Better! Cities & Towns
What is the New American Dream?
The new American Dream is about place, and that brings people and communities together. The 20th Century American Dream tended to pull cities and towns apart.
Continuing the Fire Safety vs. Urban Design Debate
A dense network of streets creates the conditions for faster response times. Better pedestrian and automobile safety and excellent response times is a win-win. So why are fire officials undermining this network with calls for wider streets?
Why Aren't Bike and Pedestrian Activists Teaming with Urbanists?
A new benchmarking report on biking and walking reveals a big hole in this growing movement — many ped-bike advocates rarely talk to urbanists, and vice-versa.
New Urbanism's Impact on Mid-Sized and Smaller Cities
Birmingham, Michigan; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Providence, Rhode Island; and others that adopted a new urban approach 15 or 20 years ago have transformed themselves.
Roundabouts: A Tool for Placemaking
Designed properly, roundabouts enhance placemaking and the pedestrian experience.
Do We Need Affordable Housing or Affordable Living?
Two primary strategies will help to achieve affordable living: Reduce household transportation costs and support smaller living spaces.
The Health of Cities Depends on Place-Based Development More than Big Projects
Cities take a physical form that either supports or is stressful to people outside of a moving vehicle or building. Witold Rybczynski, in his critique of New Urbanism, forgets that lesson.
Top 10 Reasons for a New American Dream
For three generations, the American Dream was largely defined by continual suburban expansion. A new urban dream has emerged, and it is here to stay.
New Urbanism Gets a New Leader
Lynn Richards, formerly of the U.S. EPA's Office of Sustainable Communities, is set to become President of the Congress for the New Urbanism in July. In this interview, Richards says that forging new alliances will be a key goal for her.
Making Multifamily Truly Urban
The multifamily industry is building more in walkable locations, but developers still need instruction on the manners of placemaking. Here are some hints.
Multifamily Evolution: From 'Train Wreck' to Urban
In a comprehensive piece called "What's New in New Urbanism," Multi-Housing News reports that new urban ideas have "swept the industry over the past 20 years."
My Kid, the Wikipedia Entry
If you want to be profiled in Wikipedia, it is better to be born in an urban place.
Realtors Discover Demand for Walkable Places
After generations of sales focused on conventional suburbia, realtors are discovering the demand for walkable, urban places.
HUD expected to further ease restrictions on mixed-use financing
The administrative change to follow recent successful FHA standards, according to CNU president John Norquist.
Come Together Locally for Smarter Growth
Connecting competence to organized support is key to reversing the Sisyphean cycle of urban placemaking.
The Place for Bike Lanes
Initial attempts at making city streets more encouraging to cyclists have often been marred by poor design.
A New Coalition for Urban Place
Who benefits the most from synergistic growth, where the parts of the built environment are brought together to create a strong community and sense of place?
Defending Urban Freeways At All Costs Ignores the Potential of Cities
When freeways are dismantled, economic, and social benefits often follow. A mid-20th Century mechanistic view fails to understand such outcomes.
New Urban Math
To forge a coalition for urban places, let’s start by trumpeting an important fact: The value of cities and towns transcends simple arithmetic.
Populist Urbanism: Beyond the Creative Class
Smart Growth needs to adopt a more populist message, argues Robert Steuteville, and demonstrate how cities can empower people of all classes. Could "Lean Urbanism" provide the foundation?
Pagination
City of Yakima
City of Auburn
Baylands Development Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.