Can we green our streets and still preserve urbanism? Seattle and Portland may show us the way.
We're making great progress greening our buildings. "Why not extend the green concepts to our streets as well?" Thus asks New Urbanist planner Mary Vogel, a leader in the design and deployment of High Performance Urban Structure. "Why not have landscaping that works to treat stormwater and recharge groundwater, and that adds habitat for native pollinators, biodiversity to the landscape, and beauty to the environment?"
Because of a challenge from CNU founder and Gentilly Charrette leader, Andres Duany, while we were working together with him here in New Orleans, Vogel goes even further. "Why not provide these elements in the densest parts of new and old urban areas? Could not multifunctional landscaping work as well in a place with a streetscape as charming as that in Old Town Alexandria or the French Quarter?"
She found that Seattle and Portland, Oregon are leading the way. They are redefining streets to be a critical part of the public realm rather than just thoroughfares for cars. And they are using the streetscape to make stormwater runoff a thing of the past. They are beginning to "green" streets even in their most populous areas.
Vogel believes that Seattle and Portland have come closest to designing natural stormwater management for an urban density that would please urbanists of all stripes. "Portland's 12th Avenue is a model for fitting nature-based stormwater management into the traditional street network in moderate- to high-density areas. In bringing even more of nature's functions into such areas, Seattle's "Swale on Yale" and Taylor 28 move further in the direction of...high-performance infrastructure. As designers incorporate these ideas in their own designs, expect them to spread -- like native fireweed after a forest fire."
Thanks to Charles Reith
FULL STORY: Moving Toward High Performance Infrastructure [Adobe PDF, 350 KB]

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont