This commentary from church architect Randy Bright argues that New Urbanists unfairly attack church sprawl, and that the cost of developing denser communities is the freedom of the people.
Bright tackles the argument from the perspective of a church-goer.
"I've nothing against New Urbanism, per se, but I find it troubling that when they extol the virtues of New Urbanism, it is generally followed by characterizing 'sprawl' as something to be demonized. Banks further writes that Christians can't live out their Christianity if they live 20 miles away from their church. I think that you will find millions of Christians in America that are doing just that, and are quite willing to make the trip so that they can go to the kind of church they want to attend and associate with the kind of people they like to be with. In reality, if the New Urbanist dream were to come true to create densely developed cities as the only place for human habitation, you would find that people would still drive 20 miles from one side of the city to another, in heavy traffic, to attend the church of their choice.
And I would have to ask, do these New Urbanists do Facebook, Twitter and all the others? Do you really think that they ignore far away friends and only spend time with their next door neighbors?"
FULL STORY: New Urbanist purists don’t comprehend the lives of others
The Same Old Misconceptions
Misconceptions about New Urbanism persist.
Does Portland's Urban Growth Need a Course Correction?
To curb suburban "sprawl on steroids" and foster higher density infill in Portland, a shift in planning strategy is needed, according to Rick Potestio, the principal of Potestio Studio, an architecture and design firm based in the city.
Shedding Light on the Creeping Costs of Sprawl
Studies comparing tax revenues from a per-acre perspective show significant gains for municipalities with dense, mixed-use development.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie