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Places in the News

See which public spaces made headlines in October and November.


Americans Approve Taxes and Bond Measures for Public Transportation
USA Today Despite concerns over the economy, most voters agreed to help pay for new rail systems, highways and bus routes to alleviate traffic congestion. (November 4)

X-List: Ugliest Buildings Should Be Bulldozed
Sunday Mail Scotland’s top architects want to provide tax incentives to encourage demolition and replacement of the ugliest buildings. (November 2)

A Sobering Plan for Jets Stadium on Manhattan’s West Side
New York Times The Jets management, with the support of the city, is threatening to create a new stadium on the far West Side of Manhattan that is so crassly commercial it makes the head spin. It may provide the Jets with a home, but it will extinguish any hope of injecting some humanity into the area. (November 1)

Reducing Auto Traffic in Central Park
New York Times A decades-long process of promoting pedestrian and bicycle traffic in Central Park - while reducing access to cars - moves forward. (October 31)

Design Competition for New High School is Voted Down in Newton, MA
Newton Tab The public facilities committee in Newton MA voted down a design competition for a new high school, and instead proposed requiring some conceptual ideas about site planning from the three finalist architecture firms. (October 27)

Long-Neglected Battery Park is Undergoing Transformation
Wall Street Journal A plan is under way to transform Battery Park, which was little more than a maze of asphalt paths, into one of the city's most exciting open spaces. (October 26)

Subway and Light-Rail Stops are Popular Locations for Housing in L.A.
LA Times Public subsidies, new zoning rules and shifting demographics are fueling a housing boom near transit stations, even in car-crazy Los Angeles. (October 25)

Findlay Market is Adding Flavor to Tradition
Cincinnati Business Courier New vendors at Findlay Market are part of an effort to broaden the culinary offerings at the 152-year-old market, traditionally known for vendors selling specialty meats, cheese, poultry and fish. (October 25)

A Tale of Two Hospitals
The Guardian One is a Kafkaesque monolith with endless echoing corridors, the other is a bright, airy child-friendly haven; the right and wrong ways to design a hospital. (October 25)

"Third Places" Provide Havens for Diverse Discussion
Seattle Times Ron Sher, a member of PPS's Board of Directors, discusses how "third places" cultivate deeper support and a broader range of ideas than people find at their first place (home) or second place (work). (October 24)

Homebuyers Favor Shorter Commutes, Walkable Neighborhoods, Says Survey
U.S. Newswire The prospect of lengthening commutes is leading more Americans to seek walkable neighborhoods in close-in suburbs and cities, according to the 2004 American Community Survey sponsored by the National Association of Realtors(r) and Smart Growth America. (October 20)

PPS Helps Pioneer Courthouse Square Become a Square for All Seasons
The Oregonian As Pioneer Courthouse Square enters its 21st autumn as Portland's "living room," the square's leaders are looking at how to strengthen its link to the downtown area in all seasons; PPS held a series of workshops to help guide the vision. (October 18)

Greenway to Bring Color to Urban Area in Benton County, Arkansas
Daily Record The first section of a 26-mile greenway in the urban setting of Rogers, AR, will be completed this year, and will be used by walkers, runner, and cyclists. (October 18)

Britain's 'Worst Building' to be Demolished on TV
The Guardian TV viewers will be asked to identify Britain's worst building in a new four-part reality series which will culminate in a live broadcast of the building's destruction. (October 14)

Gehry Is Selected as Architect of Ground Zero Theater Center
New York Times The selection of Mr. Gehry for the arts center - which is to include the Joyce Theater and the Signature Theater - brings to Lower Manhattan a celebrity architect who has been notably absent from perhaps the most closely watched architectural site in the world. (October 13)

Long-Term Vision for Nashville is a Downtown Without Interstates
The Tennessean The Nashville Civic Design Center recommends that Nashville tear down the interstate loop that circles downtown and replace it with boulevards, parks and residential and commercial developments that reconnect the city's urban core with its surrounding neighborhoods. (October 8)

Toronto's Waterfront Czar Turns to NYC for Inspiration
The Globe and Mail Director of the long-delayed, $17-billion revitalization of Toronto's central waterfront, is inspired by New York’s aggressive attitude and spirit on the Hudson River Park, and parks along the East River. (October 8)

Third Month of Rail Ridership in Minneapolis Exceeds Expectation
Metropolitan Council Customers rode Hiawatha light-rail trains 424,000 times in September, 87 percent higher than expected ridership of 227,200. (October 7)

Special Features:

Purple Places Majesty

A way forward for America beyond red and blue.

What If We Built Our Cities Around Places?

PPS announces its new Great Cities Initiative, which applies the principles of placemaking to entire cities.

The 20 Best Neighborhoods in North America

Here are our picks. Now it's your turn to select the best spots to live, work, and hang out. Plus: A few of our favorite neighborhoods abroad.

Granville Island: One of the World's Great Places

In the heart of Vancouver, this lively mix of arts, parks, and markets leads off our new hall of fame for great neighborhoods and districts.

The Power of Ten

Why Great Places are more than the sum of their parts.

Cities of Joy

Enrique Peñalosa, former mayor of Bogotá, believes that one day cities of the developing world will offer us lessons about providing everyone with equal access to happiness.

A Tale of Two Cities

Las Vegas is America's fastest growing city. Cleveland is called the mistake by the lake. What's wrong with this picture? Jay Walljasper investigates in Town Square.

Regular Columns:

News from PPS

Announcing a new book by PPS Board member and former Congressman Richard Swett. And -- from Seattle to New Jersey to Eastern Europe -- read about how PPS is turning around places across the globe.

Park Talk

Read what people had to say about our choices for the world's best and worst parks. Plus: The National Park Service and the Downtown DC BID team up to improve public spaces in the capital.

The Place Poll

Tell us what you think of the latest batch of nominations for Great Public Spaces.

Public Voices

A reader dissects our city commentaries and poses the question: Is the quality of a place simply a matter of taste?

Places in the News

See which public spaces made headlines in October and November.



Note: Depending on newspaper policy, links to some articles listed in the archives below may not function after a period of time; in other cases, a fee may be charged to access the article. To browse older stories, visit our News Archive.


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