Author: The Planning Lady
-
The Impact of Early Preservation Groups in America
The Mount Vernon Ladies Association, a group formed for the sole purpose of saving George Washington’s stately home on the Potomac River from ruin in the 1850s, is the oldest national historic preservation organization. They formed during when America was still a young nation, less than 100 years old. Homes like Washington’s represented a lasting…
Written by
·
-
The Origins of Historic Preservation
The most commonly cited start to the historic preservation movement is the Ladies of Mount Vernon’s valiant effort to raise funds to preserve George Washington’s home. As the first president of the United States, Ann Pamela Cunningham and her fellow advocates were dismayed at the dismal state of his home overlooking the Potomac River. In…
Written by
·
-
Brave New Home
Book Review The way we live and the spaces we call home have been constantly evolving, yet one truth remains: housing is not just about structures; it’s about communities, economies, and the very fabric of society. The latest episode of the Booked on Planning podcast presents an engaging conversation with author Diana Lind, who offers…
Written by
·
-
The Bicycle City
Book Review In our May podcast episode, we talk about sustainable urban development via the bicycle with Dan Piatkowski, author of “Bicycle City: Riding the Bike Boom to a Brighter Future.” The episode provides a comprehensive look at the cycling revolution that’s poised to transform mid-sized cities like Lincoln, Nebraska, and the growing influence of…
Written by
·
-
The Fight to Save the Town
Book Review In an era where the narrative of urban decay often overshadows tales of recovery, a recent podcast episode featuring Michelle Wild Anderson offers a refreshing counter-narrative. Anderson, author of “The Fight to Save the Town: Reimagining Discarded America,” shares a compelling account of resilience and renewal in America’s most overlooked towns. This episode…
Written by
·
-
Rural Renaissance
Book Review The March 12th episode of Booked on Planning featured author Michelle Moore, an advocate for sustainable energy solutions in rural America who recently published Rural Renaissance. Moore shared her wealth of knowledge on the subject, emphasizing the vital role that rural cooperatives and public power companies play in rejuvenating America’s heartland. With a…
Written by
·
-
Minneapolis Music History
Minneapolis is home to famed musicians and sounds, from Bob Dylan and folk to Prince and The Minneapolis Sound to the punk rockers of the 1980s and 90s. A bus tour was created for the 2024 American Planning Association Conference to show the places that put Minneapolis music on the map. The tour brings to…
Written by
·
-
The American Urbanist
Book Review It is nearly impossible to make it out of a planning program without learning about William Hollingsworth Whyte and his influence on urban design. He studied the intricate weave of social interactions in public spaces which formed the core of a fascinating discussion with author Richard Rein in the latest Booked on Planning…
Written by
·
-
Is Renewable Energy Better for the Environment?
I saw a post on social media recently that showed the massive battery system required to power a Tesla and listed out all the environment downsides that go into the extraction. The article estimated that it takes 7 years of driving the electric vehicle before it starts to pay off the environmental harms caused by…
Written by
·
-
People, Planet, Design
Book Review The world of design and architecture holds untapped potential for promoting sustainability, a topic we dove into with author Corey Squire, of “People, Planet, Design: A Practical Guide to Realizing Architecture’s Potential,” in our latest Booked on Planning episode. In the episode coming out in a few weeks, we discussed how design choices…
Written by
·
The Planning Lady 