The Handbuilt City

October 4, 2023 Nat M. Zorach

Day 1 of the Michigan Planning Conference

A trip to Traverse City is the cherry on top of a year filled with exciting developments in planning world.

Climate Environmental Justice Events

October 3, 2023 Nat M. Zorach

Making Environmental and Climate Justice Visible: POCACITO Returns!

I am looking forward to again working with the inimitable Max Gruenig to help put together a conference at the

midjourney rendering of a speculative city environment with colorful infrastructure

Art & Design Artificial Intelligence Urban Planning

October 3, 2023 Nat M. Zorach

Midjourney Parameters: Style & Chaos In Speculative Urbanism

Imagining cities and their infrastructure using artificial intelligence, and playing around with some of the weirder parameters in Midjourney to see what we can squeeze out of the generative AI platform.

Energy Transit infrastructure

September 28, 2023 Nat M. Zorach

Is Bus Electrification Economical or Environmental? Possibly Both.

City buses have historically been powered by dirty diesel engines. Upgrading to CNG improves emissions and reduces smog, but doesn’t improve efficiency. Electrification, on the other hand, could drastically improve efficiency, drastically reduce emissions, and reduce operating costs to boot. There is a higher capital cost up front, which can potentially be amortized over a longer lifespan.

lasalle ontario howard bouffard growth plan for suburban sprawl

Environment Housing Parks & Rec Urban Planning

September 25, 2023 Nat M. Zorach

To Sprawl, Or Not To Sprawl: LaSalle, Ontario Mulls Development Plan

If we can get past the fanciful belief that all growth is good growth, we can critically examine the likes of really bad municipal planning in our southern neighbor of Canada.

eastern market after dark, city at night

Events Parks and Public Space

September 22, 2023 Nat M. Zorach

Eastern Market After Dark, A Perennial Favorite

It’s always nice to remember that our city has vibrant spaces of retail, cultural production, and social exchange, that aren’t just parking lots.

MDOT rendering of a ten-lane boulevard that will replace I-375.

Cars Government Mobility Urban Planning

September 20, 2023 Nat M. Zorach

MDOT: “An I-375 With Fewer Than Ten Lanes Would Take Away People’s Right To Get Around”

Our favorite road engineering agency is finally again talking about replacing the useless stretch of interstate that is I-375. Unfortunately, the plans just keep getting worse and worse.