail-will-prevail-by-carol-todreas

"The urban planning field, like so many professions during the age of Coronavirus, is having an existential crisis. To most planners, fights over community plans, housing, and transportation projects seem trivial amidst a pandemic that could kill millions and bring down the global economy. The work of planners may seem unimportant right now, especially when compared to the life or death work of the medical profession, but it does have a role to play during this period."

https://abundanthousingla.org/what-is-the-role-of-urban-planners-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

“The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure will be announcing today roads that will be closed to really encourage people to get outdoors and feel safe walking and biking and enjoying outdoors with the proper physical, distancing.

The closures are temporary, but Jill Locantore, head of the Denver Streets Partnership, sees an opportunity to show the public what “people-first streets” can do.

“This is basically a huge tactical urbanism project where we can temporarily demonstrate different uses for our streets and allow people to experience that,” Locantore said. “It’s a great opportunity for people to think about whether some of these changes should be made more permanent. Do we actually think our streets are functioning better this way and could continue to function this way even after we emerge from the crisis?”

https://denverite.com/2020/04/03/some-denver-streets-will-go-car-free-giving-people-who-walk-and-bike-more-elbow-room-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Brian Barber, renowned planner, teacher, adviser, mentor, and friend, died in Florida recently at age 82.  Please read this obituary that says so much about what Brian did for the planning community.  A memorial service in the Boston area will be held in late spring.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/wickedlocal-lexington/obituary.aspx?pid=195193718​

"Connectivity is not just a question of geometry... It's critical to consider what people connect for and how....the question of context: who the links are for and what they link to..."

https://www.planetizen.com/node/108924?utm_source=newswire&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news-04022020&mc_cid=dc23bc15cc&mc_eid=b9p0fICGm0

"Changes are coming, but they don't have to be anti-urban, and they could mean a more resilient world for cities and communities of all shapes and sizes...list of predicted changes in cities and the world after the pandemic is over:

• A renewed focus on public health
• More sophisticated urban design
• Fewer retail stores and a different kind of street life"

https://kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/2020/03/26/what-our-cities-will-look-after-coronavirus-pandemic

MACP member Kathleen McCabe, president of McCabe Enterprises, specialists in community development, was inducted into the American Institute of Certified Planners College of Fellows (FAICP)!  

CHAPA Breakfast Forum: Fair Housing Beyond the Law

https://mailchi.mp/chapa/fair-housing-beyond-the-law?e=711fd55b0c