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In 2022, a group of developers proposed transforming a Nordstrom parking lot in San Francisco into nearly 500 apartments, many of them affordable and close to public transit. But before they could even begin the formal approval process, they faced a preliminary review. This step wasn’t approval to build or denial—it was simply a list
16 hours ago

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More from 99% Invisible

Foreign in a Domestic Sense

On a recent trip to Puerto Rico, producer Jeyca Medina-Gleason discovered a piece of her family history: a manila folder with her grandfather Tomás Velez Lopez’s photo attached to the front. Across the top in bold letters, it read “Division of Special Investigations” followed by a case number. This folder—known in Puerto Rico as a

a week ago 10 votes
Fishing In The Night

The Divided Dial is a podcast series about the history of radio from WNYC’s On the Media and longtime 99PI contributor, Katie Thornton. In season 1, Katie explored the rise of right wing talk radio in the United States. The newest season of The Divided Dial is all about shortwave. Across four episodes, Katie dives

2 weeks ago 10 votes
Fishing In The Night

The Divided Dial is a podcast series about the history of radio from WNYC’s On the Media and longtime 99PI contributor, Katie Thornton. In season 1, Katie explored the rise of right wing talk radio in the United States. The newest season of The Divided Dial is all about shortwave. Across four episodes, Katie dives

2 weeks ago 11 votes
😅⚖️

In 2021, a Canadian farmer named Chris Achter responded to a buyer’s grain contract with a simple 👍 emoji. What followed wasn’t just a misunderstanding—it was a legal showdown that captured global attention. Achter, based in Saskatchewan, had a long-standing business relationship with the buyer. They often finalized grain deals over text. That year, when

3 weeks ago 12 votes

More in architecture

Dark Meets Light in This Moody, Skylit Toronto Home

Nestled on a corner lot in Toronto’s leafy High Park neighborhood, Westminster Residence by Batay-Csorba Architects is a striking reinterpretation of the traditional Edwardian gable house.

17 hours ago 2 votes
‘Scarcity Is Something We Have Learned To Thrive On’: A Conversation With League Prize Winners salazarsequeromedina

Archinect's latest Studio Snapshot features the New York/Madrid outfit salazarsequeromedina. Founded in 2020 by Laura Salazar, Pablo Sequero, and Juan Medina, the firm has emerged on the international scene, culminating in recognition as one of six Architectural League Prize for Young Architects + Designers winners for 2025. In our conversation, Sequero, who is currently a visiting critic at the Syracuse University School of Architecture, talks about how they integrate their collaborative approach into practice, their work in Peru, Spain, and the U.S., and the qualities salazarsequeromedina looks for in new hires aligned with their "playful, open-ended, conscious" culture.

2 days ago 3 votes
The Sacking of America’s Librarian and America’s Library

The Thomas Jefferson Building, Project 2025, and the unbuilding of Jefferson’s democracy.

2 days ago 4 votes
Step inside this Japanese-inspired home extension that's wrapped around a reflection pool

Tucked behind a 1920s Californian Bungalow on Sydney’s lower north shore, Japan House is a refined, low-lying pavilion that redefines suburban living through light, landscape and craft. Designed by Sandbox Studio, the project expands a family home with sensitivity and purpose, drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese architecture to create spaces of calm, flexibility and connection.

2 days ago 3 votes