Restless Urbanist

Second chance for Indiantown project

2011-11-03T10:19:00.000-04:00

Here is a short news story on the Carter Park Project in Indiantown. This development will provide 40 new affordable homes, be home to a new 22,000 square foot Boys and Girls Club, and treat stormwater from over 130 acres of land.

Second chance for Indiantown project

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-04T07:47:00.002-04:00

The Fourth of July is one of the few holidays where we are encouraged to stop cars with our bodies and fill the streets. I have really found memories of walking several blocks to the local parade route in patriotic garb so that I could stake out the best curb location to watch the annual parade 4th of July parade. I grew up in the suburbs, so this iconic picture is slightly distorted from the Norman Rockwell image.

The walk to the parade was really a big deal. This was almost a mile walk, which would not seem unreasonable, but due to missing sidewalks, lack of shade, and just plain blandness. It took real holiday excitement to get to the parade. The drive or walk debate would always loom in the air. If we drove we could get there faster, but we would get stuck in the post parade traffic. Walking always seemed to win out, which was justified by traffic congestion and inspired by holiday freedom.

Once I got to the parade site, I would seek out the best piece of curb preferably in an area adjacent to a median that had recently been mowed by the city, and away from a storm water inlet. Tall grass and inlets are nothing but candy traps to children, and you risk loosing holiday treats as they are thrown from the floats. I usually was sitting along a five lane roadway in a location where either a parking lot or six foot hedge was to my back.

The 4th of July Parade was always a big event in my hometown with an excellent turnout. This is one of the very few events where suburbanites would connive, and through action would declare the state highway that runs thought the gauntlet of strip shopping malls as the official “main street”. Yes, the roadway that enslaved their commute, was built with the 30-40 percent tax rate, and required them to purchase an automobile, became the pedestal to celebrate our county’s freedom from tyranny and oppression.

This roadway developed in a matter of hours in to a migshift red, white, and blue, shanty town comprised tents and lawn chairs. Lawn blankets became front porches built to the street, corner stores would pop up selling snacks and balloons, and peopled walked under the early July sun. For this brief moment, the private and isolated residents escaped from behind the walls and private golf course to celebrate our freedom as Americans. The irony is that you were probably more likely to meet your neighbors for the first tome miles away from your house at the 4th of July Parade, then you would be by getting your mail.

This tiny glimmer of urbanism in suburbia is an amazing moment. In just a few hours people overwhelm the streets, and are not only allowed to take priority over the street, they are encouraged to do so. Just as soon as the conclave begins to celebrate freedom, the last float would pass and the sirens of the last police car would usher in the cars and traffic once agin. The hours of socialization and celebration would come to an end as the police chased us from the streets, and herd us back into our cars or back behind the walls.

This 4th of July, take your spot on the curb along the parade route with pride. Remember this simple moment of freedom, and advocate more opportunities for freedom in your community. Happy 4th of July.

Pecha Kucha

2011-06-02T09:19:00.000-04:00

Portland planner to Pecha at CNU 19 in Madison.

Joseph Readdy has 30-years experience in the planning, design, and project management for projects of all scales from the individual building, to the neighborhood, district, village, town, and city. He lives and works in Portland, Oregon and local projects include: New Columbia, an award-wining 82-acre HOPE VI mixed-use, mixed-income community and the Lloyd Crossing sustainable urban design plan. Joseph is involved locally and nationally with food policy and sustainable transportation issues.

Come to the Urban Projoct Lodge June 2 at 6 PM to hear Joseph Readdy speak.

Pecha Kucha

2011-06-01T11:00:00.000-04:00

Placemakers Principle to give placemaking Pecha Kucha at CNU 19 in Madison.

Hazel, Managing Principal of PlaceMakers, is an electrical engineer with an MBA. She is the organizer of the SmartCode Workshop and http://www.smartcodecomplete.com/learn/webinar.html, board member of the Transect Codes Council, coauthor of the Codes Study, and blogger on PlaceShakers. She guides governments through zoning reforms to allow walkable, mixed-use, compact, sustainable places to develop by right. And helps developers build under form-based codes.

