National links: American suburbs could veer toward European-style urbanity

As commutes dwindle due to the pandemic, America’s transit-oriented bedroom communities could become more like European cities. Health care systems are getting into the grocery business. These days, oil and car companies are like oil and water — in other words, they’ve got some issues.

American suburbs could look more like European cities: Because of the pandemic, suburban dwellers could turn their commuter-oriented neighborhoods into around the clock destinations. This change would make them look more like bustling European urban areas with access to community assets, transportation, and amenities. (Nate Berg | Fast Company)

Health care systems are opening grocery stores: Food deserts in disadvantaged neighborhoods are especially harmful to the health of vulnerable populations and research shows that access to a grocery store has innumerable health benefits. Health care systems are starting to understanding this and are opening their own stores in places where grocery chains say “it’s not in our business model.” (Barbara Ray | Next City)

Oil and auto companies go from friends to foes: The Trump administration’s rollback of fuel economy standards and pollution regulations have gone far past what auto companies support. And now, with electric vehicles on the horizon and the diminishing clout of oil companies, new lobbying efforts for electric utilities and electric vehicles are likely to set a new agenda, boxing out oil interests for good. (Robinson Meyer | The Atlantic)

Urban planning in Dallas is about asking the right questions: Given choices with clear language about bus service, people in Dallas said they prefer quality over quantity — in other words, more frequent buses lines instead of a sprawling system. As the city undertakes a downtown freeway project, will planners be as mindful of the questions they ask? (Peter Simik D Magazine)

The rise of ugly buildings: Ugly buildings have always surrounded us, but with modern building techniques they seem to be flourishing To get better results, modern architecture must be challenged through economic and cultural lenses. In a profit-driven world that pushes design and construction companies to lower costs, architects, developers, builders, and planners have to approach design deliberately. (Rowan Moore | The Guardian)

Vanya Srivastava contributed to these summaries

Quote of the Week

“We really lost one of his generation’s, my generation’s stars. And we’re gonna feel it. But I hope that there’s a group of people that can take his legacy and continue on with it.”

Josh Whitehead in the Memphis Commercial Appeal discussing the passing of Tommy Pacello, a tireless advocate for the Memphis he loved.

This week on the podcast, Kyle Rowe SPIN Global Head of Government Partnerships discusses how bike share went from Docked to Dockless in Seattle.