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.

Readings in Urban Planning and Design

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:

urbanplanninganddesigncourse.blogspot.com

For more information on the author click:

petepointnerplanning.blogspot.com

petepointner.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.com. This 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.

Be a generalist with a specialty, a specialty that reflects your personal interests and abilities.
Learn to love learning. Take time to read. Become good at what you do.
Be happy in your work and enjoy it for its own sake. Focus on the task at hand.
Enjoy solving problems and meeting challenges.
Involve all interested and affected parties in the planning process.
Listen well. Respect other persons and their views.
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.
Be organized and be efficient in your use of time.
Be enthusiastic. Your work is important. You are important. Make a difference.
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.

Read the full book here:

http://dreamsandschemesforchicago.blogspot.com/

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)
2023	8,045,311,447	0.88 %	70,206,291	54
2024	8,118,835,999	0.91 %	73,524,552	55
2025	8,191,988,453	0.90 %	73,152,454	55
2026	8,264,364,509	0.88 %	72,376,056	55
2027	8,335,977,671	0.87 %	71,613,162	56
2028	8,406,828,792	0.85 %	70,851,121	56
2029	8,476,889,391	0.83 %	70,060,599	57
2030	8,546,141,327	0.82 %	69,251,936	57
2031	8,614,532,745	0.80 %	68,391,418	58
2032	8,682,091,984	0.78 %	67,559,239	58
2033	8,748,798,542	0.77 %	66,706,558	59
2034	8,814,575,171	0.75 %	65,776,629	59
2035	8,879,397,401	0.74 %	64,822,230	60
2036	8,943,206,702	0.72 %	63,809,301	60
2037	9,006,026,370	0.70 %	62,819,668	60
2038	9,067,889,026	0.69 %	61,862,656	61
2039	9,128,661,215	0.67 %	60,772,189	61
2040	9,188,250,492	0.65 %	59,589,277	62
2041	9,246,673,300	0.64 %	58,422,808	62
2042	9,303,896,851	0.62 %	57,223,551	62
2043	9,359,836,420	0.60 %	55,939,569	63
2044	9,414,408,423	0.58 %	54,572,003	63
2045	9,467,543,575	0.56 %	53,135,152	64
2046	9,519,190,804	0.55 %	51,647,229	64
2047	9,569,297,886	0.53 %	50,107,082	64
2048	9,617,774,470	0.51 %	48,476,584	65
2049	9,664,516,146	0.49 %	46,741,676	65
2050	9,709,491,761	0.47 %	44,975,615	65
2051	9,752,656,916	0.44 %	43,165,155	65
2052	9,794,102,043	0.42 %	41,445,127	66
2053	9,833,861,191	0.41 %	39,759,148	66
2054	9,871,900,602	0.39 %	38,039,411	66
2055	9,908,304,869	0.37 %	36,404,267	67
2056	9,943,123,262	0.35 %	34,818,393	67
2057	9,976,440,150	0.34 %	33,316,888	67
2058	10,008,310,111	0.32 %	31,869,961	67
2059	10,038,705,861	0.30 %	30,395,750	67
2060	10,067,733,606	0.29 %	29,027,745	68
2061	10,095,573,064	0.28 %	27,839,458	68
2062	10,122,307,679	0.26 %	26,734,615	68
2063	10,147,949,115	0.25 %	25,641,436	68
2064	10,172,513,775	0.24 %	24,564,660	68
2065	10,195,964,900	0.23 %	23,451,125	68
2066	10,218,273,016	0.22 %	22,308,116	69
2067	10,239,583,780	0.21 %	21,310,764	69
2068	10,259,872,991	0.20 %	20,289,211	69
2069	10,279,074,870	0.19 %	19,201,879	69
2070	10,297,166,711	0.18 %	18,091,841	69
2071	10,314,142,303	0.16 %	16,975,592	69
2072	10,330,059,854	0.15 %	15,917,551	69
2073	10,344,891,492	0.14 %	14,831,638	69
2074	10,358,552,763	0.13 %	13,661,271	70
2075	10,370,994,198	0.12 %	12,441,435	70
2076	10,382,180,397	0.11 %	11,186,199	70
2077	10,392,082,000	0.10 %	9,901,603	70
2078	10,400,749,753	0.08 %	8,667,753	70
2079	10,408,266,922	0.07 %	7,517,169	70
2080	10,414,637,189	0.06 %	6,370,267	70
2081	10,419,851,489	0.05 %	5,214,300	70
2082	10,424,022,896	0.04 %	4,171,407	70
2083	10,427,226,400	0.03 %	3,203,504	70
2084	10,429,447,395	0.02 %	2,220,995	70
2085	10,430,679,101	0.01 %	1,231,706	70
2086	10,430,926,281	0.00 %	247,180	70
2087	10,430,267,624	-0.01 %	-658,657	70
2088	10,428,830,626	-0.01 %	-1,436,998	70
2089	10,426,601,147	-0.02 %	-2,229,479	70
2090	10,423,541,036	-0.03 %	-3,060,111	70
2091	10,419,647,132	-0.04 %	-3,893,904	70
2092	10,414,959,829	-0.04 %	-4,687,303	70
2093	10,409,491,089	-0.05 %	-5,468,740	70
2094	10,403,272,149	-0.06 %	-6,218,940	70
2095	10,396,305,844	-0.07 %	-6,966,305	70
2096	10,388,517,149	-0.07 %	-7,788,695	70
2097	10,379,888,448	-0.08 %	-8,628,701	70
2098	10,370,445,196	-0.09 %	-9,443,252	70
2099	10,360,269,362	-0.10 %	-10,175,834	70
2100	10,349,323,038	-0.11 %	-10,946,324	69

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