#17: Kyoto Urbanism, Granny Flat Amnesty, and Citi Bike Fare Capping
Welcome to the 17th issue of Urbanism Now, our weekly newsletter curated with brief and insightful urban ideas from around the world to inspire action where you (c)are.
This newsletter is curated by Maria Paula Moreno Vivas and Ray Berger. Learn more on our About page.
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Let's get started:
A small team in Kyoto launched dédédé, a website inviting people to share the positives, negatives, and oddities they find in urban spaces. The platform aims to foster casual participatory urbanism.
Berkeley launched a housing amnesty program allowing owners of unpermitted "granny flats" to legally certify their units for rental or sale. The initiative could add 4,000 housing units to the market without new construction.
San Francisco launched a seismic safety program requiring owners of 4,000 vulnerable concrete buildings to conduct risk assessments while keeping retrofits voluntary. This raises critical questions: Is identifying risks without requiring fixes enough? Who bears responsibility when balancing safety against the costs of upgrades?
WXY Architecture's Claire Weisz proposes tactical design solutions to make NYC subway stations feel safer amid rising crime. Her "Vital City" approach uses strategic interventions like improved lighting and better sightlines to transform rider perceptions.
New York City council members proposed capping Citi Bike fares at $2.90 to make bike-sharing more affordable and encourage a modal shift from cars. Vital City’s Austin Celestin wrote an excellent analysis of the tradeoffs such as network expansion.
New York City's Parks Department plans to purchase 61 mostly vacant, privately-owned lots in Brooklyn and Queens to create new parks in underserved areas. The $80 million initiative targets small or irregular lots potentially less suitable for housing, aiming to give 85% of New Yorkers park access within a 10-minute walk by 2030.
Feeling like this section’s a bit too U.S.-focused? We agree — send us your stories from around the world!
Videos, podcasts, books, and socials:
Dr. Jordan Yin's "Urban Planning For Dummies" offers an accessible introduction to city planning, breaking down complex concepts from land use to sustainability into practical insights. An ideal primer for anyone interested in how cities are shaped and how planning actually works.
Urbanist Carlos Moreno launched the Brazilian edition of his book, The 15-Minute City.
“We Need to Talk About Jane Jacobs” (17 minutes) by Oh The Urbanity! is sparking a conversation around her legacy, especially the contradiction between her advocacy for community preservation and the modern urbanist critique of NIMBYism that she arguably helped empower.
Jobs:
The California Policy Lab is hiring a Data Analyst to help inform policy development in California through data science and programming expertise. $88,900 - $120,000 salary. Apply by May 20.
Eurocities is hiring a Project Coordinator for NetZeroCities to expand the reach of their climate action portal. €46,000 - €50,000 (Belgium) or €39,000 - €42,600 (Spain) salary. Apply by May 26.
Erasmus University Rotterdam seeks a research officer/academic assistant to support international climate policy research projects with UN Environment, focusing on subnational governments. The 12-month Rotterdam-based role offers a €35,000 - €47,000 salary. Apply by May 27.
Events and deadlines:
A free webinar explores how cargo bikes can decarbonize last-mile delivery and reshape urban logistics, featuring experts from cargobike.jetzt, UPS, and the City of Bremen. May 20.
Results For America is sponsoring a webinar to discuss how tenant screening protections are helping renters overcome eviction records and discriminatory background checks. May 21.
The London School of Solarpunk is offering a 4-week program in Hackney for individuals interested in transforming the city through energy, art, and activism. May 24 to June 14.
The California Transportation Foundation (CTF) and Caltrans are offering scholarships to students planning careers in transportation, including engineering, planning, and environmental sciences. Apply by June 30.
What did you love? What did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.
As always, please share with a friend!
Empty Road Between Brown Wooden Buildings With Chinese Lanterns in Kyoto, Japan. Source: Ansel Lee