Free E-book "Readings in Urban Planning and Design"


This manuscript expands upon, and compliments, chapters in the book “Planning Connections – Human, Natural and Man Made.” It includes 37 papers by the author with 136 color and many black and white images.

Both the book, and this compendium of papers, are intended to furnish useful information on the planning process and fundamental principles of environmentally based planning and context sensitive urban design. These are drawn from the author’s more than 50 years of professional practice and their lasting practicality is reflected in the 19 case studies of approved and built projects described in the book on which the author has carried out key managerial and technical roles. 

This compendium is available free - click the link below to view and download the papers.


This compendium completes the proposed study plan for a college level course in urban planning and design as described on the author’s blog site:



For more information on the author click:


petepointnerplanning.blogspot.com






Dear friends, just a brief note to introduce you to my free “e-book”. 

You can access my free e-book "Readings in Urban Planning and Design" with 60 papers (52 published) and over 250 illustrations, available with 30 other posts on my master blog site at www.petepointner.comThis free e-book elaborates on topics and follows the chapters of my book, “Planning Connections – Human, Natural and Man Made” which includes 19 case studies of approved and implemented projects.  A free review copy of this book is available to libraries, the news media or teachers through my publisher, Author House.


Here is an excerpt from “Advice to Young Planners” in “Readings in Urban Planning and Design”


Throughout all the change in my professional life, there have been certain principles of good planning which remained constant, regardless of how they were applied to solving problems and realizing new dreams.  These principles relate to the significant purposes of human life, the needs of society and the reality of the natural world, its resources and eco-systems.  These principles stand in stark contrast to the clichés, passing fancies, confusion, and trivialization of life and important values, as reflected in the media, entertainment and art.  I have tried to identify the principles of sound environmental planning in my new book “Planning Connections – Human, Natural and Man Made”.   However, I would like to suggest the following advice to young planners who wish to: learn life sustaining principles; influence the shaping of healthy and satisfying communities; and, grow themselves as effective professionals.


  1. Be a generalist with a specialty, a specialty that reflects your personal interests and abilities.

  2. Learn to love learning.  Take time to read.  Become good at what you do.

  3. Be happy in your work and enjoy it for its own sake.  Focus on the task at hand.

  4. Enjoy solving problems and meeting challenges. 

  5. Involve all interested and affected parties in the planning process.

  6. Listen well.  Respect other persons and their views.

  7. Don’t assume.  Dig for the facts, dig to find out how things relate. Seek the connections between the pieces and the whole, the bigger picture, the broader time frame, the more complete balance sheet of relevant factors. 

  8. Be organized and be efficient in your use of time. 

  9. Be enthusiastic.  Your work is important.  You are important.  Make a difference.

  10. Keep your idealism and live up to your highest ideals.  Life and work are going to be tough regardless of what direction you take, so take the high road. 


Since it can be daunting to check through this web site listing, I am attaching the Table of Contents for the free book. If you spot a blog you would like to read and have trouble downloading, let me know and I will send you a copy. 


Best regards, "Pete"




High Rise Stadium

 


Chicago proposes a major redevelopment of Soldier's Field in an effort to keep the Chicago Bears in the City of Chicago. The Bears plan to build a new stadium in suburban Arlington Heights.

Click to view the article and video:

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/sports/bears-soldier-field-dome-pictures-video?utm_source=MKT_sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pn_mid_contentemails_subscription_january2023

________

The illustration below is the concept that the Bears are pursuing a new stadium in suburban Arlington Heights, Illinois on the site of a former racetrack. The Bears are under contract to play in Soldier's Field until 2033 so a new stadium will not be built for some time.


Click to read the article:

https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/chicago-bears-new-stadium-arlington-park-soldier-field-nfl/

________


The discussion reminds me of a proposal I made in a little book I wrote called Dreams & Schemes, Plans to Improve The Chicago Region. The section about a high-rise stadium is excerpted below:


HIGH-RISE STADIUM

It is widely recognized that a domed stadium is a desirable attribute for U.S. cities. Chicago has long sought an enclosed stadium.  The high costs of the construction of domed stadiums have thus far precluded development.  The purpose of this essay is to outline a new type of stadium that can be constructed in high-density downtown areas.  
As any developer knows, increased density often brings higher revenues.  More units per acre is a basic developmental rule to spread land and infrastructure costs across a higher number of tenants.  This rule, however, is usually ignored in stadium development.  Most stadiums are simple playing fields surrounded by a few stories of seating, which are seldom used. It is, therefore, difficult to develop new stadiums in downtown areas. They are generally constructed in lower-cost areas outside the city central business district, with heavy public subsidies.
The recent construction of sky boxes in Soldier's Field illustrates a simple increase in density. The rental rate of the sky boxes is substantial.  The sky boxes themselves provide a comfortable way of observing events. The initial development of one story of sky boxes was followed by a second story. The success of the sky boxes points the way for future stadiums.
Clustering modern high-rise buildings around a stadium would permit the interior side of the buildings to function as sky boxes.  The buildings would combine traditional seating around the playing field with high-rise office, commercial, or residential development on all sides of the stadium. A hotel and convention center would be an obvious use for part or all of the buildings surrounding the stadium.  Office space in the structure would become the ultimate status address, with commensurate rents.
The building may or may not be enclosed at the roof.  The structure of the roof is also in question. It could be left open, be a dome, a pyramid, or rentable floor space. The surrounding building could be cantilevered toward the center, reducing the size and cost of the roof.
The ultimate height of the structures around the stadium depends on market conditions and on how high the structure can be before the view of the field is compromised. Lower space would be the most desirable since it would be closest to the playing field. All interior tenants of the buildings would have an excellent view of the playing field below.  
In concept, the enclosed stadium is similar to the enormous atriums now in vogue in hotels.  The density derived makes possible stadiums in high-cost downtown locations.  The actual footprint of the development need be no greater than a  conventional stadium, which is little larger than a city block.
The new stadium should be open to the public and function as a park atrium when not in use. Concerts, plays, lectures, etc could be conducted.  The stadium would thus become a focal point for activity in a high-density downtown location.  
A high-rise stadium in downtown Chicago is feasible.  It should be built adjacent to or in the Loop so that the existing parking, transit, and service business are used. The downtown location would enhance the loop and central city. It should be constructed.



