Neal Payton of Torti Gallas and Partners says that new developments that lack an identity will suffer, and that smaller blocks are often better for creating a sense of place.
At a conference last week in Silver Spring, Maryland, Payton challenged his audience of developers to understand the personality of the area they are working in and be sure their work is in tune with it.
The Washington Examiner quotes Payton from the event:
"What's iconic and supportable?" he said. "Why live there? Why work there? You need to be able to answer these questions as a town and if you can't answer them, you're in trouble."
FULL STORY: For region's town centers, identity is key
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New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions