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A Placemaking Journal

How Trying Too Hard Messes Up Main Street

Scott Doyon
Scott Doyon Twitter Instagram Facebook
In taking on the foibles of our built environment, author James Howard Kunstler makes a point of noting that he’s neither an architect nor planner. Instead, he’s the everyman, and his profession is dutifully pointing out that the emperor has no clothes. I’m in a similar position. I’m not an architect or planner... Continue Reading
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An App for That (And that and that…)

Ben Brown
Ben Brown
One of the greatest selling points of the SmartCode, the DPZ-created version of a form-based unified development ordinance, has always been its customize-ability. First of all, it’s Transect-based, which immediately separates it from conventional codes that stamp out the same rules for development everywhere in the landscape. Continue Reading
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You Betcha! It’s PechaKucha…

Howard Blackson
Howard Blackson Twitter Instagram
It used to be that I would claim to be too young to be cynical, but those days have long passed. The change is becoming apparent as I begin to prepare for a local PechaKucha event I’m participating in this weekend. It’s Global PechaKucha Day for Haiti to raise money and awareness for Haiti through Architecture for... Continue Reading
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Heaven Help Us: Ambitious Project Both Reaffirms, Tests Faith in Sustainable Future

Scott Doyon
Scott Doyon Twitter Instagram Facebook
I was a post-Vatican II, suburban Catholic. For anyone of shared experience, that typically meant attending a church that was designed and built to serve the rapidly growing, happy motoring suburban leisure class. Equal parts woody earth tones and ample parking, it was a transient testament to our nation’s awkward... Continue Reading
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Community and Charity: Bold Action Inspires a Closer Look

Scott Doyon
Scott Doyon Twitter Instagram Facebook
You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. – Mark 14:07 I’m not sure Jesus could see all the way to the 21st century. If he could, he may have been more inclined to offer, “You’ll always have the poor, but there are plenty of ways to avoid their unpleasantries. And... Continue Reading
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Development Option Theory

Hazel Borys
Hazel Borys Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
The real option theory of land development was a hot topic in the mid 2000's, as the volatility of the real estate market peaked. Now that we have a break from the U.S. housing bubble and financial crisis, it's worth talking about how we might decrease the volatility of the development market over time. Urbanism by... Continue Reading
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A Rapid Kick Off for CNU18 Atlanta — “Urban Labs” Point to May Conference

Ben Brown
Ben Brown
The 18th national conference of the Congress for the New Urbanism doesn’t officially start until May 19, 2010. But Atlanta, the host city, is getting a running start. Conference organizers in Atlanta are working with Metro governments, non-profits, and the private sector to create lead-in events tied to all the big... Continue Reading
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Easy Rider: David Byrne Unfolds Bike, Reviews Cities of the World

Howard Blackson
Howard Blackson Twitter Instagram
Over the holiday I experienced a very 21st century weekend. Upon downloading my new Kindle App on my iPhone, I read David Byrne's Bicycle Diaries, 2009 Viking Penguin. The $14.99 book caught my attention at the local bookstore and became my first Amazon Kindle App purchase for $9.99. I know, I know... but I promise to... Continue Reading
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Learning from Leon

Howard Blackson
Howard Blackson Twitter Instagram
My colleagues have quickly grown tired of my repeated references to the week I recently spent with Leon Krier while he toured Southern California to promote his new book, The Architecture of Community. The book, published by Island Press and co-edited by Dhiru Thadani and Peter Hetzel, is an updated compendium of Leon... Continue Reading
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Miami Just the Tip of the Iceberg for Form Based Coding

Hazel Borys
Hazel Borys Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
When Miami, Florida adopted a SmartCode on October 22 by a 4-1 vote, an important step was taken for the global knowledge base of placemaking. This zoning reform is clearly a turning point away from the energy-intensive, environmentally-destructive, auto-centric development patterns of the 20th century. Miami 21 represents... Continue Reading
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