Zoned Out Planner is like city planning… but without the headache. Ever stared at a zoning map and thought, “What am I even looking at?” Yeah, same. This site is your shortcut to understanding land use, variances, codes, and all the mysterious stuff that shapes our cities — minus the mumbo jumbo. Pull up a chair (or a site plan), and let’s dig in.
The failure of Pruitt-Igoe was about more than just architecture. It reflected the impacts of white flight, disinvestment, and racist housing policies, all compounded by a lack of maintenance funding and design flaws. This post explores how broader systemic issues—not just bad buildings—led to one of the most symbolic public housing demolitions in U.S. history.
Before I became a planner, I dreamed of being an architect—until one painful rejection forced me to rethink everything. What I discovered was a deeper calling: not just to design buildings, but to shape communities. ZOP was born from that journey, combining a love of design, connection, and purpose. This is the story behind it.
A comprehensive plan is a city’s long-term guide for growth — shaping everything from housing and parks to transportation and zoning. It sets the vision, goals, and policies for the next 10 to 20 years. Why should you care? Because it affects what gets built in your neighborhood, how traffic moves, and whether your city becomes more affordable and livable — or not.
Over 100 years old and still clinging to the phrase “modern,” Zony Buffer is the rule-loving, parking-obsessed planner in your life. He hates mixed uses, loves tidy labels, and wears a tie to everything — even BBQs. But lately, he’s softening a bit, flirting with walkability and mixed-use vibes. Love him or hate him, Zony still sets the boundaries (literally).
Less sprawl, more scroll. Join the list.
