There Goes the Neighborhood: Oh no, not Burning Man!
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 because…
Read MoreTriangular Plazas: Flexible, outdoor rooms with meaningful uses
Last year I enjoyed thinking of the critical components of a successful plaza: activity, locals, and a third place. Great plazas are hosts to community engagement any time of the day or evening, they attract both locals and tourists, and always have a third place fronting at least one edge of the outdoor room. A…
Read MoreFour Characteristics of Active, Healthy Neighborhoods
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…
Read MoreInclusive Cities: Inclusion equals diversity plus equity
The placemakers way is to enable the triple bottom line of resilience: environment, economy, and society, trying to balance the needs of people, planet and profit. And yet it’s always easier to measure the impacts of our collective choices on profit — or even on the planet — than it is on people. We’ve blogged…
Read MoreUnpredictable, High Risk, High Cost: Planning for the worst is the worst
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 and emergency responders and question the competency of…
Read MoreHorsey! Grassroots public art connects people, past and present
There’s nothing new about the subject of today’s post. In fact, that’s kind of the point. It’s an ongoing grassroots public art initiative that simply exists, and has for quite some time. Many have had the pleasure of experiencing it but many others have not. That’s the nature of artistic cultural expression. It happens but…
Read MoreSummer Fun: Pokémon GO and Minecraft for young urbanists
“Mom, I need to walk 10k today,” coming from my 11-year old this morning almost gave me whiplash, as I turned to look at him to ensure an alien wasn’t inhabiting his body. In fact, there was one, if you view Pokémon as other-worldly. The playful new video game, Pokémon GO, is distracting kids and…
Read MoreWord Eating Time: Here’s today’s menu
Whatever skills I developed in manipulating language were shaped by two decades on the staffs of newspapers and magazines. In my first interview for a newspaper job, a managing editor lectured me on the transition I should be prepared for. I could forget all that fancy writing stuff I may have learned in college. I…
Read MoreThe Fear Freak-Out: Now in neighborhoods near you
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.
Read MoreAging, Self-Driving Cars, and How We Suck at Predicting Doom
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 those less-than-stellar…
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