#34: Second-Hand Only Malls, AI Bus Cameras, and Metro Underpasses

Welcome to the 34th 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.

Thank you for your interest and support. If you find this newsletter useful, please forward it to a friend!

Let's get started:

• Despacio and Light Projects explore how Bogotá's new Metro underpasses could become "Urban Rooms of Luminous Color" through participatory lighting design, rather than sterile LED corridors that divide communities.

• Next City examines how Philadelphia's AI-powered bus cameras detected 36,000 violations in just 70 days, but cautions that transparency and fairness are essential for public acceptance.

• Sweden's innovative ReTuna mall, the world's first shopping center selling only secondhand items, transforms circular retail into a stylish, municipality-supported experience.

• Los Angeles is one step closer to eliminating parking minimums for new housing after a city council committee advanced a proposal to study the policy change citywide.

Videos, podcasts, books, and socials:

• Shreya Khandekar and Anuj Kale created a brilliant interactive comic exploring child-friendly urban design, following two siblings navigating a city where simple errands become adventures.

Jobs:

• The City of Sanford, FL, is hiring a community development block grant program manager to plan and administer federal housing programs. $76k - $114k salary. Apply by September 18.

• Dr. Wojciech Kębłowski is seeking doctoral candidates interested in working at The University of Hong Kong. Apply by September 31.

• Practice, a human-centered design firm focused on creating diverse and equitable urban environments, is hiring a project designer II. The role requires 3-5 years of post-graduate experience.

• Tampa, Florida is hiring a tier 3 planner for affordable housing to manage federal and state grants and determine project eligibility. $75k - $132k salary. Apply by October 20.

Events and deadlines:

• The Shock Your Gridlock 2025 conference will bring together change-makers, policymakers, and engineers for conversations about the mobility transition and people-oriented streets. Early bird pricing ends September 15.

• Kumsa Baker and Sergio Montero from the University of Toronto will host a virtual talk on transportation infrastructure as a community asset, exploring how transit investments can create equitable economic opportunities. September 16.

• Civity hosts "Getting to the 'Heart' of NIMBY Resistance to Affordable Housing," a webinar exploring how

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