Nat M. Zorach, Author at The Handbuilt City

January 2, 2025 Nat M. Zorach

Happy New Year! Wrapping up 2024.

A wrap-up of another year, the last half of which saw me writing a historically limited amount, which is a

January 1, 2025 Nat M. Zorach

The Weird New Political Age

Donald Trump has not yet re-taken the office of the presidency, and there are already fractures between him and co-president Elon Musk.

dan gilbert renaissance center gm detroit

Economic Development Urban Planning

December 6, 2024 Nat M. Zorach

RenCen: It’s Time For Detroit To Reject Silver Bullet Thinking.

Dan Gilbert and General Motors remain among the only two entities that Detroit has never really said “no” to. Both are worth about $40 billion each, and now they want even more money.

urban heat island surface parking lot, asphalt and cars

Parking Urban Planning

November 27, 2024 Nat M. Zorach

Is Underground Parking Really That Expensive?

Underground parking is a good way to rethink the largest single urban land use– and the way to finance and develop it is actually deceptively simple.

Politics

November 18, 2024 Nat M. Zorach

Predictions for Trump 2.0

Revanchism and violent revenge, both hallmarks of American conservatism in 2024. It’s a sort of appalling glimpse at what may be to come in a second Trump presidency.

Cars History Urban Planning

November 3, 2024 Nat M. Zorach

The Lodge Freeway Is Now Old Enough To Retire. Maybe?

In November 1959, commuters rejoiced at the prospects of being On The Lodge Wit It.

Politics

October 26, 2024 Nat M. Zorach

Antonio Brown’s Appearance At a Rally Is An Apt, If Not Depressing, Metaphor for the Trump Campaign.

Whether we’re talking about the moral bankruptcy behind the NFL’s complete refusal to deal with the epidemic of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or the former president’s display of cognitive decline, it’s just all kinds of unfortunate.