Come to the Urban Projact Lodge June 2 at 6 PM to hear Hazel Borys speak.

Pecha Kucha

2011-06-01T08:40:00.000-04:00

Strong Towns Engineer to give strong Pecha Kucha at CNU 19 in Madison.

Charles Marohn is a Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in the State of Minnesota and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). He has a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota's Institute of Technology and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute.

Marohn grew up on a small farm in Central Minnesota. The oldest of three sons of two elementary school teachers, he graduated from Brainerd High School in 1991. Chuck joined the Minnesota National Guard on his 17th birthday during his junior year of high school and served for nine years. Besides being passionate about planning and small towns, he loves playing music, is an obsessive reader and is a season ticket holder of the Minnesota Twins.

Chuck and his wife live with their two daughters and two Samoyeds just north of Brainerd, Minnesota.

Come to the Urban Projact Lodge June 2 at 6 PM to hear Charles Marohn speak.

Pecha Kucha

2011-05-31T09:00:00.001-04:00

CNU Charter Award winner and Architect to Pecha Kucha at CNU 19 in Madison.

Ms. Cindy Michel is a design professional committed to building enduring, culturally and historically relevant architecture, towns and cities. She has spent the past year working on the reconstruction in Haiti and publishing her masters thesis on Cap-Haitien, Haiti, a 2011 CNU Charter award winner. Ms. Michel holds a Bachelor of Architecture (2004) and Master of Architectural Design and Urbanism (2010) from the University of Notre Dame.

Come to the Urban Projact Lodge June 2 at 6 PM to hear Cindy Michel speak.

Pecha Kucha

2011-05-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

Architect, Economist, and Boxer, to Pecha Kucha at CNU 19 in Madison.

Scott Ford, LEED-AP, is a Chicago-based designer who has spent the last 10+ years working professionally and studying in Washington, DC, London, Miami, Rome, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles with a specific focus on urban design and classical architecture. During his tenure, he has worked in the offices of Thomas Norman Rajkovich, Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists, Urban Design Associates, Duany Plater-Zyberk Associates and and McCrery Architects. He started his career in economic development working with Brailsford & Dunlavey and Detroit's Greater Downtown Partnership. Scott studied architecture at the graduate level at the University of Miami and holds a M.Arch from University of Notre Dame, in addition to a M.Phil in Land Economics from the University of Cambridge as an Overseas Fellow in 2004. Scott is active in several national organizations dedicated to the new urbanism and co-chaired the first Congress of the Students for the New Urbanism (SNU I) held at Notre Dame in 2007. Prior to discovering the contact sport of architecture, Scott enjoyed playing rugby, football and boxing.

Come to the Urban Projact Lodge June 2 at 6 PM to hear Scott Ford speak.

Pecha Kucha

2011-05-30T16:00:00.001-04:00

Attorney and Urbanist to Pecha Kucha at CNU 19 in Madison.

Ian Rasmussen is an attorney and urbanist living in New York City. Since discovering New Urbanism, he has focused his academic and professional efforts on its advancement. Having graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 2008, Ian now practices zoning law in New York City. This role offers a unique perspective on the land use process and provides the opportunity to fight for the creation of worthwhile places. Ian is also the founder of Urban Cartographics, a company that specializes in urban studies, mapping, and graphic design. Ian resides in Forest Hills Gardens with his wife Erika.

Come to the Urban Projact Lodge June 2 at 6 PM to hear Ian Rasmussen speak.

Pecha Kucha

2011-05-30T13:53:00.001-04:00

City Design Collective Urbanist to Pecha Kucha at CNU 19 in Madison.

