The Importance of Quality Streetscapes

"The need for attractive streetscapes is, perhaps, even more relevant now than it was in the 1960s. Walking around the city of Boston, I am often amazed at the condition of the streets, which are often unfriendly to anyone other than drivers. In the last few years, thanks to the pioneering efforts of the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and other organizations, this has begun to change. But many of the streets here-especially in low-income areas-remain in dire need of a deep makeover.

So I was thrilled to hear about a new "Complete Streets" initiative that is currently being developed by Utile, Inc., an architecture + planning firm located in downtown Boston, and directed by Tim Love."

The project will increase accessibility to the city's streets and create better public areas, writes Jeanne Haffner.