The Revitalist

Planetizen's Best of the Worst in Planning for 2007 recaps some this past year's most ridiculous planning decisions: the latest in eco-friendly burials (no gravestones, just gps coordinates!), public loudspeakers so that government employees monitoring cameras can scold you for spitting out your gum on the sidewalk, and $90,000 spent in court over the difference between "sandy" and "creamy yellow."

The Planetizen Podcast lists the top planning issues of 2007: transportation and resource scarcity (e.g. water) were top of the list.

The National Trust's blog PreservationNation looks at the Best and Worst of 2007 in preservation: bests included celebrities using their star power to raise money for preservation issues and the public opening of Philip Johnson's Glass House; worsts included the loss of several mid-century modern structures and the city of Buffalo's Five In Five plan to demo 5,000 buildings in five years. The Paschal House here in Raleigh got a mention as a worst. The gorgeous, landmark, mid-century house has been languishing on the market and is in danger of being the latest teardown.