As we get ready to celebrate Christmas, let's remember all the "gifts" that our cities give us. Our cities deserve a Christmas Carol! Here is an Urbanist's "12 Days of Christmas."
As we get ready to celebrate Christmas, I've been getting a bit warm and fuzzy about all the ways that cities make our lives better. It might be my current festive mind-set, but it occurs to me that our cities give us many "gifts" that make each day more merry and bright.
That got me thinking…our cities deserve a Christmas Carol! And I don't mean the kind with Scrooge in it.
So with apologies to my real "true love," and at the risk of this turning into an amateur Glee episode, here is an Urbanist's "12 Days of Christmas." Guaranteed with absolutely no lords leaping or swans swimming.
You really should try singing it, just like the real "12 Days." Reading it really doesn't do the trick. If you chose to record it and put it on youtube, I take no responsibility if you become a yuletide viral sensation.
"The 12 Days of Christmas"
On the first day of Christmas, my city gave to me...
A "Great Street" lined with street trees!
On the second day of Christmas, my city gave to me...
Two LRT's!
On the third day of Christmas, my city gave to me...
Three Green Roofs!
On the fourth day of Christmas, my city gave to me...
Four Co-op Homes!
On the fifth day of Christmas, my city gave to me...
Five Street Cafes!
On the sixth day of Christmas, my city gave to me...
Six Food Trucks!
On the seventh day of Christmas, my city gave to me...
Seven Cycle Tracks!
On the eighth day of Christmas, my city gave to me...
Eight Farmers Markets!
On the ninth day of Christmas, my city gave to me...
Nine Public Artworks!
On the tenth day of Christmas, my city gave to me...
Ten Landmark Buildings!
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my city gave to me...
Eleven Public Gardens!
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my city gave to me...
Twelve People Places!
I'm thinking the Carol, and maybe our collective singing, will get better the more glasses of "Christmas cheer" we enjoy today!
It was actually pretty tough narrowing this list of gifts down to just 12. We could include things like complete streets, widened sidewalks, BRT's, bike share, car share, road diets, flash mobs, shopping streets, geothermal, culture districts, waterfronts, employment zones, live-work units… we could have made an all-month advent calendar! And if great movements like tactical urbanism had the right number of syllables, we could have included that too.
Cities give us a lot, especially when we give back. They are a product of the collective contributions, efforts, and energy of all their citizens, and when we fully participate, when we're truly civic, we make our cities more fun, creative and successful. Maybe we can all give some thought to what more we can do for our city this year. A few civic-minded New Years resolutions just might result.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a very happy New Year!
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.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
