A Philly council member has legitimate concerns about what happens to school buildings once #schools are closed … and a concern that some of the closings are because of the buildings’ value to real estate developers. But rezone all schools so they can never be used for #housing? That may not serve #neighborhoods well. https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-school-closures-city-council-rezoning-plan/ #BOEs
Philadelphia City Council member moves to rezone closing schools to curb developer interest in valuable land

Jamie Gauthier wants to rezone schools to limit redevelopment of school buildings, arguing their land value is driving decisions instead of students’ needs.

WHYY
The author of a book about #happiness offers a formula for Atlanta (or any city) to be a happier place. Have a purpose that makes your city distinctive. Build connection and belonging through inclusive public places and welcoming #neighborhoods. Then manage growth so it’s neither so little that it drives off the ambitious nor so overwhelming that it exhausts everyone. https://www.ajc.com/education/2026/03/how-atlanta-can-get-the-gold-medal-for-happiness/
How Atlanta can get the gold medal for happiness

While Helsinki may be the happiest city in the world, the rest of the world can learn a lot from the “A.”

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Ultimate Midtown NYC Guide: Dining, Shopping & Culture

The Grill Major Food Group brings the glamour with The Grill, an American steakhouse in the iconic Seagram Building. Celebrating midcentury New York dining, it blends classic hospitality with modern flair. Don’t miss the tableside tr…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Dining #art #bars #city #Food&Drink #Hotels #neighborhoods #Position2 #shopping; #spas
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2572253/ultimate-midtown-nyc-guide-dining-shopping-culture/

Book of the Week: “The 15-Minute City: A Solution to Saving Our Time and Our Planet” proposes something that could radically change cities. The proposal: Bring everything people need for daily life within a 15-minute walk, bike ride or bus ride of where people live. In doing so, it would undo a century of land-use separation and change our concept of #neighborhoods. Would this work in your city? Would citizens accept it? https://www.atlantaurbanist.com/book/the-15-minute-city/
The 15-Minute City: A Solution to Saving Our Time and Our Planet – Atlanta Urbanist Book Group

Cocido Quemado

#WFH walloped the world of commercial real estate. But what if home offices became a blessing instead of a curse for #CRE? In years to come, we could see WFH reshaping #neighborhoods by breaking down separations of land uses. CRE leaders: It may be time to stop thinking tall and commuter-oriented and start thinking small and walkable, with mixed uses everywhere in cities and suburbs. https://www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-commercial-residential-development-trends-downtown-strip/
How Pittsburgh’s commercial development slump could help ease the housing crunch

With remote work an established part of the economy, speculative office construction has flatlined. If developers build housing instead, could that eventually revive the commercial market?

Pittsburgh's Public Source
“Sidewalk Joy”: If we let people be creative and don’t get too carried away with regulations, we can make our #neighborhoods much more fun. You know one way: the Little Free Libraries that stand along sidewalks. And now in Denver, there are tiny sidewalk art galleries where you can pick up a trinket and leave a small work of art. https://denverite.com/2026/03/09/sidewalk-joy-tiny-art-galleries-are-spreading-across-denver/
Truly tiny art galleries are spreading across Denver. Here's where to find 'Sidewalk Joy'

You've seen Little Free Libraries. Meet the little art galleries.

Denverite

I'm hearing some St Johns residents pronounce "Portsmouth" (one of our neighboring neighborhoods) in the English way instead of the North Portland way, and it's making me sad.

#Portland #Neighborhoods

From #Flock to #ICE , Here’s a Breakdown of How You’re Being Watched

It’s nearly impossible not to be watched these days. It can start right at home with your neighbors and their #Ring #cameras —a company that sold fear to the American public and is now integrating #AI to turn entire #neighborhoods into networked, automated #surveillance systems.
#privacy #security

https://www.404media.co/flock-ice-surveillance-technology-reddit-ama/

From Flock to ICE, Here’s a Breakdown of How You’re Being Watched

To better understand what exactly we’re looking at in this dystopian surveillance hellscape, 404 Media’s Jason Koebler and Joseph Cox joined Reddit's r/technology for an Ask Me Anything session.

404 Media
How can we help people accept a little more #density in their #neighborhoods? Alas, it won’t come by stating facts or appealing to fairness. What’s needed is proof that density builds better neighborhoods. So find places that benefit from having fourplexes alongside single-family houses. Photograph, write about and take others to see these places. THIS is how you build a movement. https://www.spur.org/news/2026-03-03/can-fourplexes-solve-san-joses-housing-affordability-crisis
Can Fourplexes Solve San José’s Housing Affordability Crisis?

As part of a review of its General Plan, the City of San José is looking for ways to encourage “missing middle” housing options like fourplexes and courtyard apartments to help address its housing affordability crisis. This is an opportunity to start legalizing small-scale multifamily homes citywide, particularly in exclusive, high-resource neighborhoods. Over time, the addition of thousands of such homes can meaningfully expand supply, reduce housing costs, and improve mobility within the housing market.

SPUR