Booked on Planning

This discussion unveils how urban environments can be reimagined through an open-ended, adaptive lens that balances top-down and bottom-up approaches rather than picking one or the other as the way to support cities. Author Elena Porqueddu advocates in "Designing the Complex City: A Systemic Approach to Spatial Design" for a design methodology that fosters self-regeneration and adapts to the dynamic, unpredictable nature of urban environments. Unlike rigid master plans, this approach views cities as evolving entities where incremental design interventions catalyze positive change.

Show Notes:

• Further Reading: 
  • Action, Property, and Beauty: Planning with and for Emergent Urban Complexity by Stefano Cozzolino and Stefano Moroni 
  • A Planners Encounter with Complexity by Gert De Roo and Elisabete A Silva 
  • A Critical Introduction to Planning Theory: Complexity, Institutions and Justice in Cities by Stefano Moroni 
  • Minding the City: Field Notes on Neuroscience and the Poetics of Sustainable Public Space by Harrison Fraker, Peter Siostrom, Atanaska Foteva
  • Becoming Places: Urbanism / Architecture / Identity / Power by Kim Dovey
  • Architecture and Embodiment: The Implications of the New Sciences and Humanities for Design by Dr Harry Francis Mallgrave 
• To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
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In an engaging conversation with author Benjamin Schneider we explore transformative ideas in urban planning culminating from a wealth of recent literature in the field. His book, The Unfinished Metropolis: Igniting the City Building Revolution, is a compelling guide for emerging planners and those curious about the evolving nature of urban spaces. We touch on office to housing conversions, enlivening downtowns, a new industrial architecture, pre-emption and more as we grapple with how cities can revisit their roots of continuous growth and building. 

Show Notes:

• Further Reading:
  • All That Is Solid Melts into Air: The Experience of Modernity by Marshall Berman
  • The Decorated TenementsHow Immigrant Builders and Architects Transformed the Slum in the Gilded Age by Zachary J. Violette
• To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
• To view the show transcripts, click on the episode at https://bookedonplanning.buzzsprout.com/

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This episode provides an exploration into the urban fabric beneath our feet—sidewalks. These concrete pathways, often overlooked, hold a tapestry of legal, social, and economic narratives as revealed in during the conversation with author Michael Pollack on his book "Sidewalk Nation: The Life and Law of America's Most Overlooked Resource." Pollack's research traverses various states—New York, Colorado, Texas, and Louisiana—to uncover both shared challenges and unique approaches in sidewalk management. Despite the diversity, the common thread remains the universal demand for high-quality sidewalk space and the limitations posed by existing legal and financial structures.

Show Notes:

• Further Reading:
  • Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar
  • Street Fight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution by Janette Sadik-Khan
  • Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time by Jeff Speck
  • Dividing Lines: How Transportation Infrastructure REinforces RAcial Inequality by Deborah Archer 
  • Segregation by Design: Local Politics and Inequity in American Cities by Jessica Trounstine
  • Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities by Veronica Davis
• Vital City oped mentioned in the episode: https://www.vitalcitynyc.org/nyc-department-of-sidewalks-agenda/ 
• To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
• To view the show transcripts, click on the episode at https://bookedonplanning.buzzsprout.com/

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In Episode 109 of the Booked on Planning podcast, listeners are invited into a crucial conversation with Charles T. Brown, author of "Arrested Mobility: Overcoming the Threat to Black Movement." This dialogue dives deep into the systemic obstacles that restrict Black freedom of movement, providing a critical lens on how urban planning can either hinder or help create equitable communities. 

At the core of Brown's discussion is the concept of "arrested mobility" — a term he uses to describe the systemic restrictions placed on Black communities, impeding their ability to navigate spaces freely and safely. The conversation contextualizes how these restrictions aren't just about physical mobility, but also encompass social and economic mobility, propelled by historical and ongoing inequities. 

Show Notes:

• Further Reading: 
  • Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities by Veronica Davis
  • Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
  • The Black Butterfly: The Harmful Politics of Race and Space in America by Dr. Lawrence T. Brown
  • Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America by Angie Schmidtt
  • Bicycle Race: Transportation, Culture, & Resistance by Adonia Lugo
  • Books by Robert Green: The 48 Laws of Power, The Laws of Human Nature, The Art of Subduction
• The Lessons of Hayti Documentary, The Pruitt Igoe Myth Documentary, anything from Pro Publica and Vice News 
• To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
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Housing stability is a pressing concern for many communities, particularly during times when constructing new housing can be financially daunting. Lauren Everett emphasizes a straightforward solution in her book Fortunate People in a Fortunate Land: at home in Santa Monica’s rent-controlled housing. Rent control policies can be implemented at no cost, an approach that not only provides an immediate mechanism to stabilize housing but ensures fairness and sustainability. 

