8 Tips for Suburban Placemaking

Suburban areas looking to improve public places can try following this advice.

1 minute read

October 14, 2017, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Eric Bethany offers a few guidelines for the development of successful suburban centers—following the trend of suburban areas around the country mimicking the walkability and a mix of uses found in more urban areas.

Bethany is taking inspiration from the development of Parsons Alley in the city of Duluth, Georgia, which won a 2017 ULI Development of Excellence Award and a 2017 Charter Award from the Congress for the New Urbanism.

The bulk of the post is devoted to a list of placemaking guidelines that are borrowed from examples like New Orleans, Charleston, and streetcar suburbs outside Atlanta.

The list reads as follows, with more detail in the source post:

  1. Storefronts you can touch
  2. It's all about the glass
  3. Perimeter Parking
  4. Great public space
  5. Familiar materials
  6. Open container
  7. Attention to detail
  8. Variety

Friday, October 13, 2017 in Build a Better Burb

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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