Ian Ross is an urban designer with expertise in crafting the strategies, policies, form-based codes, and design solutions critical to the revitalization of districts, corridors, and neighborhoods. In 2006, Ian founded the City Design Collective, and alliance of award-winning professionals who assist communities to envision and realize more economically and environmentally sustainable patterns of development.

Come to the Urban Projact Lodge June 2 at 6 PM to hear Ian Ross speak.

What Will You Open Source

2011-05-23T11:00:00.000-04:00

Now is the time to share your Open Source. On June 2, 2011, thousands of New Urbanists will be gathering in Madison, Wisconsin, to share, learn, and socialize. The opening day of the Congress has been dedicated to Open Source Technology. I have been sharing with all of you the how. Now, we need to start talking content.

In the past, the open source session topics were inspired on the fly. Now that you know how this freeform session works, you can begin to pull together your thoughts. If you are like me, you have two or three ideas floating in your head, but need a team to get it over the finish line. CNU 20 will provide you this opportunity.

Between now, and the Congress, start outlining your ideas. Share them with your friends and colleagues. Let them know that you have an idea or topic you are going to share during Open Source. I will probably put together my thoughts to paper at 20,000 somewhere over middle america on my way to Madison.

For those overachievers out there, you may even want to prepare a quick presentation or poster describing your idea. Do not be afraid to put your ideas front and center. The one thing that CNU is not short of is knowledge. Do what you need to do to to make your experience worthwhile.

This is also an open call to my readers that would like to share an idea pre-Open Source. I would be happy to post any of your ideas or images on Restless Urbanist. See you in Madison.

Pecha Kucha at CNU

2011-05-20T09:20:00.002-04:00

Want to Chit Chat at CNU. We have a place for that. On June 2, I will be Master of Ceremonies for a Pecha Kucha night at CNU. The theme for the evening is: Our Town, Grassroots Strategies for Local Placemaking. The line up is full of urbanists that will discuss ideas through Pecha Kucha

Pecha Kucha is a presentation where each presenter has 20 slides, and 20 seconds per slide. This a fast pace presentation style that is used across the globe. Pecha Kucha nights are informal and fun gatherings of creative people. This is another venue to share ideas, thoughts, and work.

The Pecha Kucha night will be hosted at the Project Lodge in Madison on June 2 between 6-8 during the Congress for the New Urbanism. This event is completely free, and open to the public. Come out and Chit Chat with the urbanists.

What is Open Source Technology?

2011-05-11T10:00:00.002-04:00

What is the simplest way to share an idea: Open Source. The Congress for the New Urbanism’s National Conference is hosting a venue for Open Source Technology. Open Source has been a growing trend during the Congress, and this year, the first day of the Congress has been dedicated to the ideas of the broad membership.

For those of you new to Open Source or to the annual Congress gathering, I wanted to share with you the process. I was able to get a preview of Jennifer Hurley’s notes, so she deserves all the credit for this. I will be sharing the history of Open Source at CNU in an upcoming post. There are no surprises to Open Source to the It is really is simple

Technique: To help the participants at the Congress in Madison engage with each other, a full day has been dedicated a technique called “Open Space Technology”. It’s been used for more than 20 years, all over the world, with groups as small as 5 people and as large as 2000. It was created by a guy named Harrison Owen who wanted to combine the interaction and energy that happens in a good coffee break, with the substance and content of traditional conference sessions.

Mechanics: the first step in the process is for anyone in the audience who wants to come to the front of the room, write a topic you care about and your name on a piece of paper, and read out your topic and name to the group. You will then choose a time slot and location for your discussion by selecting one of the sticky notes.

A main wall in the Ballroom becomes our community bulletin board with the schedule of the “insta-Congress”. Once everyone has named their topics, we will open up the “village marketplace” so that people can find which sessions they want to join. Sessions and presentations may inspire additional topics, which can be added to the marketplace throughout the Congress.

There is one session Thursday morning in the main ballroom room, and then there are sessions concurrent with other breakout sessions throughout the Congress. Topic leaders choose when and where your discussion takes place.

