Welcome to week 3's edition of Pulse of Public Spaces, where we spotlight essential articles, reports, products and more - that drive urban development, engage communities, and support local municipalities in building thriving public spaces! Dive in to stay informed and inspired.
Feature Article of the Week
"What if public housing were for everyone?"
By Rachel M Cohen
Montgomery County in Maryland, is experimenting with a new way to address the housing crisis called "social housing." Unlike the traditional public housing model, (often meant only for low-income families) which carries a lot of stigma, social housing mixes market-rate apartments with affordable ones. The intent is to improve social cohesion by blending diverse communities. This makes the whole idea of public housing more appealing and less stigmatized.
What makes this really interesting is how they're paying for it. The county uses public money to offer better financing deals to private developers. This encourages developers to build and manage these mixed-income buildings, but the county still owns the properties long-term. The first project, The Laureate, was a big success and filled up quickly with tenants. It also creates a significant challenge that other regions might face - The model relies on significant upfront public investment to kickstart projects. Securing and managing these funds can be challenging, especially in regions with tight budgets or competing financial priorities, or simply no grant writers.
This new approach has grabbed the attention of other cities like Atlanta and Boston, which are now looking to try it themselves. So, while the concept of public housing isn't new, this particular way of mixing incomes and using innovative financing is a fresh and promising idea in the United States.
Unlike traditional public housing, which is often restricted to low-income residents, social housing integrates market-rate units with affordable units. This mix aims to reduce the stigma often associated with public housing and create more economically diverse communities.
Feature Publication of the Week
Queering Public Space
Published by ARUP

This report from ARUP looks at what it takes to make public spaces as a whole - inclusive and welcoming to all, in particular to the LGBTQ+ community. Despite having queer-friendly neighborhoods in many cities, we need to rethink public spaces, and key is to identify what makes a space feel safe and inclusive for LGBTQ+ people and how to preserve queer history in our urban areas.
The full report is available on Arup's website, along with a video summarizing the findings.
Access the publication here
Feature Visual (that caught our eye!)
Credits to Clara Selina Bach
Illustrations for an urban planning project

Featured Public Space
Bangkoks Creative District (cross border)
A fascinating space we came across is Bangkok's Creative District - a hidden gem that blends the old and the new in captivating ways. This area is alive with catchy street art, repurposed historic buildings, and public spaces that encourage community interaction. It’s a place where traditional Thai architecture meets contemporary galleries and cafes, all along the picturesque Chao Phraya River. Blending old with new, successfully and in a thoroughly engaging way makes this a unique spot for cultural fusion in the city. For anyone interested in how urban spaces can transform and inspire, this district is a fascinating case study worth exploring further.
Read more: Rivers and Creative Districts
Stay tuned for next week's Pulse of Public Spaces for more insights and inspiration!
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