Show Notes:

• New York Times article on the New York City Rent Freeze mentioned in the episode: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/nyregion/nyc-rent-freeze-vote-mamdani.html 
• If you are looking for more evidence that rent-stabilized apartments don't have a higher instance of habitability issues than non-stabilized this report from NYC is a good resource.
• The NLIHC just came out with their national renter survey, which is really exciting. It has data on the percentage of renters who experience maintenance issues, who report them, who get them addressed, etc. 
• Further Reading: 
  • In Defence of Housing: The Politics of Crisis by David Madden and Peter Marcuse
  • Carving Out the Commons: Tenant Organizing and Housing Cooperatives in Washington, D.C. by Amanda Huron
  • Abolish Rent: How Tenants Can End the Housing Crisis by Tracey Rosenthal and Leonardo Vilchis
  • Against Landlords: How to Solve the Housing Crisis by Nick Bano
  • The Underserving Poor: America's Enduring Confrontation with Poverty: Fully Updated and Revised by Michael Katz
• To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
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"Squirrel: How a Backyard Forager Shapes Our World" highlights the fascinating history and ecological importance of squirrels, revealing how these ubiquitous creatures play a vital role in our environments, both urban and rural. As the conversation continued, Castaldo explored the complicated human-squirrel relationship. While many admire squirrels for their agility and intelligence, others find them frustrating garden and bird feeder raiders. Castaldo emphasizes that this tension stems from squirrels being one of the few wild animals regularly interacting with humans, leading to mixed emotions about these neighborhood residents. Recognizing planners' critical role in shaping wildlife-friendly cities, Castaldo advocates for creating green corridors and connected natural spaces. These efforts are essential not only for squirrels but for entire ecological communities, ensuring both urban and natural environments thrive together. 

Show Notes:

• Further Reading: 
  • Buildings that Breathe: Greening the World’s Cities by Nancy Castaldo
  • Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
  • Green Obsession: Trees Towards Cities, Humans Towards Forests by Stefano Boeri
  • Urban Ecology: Detroit and Beyond by Kyŏng Pak
  • Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet by Ben Goldfarb
• Learn more about the Central Park Squirrel Census at https://www.thesquirrelcensus.com/ 
• To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
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In an era where stories of triumph and redemption often stem from unlikely beginnings, "The Lost and The Found: A True Story of Homelessness, Found Family, and Second Chances" presents a poignant narrative that resonates deeply with its audience. Authored by Kevin Fagan, the tale unfolds with an exploration of the human spirit's indomitable will to find belonging and transformation amidst life's adversities. Homelessness, a multifaceted crisis affecting millions worldwide, forms the foundational backdrop of this narrative. In this episode we dive into the intricacies of life without a permanent home, shedding light on the societal factors that contribute to this pervasive issue.

Show Notes:

• Further Reading: 
  • Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O'Connell's urgent mission to bring healing to homeless people by Tracey Kidder
  • Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
  • The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
• To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
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This episode delves into the intricate world of limited equity cooperatives, social narratives, and the constantly evolving landscape of housing in America with Jonathan Tarleton, exploring his book "Homes for Living: The Fight for Social Housing and a New American Commons." Tarleton begins by describing the concept of limited equity co-ops, which function as a form of de-commodified housing insulated from current market pressures. This concept comes to life in his book and our conversation through the Mitchell-Lama program in New York City, designed to keep housing permanently affordable for middle-income individuals.

 The discussion takes an introspective turn as Tarleton addresses the pervasive American narrative that true ownership equates to property that can generate profit. He argues that societal shifts have turned homeownership into a safety net for all life's financial perils, leading to a narrow view that success is only tangible through profitable ownership.

Show Notes:

• Author Recommended Reading: 
  • Carving out the Commons: Tenant Organizing and Housing Cooperatives in Washington, D.C. by Amanda Huron
  • Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor 
  • Boom Town by Sam Anderson
  • Having and Being Had  by Eula Biss
  • What Can a Body Do?: How We Meet the Built World By Sara Hendren
• To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
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Historic preservation is a field dedicated to safeguarding our cultural heritage, but the stability of jobs within this sector often hinges on government involvement. According to author Jeremy Wells, nearly three-quarters of all jobs in historic preservation are fundamentally designed to meet the needs of local, state, and federal government. This statistic underscores the dependence of the industry on government funding and initiatives and the need for preservation education to reflect this fact in the structure of their programs. "Managing the Magic of Old Places: Crafting Public Policies for People-Centered Historic Preservation," the subject of this episode, covers this topic and ways the preservation field can be more responsive to the communities they serve.

Show Notes:

• Further Reading: 
  • “Reclaiming Time and Space”, a thesis by Kenyatta McClean
  • Uses of Heritage by Laurajayne Smith 
  • Contemporary Theory of Conservation by Salvadore Munoz Vinas
  • People Centered Methodologies of Heritage Preservation: Exploring Emotional Attachments to Historic Urban Places by Rebecca Madgin
  • Reimagining Heritage Interpretation: Enchanting the Past-Future by Russel Staif
  • Our Unprotected Heritage: Whitewashing the Destruction of Our Cultural and Natural Environment by Thomas F. King
• To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
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In this episode architect and author Amy Hetletvedt discusses her thought-provoking book, "Preserving With Purpose: Re-Imagining Buildings for Community Benefit." This conversation delves into innovative approaches to historical preservation, particularly around the idea of reimagining how communities can benefit from existing structures. A number of the book’s case studies are discussed to illustrate her concepts that offer a new way to ensure building maintenance and reuse that diverges from the standard approach of letting buildings sit and deteriorate until millions of dollars are raised to complete a full scale renovation.

Show Notes:

• Further Reading:
  • Deventer by Matthew Stadler
  • A Field Guide to Sprawl by Delores Hayden
• You can download a free book guide that includes options to discuss the book in one to three meetings as a book club or lunch discussion at www.amyhetletvedt.com 
• To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
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