ENV 817a () / 2024-2025

Urban, Suburban, and Regional Planning Practice

The built environment in which we live, work, and recreate represents the cumulative impact of government policies and private sector investments implemented at multiple geographic scales over the past several centuries. This course explores the ways in which North American cities and towns have evolved and the dynamic trends facing their urban and suburban neighborhoods. We will examine the ways in which past decisions prepare or hinder our communities' addressing the big challenges they will face in the coming decades. We will delve into the ways that city and regional planning practice is evolving to address current issues such as climate change, demographic shifts, gentrification, sclerotic government, and contested public hearings and realize opportunities such as community resilience, active transportation, eco districts, and participatory planning.