Author: The Planning Lady
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Modular Housing: a solution to the housing crisis
At the University of Nebraska Lincoln, architecture students over the course of several semesters have been both learning and attempting to solve a major housing problem–how to built smaller homes to accommodate the growing aging population in our cities that are looking to downsize while maintaining affordability. This project was initiated by Partners for a…
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Second Order Preservation
Book Review Historic preservation has long followed a binary approach: Is a building historically significant enough to be listed, or isn’t it? This seemingly simple question forms the foundation of preservation policy across the United States and has shaped our built environment for decades. But what if this framework is fundamentally limiting our ability to…
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2025 Trend Report
The American Planning Association’s 2025 Trend Report, now in its fourth year, serves as a critical resource for planning professionals navigating an increasingly complex future. In our recent conversation with Petra Hurtado on the Booked on Planning podcast, we explored the report’s insights and what they mean for communities nationwide. The report’s most consistent finding…
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The Sustainable Urban Design Handbook
Book Review The latest Booked on Planning episode features an in-depth discussion about sustainable urban design, focusing on Kaarin Knudson’s book, “The Sustainable Urban Design Handbook.” Kaarin, a prominent figure in urban design and the current mayor of Oregon’s second-largest city, shares her insights about creating more livable, equitable, and environmentally friendly communities. This conversation…
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The Power of Existing Buildings
Book Review In a late 2024 Booked on Planning podcast episode, we cover the transformative world of high-performance buildings with experts Robert Sroufe, Craig Stevenson, and Beth Eckenrode. As the authors of “The Power of Existing Buildings,” they illuminate the path to revolutionizing urban environments by reimagining existing structures as sustainable powerhouses. Their deep dive…
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Building for People
Book Review Urban planning is undergoing a significant transformation as professionals and researchers look to reimagine the ways in which cities can develop sustainably. In a recent episode of Booked on Planning, we had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Eliason, author of “Designing for People: Designing Livable, Affordable, Low-Carbon Communities.” Eliason shares invaluable insights into…
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Multisolving: Going Forth
We have reached the end of this multisolving journey, chronicling answers to each of Elizabeth Sawin’s reflections at the chapter ends of her book Multisolving. The last chapter, aptly titled Going Forth, wraps up the content and ends with a much needed prompt when working towards positive change–“Most of All, Keep Going”. This prompt is…
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When Driving is not an Option
Book Review A few weeks ago, the Booked On Planning podcast covered the vital topic of car dependency and its impact on modern urban living with author Anna Zivarts. Her book, “When Driving Is Not An Option: Steering Away From Car Dependency,” presents a compelling case for embracing alternative modes of transportation that cater to…
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Multisolving in Tumultuous Times
The chapter on Multisolving in tumultuous times from Elizabeth Sawin’s book Multisolving feels ever more relevant this year. It builds upon all the content in the book “to help bolster the flexibility and resilience of your multisolving efforts so that they can best meet unpredictable and even destabilizing conditions.” The start to 2025 feels like…
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From the Ground Up
Book Review Kicking off Season 4 of the Booked on Planning podcast, we discussed critical transformations required to make our cities resilient and equitable. Our guest, Alison Sant, the author of “From the Ground Up: Local Efforts to Create Resilient Cities,” brings to light the vital role of community-led efforts in combating climate change and…
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The Planning Lady 