Map of American Indian trails and Villages of Chicago


 

Map of American Indian trails and villages of Chicago, and of Cook, DuPage and Will counties in 1804. Map by Albert F. Scharf, 1900-1901. Villages highlighted in green; principle trails in red and waterways in blue. Photograph: Chicago History Museum/Getty Images


https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jan/17/native-american-routes-the-ancient-trails-hidden-in-chicagos-grid-system



World Population Growth

  



Some interesting world population data on the link below.  Thankfully, population growth rates are slowing.

https://ourworldindata.org/population-growth



The forecasts below project that population will continue to rise more slowly, eventually stoping at about ten billion people.

World Population Projections

Year
World Population
Yearly
Change
Net
Change
Density
(P/Km²)
20238,045,311,4470.88 %70,206,29154
20248,118,835,9990.91 %73,524,55255
20258,191,988,4530.90 %73,152,45455
20268,264,364,5090.88 %72,376,05655
20278,335,977,6710.87 %71,613,16256
20288,406,828,7920.85 %70,851,12156
20298,476,889,3910.83 %70,060,59957
20308,546,141,3270.82 %69,251,93657
20318,614,532,7450.80 %68,391,41858
20328,682,091,9840.78 %67,559,23958
20338,748,798,5420.77 %66,706,55859
20348,814,575,1710.75 %65,776,62959
20358,879,397,4010.74 %64,822,23060
20368,943,206,7020.72 %63,809,30160
20379,006,026,3700.70 %62,819,66860
20389,067,889,0260.69 %61,862,65661
20399,128,661,2150.67 %60,772,18961
20409,188,250,4920.65 %59,589,27762
20419,246,673,3000.64 %58,422,80862
20429,303,896,8510.62 %57,223,55162
20439,359,836,4200.60 %55,939,56963
20449,414,408,4230.58 %54,572,00363
20459,467,543,5750.56 %53,135,15264
20469,519,190,8040.55 %51,647,22964
20479,569,297,8860.53 %50,107,08264
20489,617,774,4700.51 %48,476,58465
20499,664,516,1460.49 %46,741,67665
20509,709,491,7610.47 %44,975,61565
20519,752,656,9160.44 %43,165,15565
20529,794,102,0430.42 %41,445,12766
20539,833,861,1910.41 %39,759,14866
20549,871,900,6020.39 %38,039,41166
20559,908,304,8690.37 %36,404,26767
20569,943,123,2620.35 %34,818,39367
20579,976,440,1500.34 %33,316,88867
205810,008,310,1110.32 %31,869,96167
205910,038,705,8610.30 %30,395,75067
206010,067,733,6060.29 %29,027,74568
206110,095,573,0640.28 %27,839,45868
206210,122,307,6790.26 %26,734,61568
206310,147,949,1150.25 %25,641,43668
206410,172,513,7750.24 %24,564,66068
206510,195,964,9000.23 %23,451,12568
206610,218,273,0160.22 %22,308,11669
206710,239,583,7800.21 %21,310,76469
206810,259,872,9910.20 %20,289,21169
206910,279,074,8700.19 %19,201,87969
207010,297,166,7110.18 %18,091,84169
207110,314,142,3030.16 %16,975,59269
207210,330,059,8540.15 %15,917,55169
207310,344,891,4920.14 %14,831,63869
207410,358,552,7630.13 %13,661,27170
207510,370,994,1980.12 %12,441,43570
207610,382,180,3970.11 %11,186,19970
207710,392,082,0000.10 %9,901,60370
207810,400,749,7530.08 %8,667,75370
207910,408,266,9220.07 %7,517,16970
208010,414,637,1890.06 %6,370,26770
208110,419,851,4890.05 %5,214,30070
208210,424,022,8960.04 %4,171,40770
208310,427,226,4000.03 %3,203,50470
208410,429,447,3950.02 %2,220,99570
208510,430,679,1010.01 %1,231,70670
208610,430,926,2810.00 %247,18070
208710,430,267,624-0.01 %-658,65770
208810,428,830,626-0.01 %-1,436,99870
208910,426,601,147-0.02 %-2,229,47970
209010,423,541,036-0.03 %-3,060,11170
209110,419,647,132-0.04 %-3,893,90470
209210,414,959,829-0.04 %-4,687,30370
209310,409,491,089-0.05 %-5,468,74070
209410,403,272,149-0.06 %-6,218,94070
209510,396,305,844-0.07 %-6,966,30570
209610,388,517,149-0.07 %-7,788,69570
209710,379,888,448-0.08 %-8,628,70170
209810,370,445,196-0.09 %-9,443,25270
209910,360,269,362-0.10 %-10,175,83470
210010,349,323,038-0.11 %-10,946,32469


https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/world-population-projections/



Free E-book "Readings in Urban Planning and Design"

Readings in Urban Planning and Design This manuscript expands upon, and compliments, chapters in the book “Planning Connections – Human, Nat...