The Original Green Blog

Emergency Response

Opinion: How Fire Chiefs and Traffic Engineers Make Places Less Safe

Fire standards and street design manuals, meant to protect people, actually make them less safe by damaging walkability and encouraging driving—a classic example of silo thinking.

March 26, 2017 - The Original Green Blog

Ocean Grove Sidewalk

Sidewalk Cafes—Silver Bullets of Walkable Places

No single tool builds "walk appeal" as powerfully as sidewalk cafes, which are both a cause and an effect of places we love to walk.

September 29, 2015 - The Original Green Blog

Might High-Rises Become Uninhabitable?

Steve Mouzon argues that trillions being spent world-wide on skyscrapers could be lost as energy costs rise.

May 21, 2012 - The Original Green Blog

New Town Takes Worst of Irene, Emerges Unscathed

The town, designed by DPZ Associates, uses traditional building techniques (most of which are completely illegal in US hurricane zones) and fared better in the eye of Hurricane Irene at its strongest point than any other town.

September 2, 2011 - The Original Green Blog

Parking Location Makes All the Difference

The location of parked cars can either destroy walkability or enhance it, writes urbanist Steve Mouzon.

August 5, 2011 - The Original Green Blog

The Costs of Sprawl Defined

The financial consequences of sprawl are steep, and also broad, affecting budgets in places we might not even think of, writes architect Steve Mouzon.

March 21, 2011 - The Original Green Blog

Communicating Codes Through Song

When working a charrette in Jamaica, architect Steve Mouzon inadvertently inspired local children to set a recommendation for urban farming to song.

April 17, 2010 - The Original Green Blog

Why the Waffle House is Ugly

Steven Mouzon reflects on the huge investment a roadside reference like a Waffle House must make in infrastructure versus the relatively low expense for an inner-city restaurant.

January 17, 2010 - The Original Green Blog

What to Look For in 2010 in Sustainability

New Urbanist Steve Mouzon lists the sustainable building trends to watch out for in the new year, including the growth of live/work spaces and a move towards greater durability.

December 31, 2009 - The Original Green Blog

Solar Doesn't Have To Be Ugly

Architect Stephen A. Mouzon illustrates one way to create solar power without making your home ugly, which he says is imperative to the future of green energy.

November 17, 2008 - The Original Green Blog

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

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New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.