Bike lanes can provide transportation alternatives, encourage physical activity, and hopefully reduce air pollution. However, they can be politically difficult to retrofit into existing communities. So, why not try a low cost, low impact, temporary solution?
This is the story of how Macon, Georgia proposed temporary bike lanes, at minimal cost to...
Now that we are in the heat of summer, the issue of stormwater management boils down to too much of a good thing, or not a drop in sight. I do believe that to affect positive change in accepted and mainstreamed stormwater practices, you need a sound economic argument....
Happy to see my alma mater is still in the top 10 nationally. If any of you are interested, I highly recommend it!
https://www.ted.com/talks/theaster_gates_how_to_revive_a_neighborhood_with_imagination_beauty_and_art
It may be one of the most challenging urban planning and design problems of the 21st century - how to remediate the ill effects of past policies, practices and injustices within our communities. Just about every city and town in America harbors some degree of disinvestment in neighborhoods. And surely,...It seems that (finally!) "green" infrastructure practices are hitting the mainstream. I first worked with these principles way back in graduate school at Georgia Tech. So, that is more than 20 years ago! With recent record droughts and floods, an urgency to improve our stormwater practices has accelerated. And with real estate development practices that seek...
Access to green space is uplifting to the human spirit, and conveys real, measurable health benefits. Proximity to green space is proven to add value through increased property values. So, the next time someone proposes a "detention pond" as a stormwater management tool, push back!
There are many sustainable practices tried...
The use of public/private partnerships by municipalities has grown exponentially. This article, crafted by ULI, gives a great overview of all the potential applications of this strategy to accomplish municipal goals. Have you used any of these?
Retail is so important to cities, and for many reasons. Shops provide essential goods and services, a certain level of entertainment and are the all-important source of sales taxes! So, when the local mall or power center is lagging, and anchors close leaving smaller shops struggling to survive, the retail environment...
During the past two years serving as a Planning Commissioner for my city, public debate over home owners versus renters is frequent. Invariably, older, established home owners do not want any rental housing in their neighborhood. Younger community members, of course, want to rent. The perception of many...
