Category: Public Policy

What Makes a Good Main Street Work?

Kaid Benfield
Kaid Benfield Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn
Shortly before this essay's original posting, I participated in a terrific conference called From Main Street to Eco-Districts: Greening Our Communities, hosted by a chapter of the American Institute for Architects in Corning, New York. Held a block off of Corning’s own, magnificent “Main Street” (actually... Continue Reading
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Achieving Community: Let’s get real

Scott Doyon
Scott Doyon Twitter Instagram Facebook
Not so long ago, Kristen Jeffers (who blogs as the Black Urbanist) shared an article over at Afropunk called “The Caucasian’s Guide to Black Neighborhoods.” It’s very, very funny, and particularly useful reading for anyone who’s more interested in our ability to build meaningful communities than in the more prevalent... Continue Reading
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NIMBY, I Hardly Knew Ye

Scott Doyon
Scott Doyon Twitter Instagram Facebook
Last week I stepped back in time a bit to revisit the idea of NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard opponents to development) and consider anew whether their tenacious aversions earn them the lauding of heroes or the disdain we reserve for villains and scoundrels. As I said then, in many cases, NIMBYs have kept the world from... Continue Reading
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NIMBY Nation: Mad as hell and I don’t blame ‘em. For now.

Scott Doyon
Scott Doyon Twitter Instagram Facebook
Five years ago I felt like NIMBY activism was at a crossroads. Would it flame out, further becoming a cartoon of a once valid endeavor, or would it find its footing as torchbearers of meaningful collaboration towards community change? Those thoughts are republished below. Next week I’ll follow them up with a look... Continue Reading
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The City as NORC: It’s the people thing

Ben Brown
Ben Brown
When The New York Times used my wife and me as examples in a story about retirees’ growing preferences for urban life, it was a chance to literally walk the talk. I’ve been writing about my Baby Boomer cohort for all my career, first in the ‘60s alternative press, then in newspaper and magazine stories as we aged... Continue Reading
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There Goes the Neighborhood: Oh no, not Burning Man!

Ben Brown
Ben Brown
Reprising: “Can’t we all just get along?” Answer: Probably not. And we should be thinking about why and how that informs what we do to help neighborhoods and cities adapt to change. Let’s pick an example unlikely to trigger the usual arguments over race, ethnicity and inequality, yet one that might be more helpful... Continue Reading
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Four Characteristics of Active, Healthy Neighborhoods

Kaid Benfield
Kaid Benfield Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn
Scientists are learning more and more about how where we live affects the amount of exercise we get, and thus how fit and healthy we are likely to be. In general, city dwellers are particularly well placed to get regular exercise if they can take care of some or all of their daily errands without getting into a car: walking... Continue Reading
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Unpredictable, High Risk, High Cost: Planning for the worst is the worst

Ben Brown
Ben Brown
So here we go again. Flood waters rise in southern Louisiana, displacing tens of thousands -- some temporarily,  others permanently -- and potentially costing billions. The familiar narrative cycle has cranked up. Right now we’re emerging from the stage where we celebrate the heroism of citizens, volunteers... Continue Reading
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The Fear Freak-Out: Now in neighborhoods near you

Ben Brown
Ben Brown
The times, shall we say, are not ideal for that conversation we keep talking about. You know, the conversation we feel we need whenever something scary happens. That ever-elusive, rational talk that includes everyone and ends with, if not a group hug, then at least a group understanding. (more…) Continue Reading
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Aging, Self-Driving Cars, and How We Suck at Predicting Doom

Scott Doyon
Scott Doyon Twitter Instagram Facebook
As a species, we like to keep on keepin’ on. We’re predisposed to favor continuity and resist change. Which includes not wanting to be held accountable for any less-than-stellar choices we might make along the way. For years we’ve had various prophets of doom telling us that dispersed suburban living is one of... Continue Reading
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