Passion & Responsibility: Open Space Technology is based on the twin pair of passion and responsibility. Things only get done when someone takes responsibility for it, and people really only take responsibility for the things they are passionate about.

When you put your topic and name down, you are taking responsibility for (1) showing up at the appointed time and place, (2) getting the conversation started, and (3) finding someone in your group to take notes.

OST works based on 4 principles, and 1 law.

4 principles:

Whoever comes are the right people
Whatever happens is the only thing that could
Whenever it starts is the right time
When it’s over, it’s over

The Law of Two Feet:

If you find yourself neither learning nor contributing, it’s your responsibility to take yourself somewhere else
Your experience here today is entirely up to you.

Setting the Agenda: The agenda is simple. You are invited write your topic and name on a paper, and read out the topic and your name to the group. As stated before, Open Space Technology is based on Passion and Responsibility. You do not have to hold onto your passions until you walk into the Convention Center in Madison. Take advantage of social networking to start posting your ideas and find other like minded individuals before the Congress.

Opening the Marketplace: Once all of the topics are placed at the Village Market Place, you will see the full schedule of topics. You are free to go to any session that interests you. If you want to go to two sessions at the same time, you can try to convince one of the conveners to change their time slot, or you can bounce between the two sessions. If you think two sessions ought to merge, talk to the conveners. As soon as you’ve decided which session you want to join, please go and get started. The marketplace is now open.

During the sessions, you have 4 principles, and 1 law. Some of you will be pollinators. You may take advantage of the law of two feet and move between groups. During this process you may share ideas from one group and pass them onto another.

The other exciting part of Open Source is that when it is over, it is over. In previous Congresses, I have participated in sessions that moved onto dinner, and even late into the night. I am not sure if I can attest to the best note taking as the night went on, but I built some of the best friendships during these sessions.

CLOSING

The closing has a couple of purposes. First, it is an opportunity to share the notes from your session with other participants. Secondly, it is an opportunity to share with the entire group your thoughts of the event. The entire group will return and join in a big circle for the closing. As we go around the circle, you are invited you to share any reflection you wish about your experience. This is simply a time for sharing, not for dialogue.

If you are a first time attendee to the Congress for the New Urbanism, this is the best way to make 500 new friends on the first day of the Congress.

#CNU19 Open Source Congress

2011-05-09T12:36:00.000-04:00

http://www.cnu.org/http://www.cnu.org/This blog post is dedicated to introducing you to Open Source, so you will be inspired to bring a topic to Madison. CNU 19 is hosting an en masse Open Source Congress. Bring your thoughts and topics to discuss with other urbanists from across the globe.

The concept is simple, share a topic or idea during the Thursday morning Plenary, find like minded participants, and host a discussion on your topic. The Open Source Congress will brings together small groups of enthusiastic people to work with you to tackle your challenge. This is an opportunity to use the broad resources of the Congress attendees. Use the day to develop these ideas.

These topics could be simple in nature, or you could prepare a more elaborate presentation to share. Several topics have been developed during previous Congresses such as Light Imprint Urbanism, Sprawl Retrofit, and Tactical Urbanism. These topics started with small groups and have expanded in a national discourse and publications.

The annual Congress has always had intelligent and challenging presentations from some of the best minds in the business, but the schedule is tight and not every topic has the opportunity to have a plenary session. At the same time, the Congress is full of smart, talented, committed urbanists. Open Source is the opportunity to discuss and explore additional topics, and for all of us to interact and engage. Best of all what happens during Open Space is entirely up to you.

I will be sharing several blog posts over the next few days explaining the simplicity of the process and the CNU venue, which I assure you takes longer to write then it does to explain. Now is the time to start sharing your ideas. Begin putting together your thoughts, and share on the CNU webpage, various list-serves, Facebook accounts or blogs.

CNU 19: Growing Local

2011-05-06T09:00:00.001-04:00

I want to put a call out for ideas and topics, and I want to share a platform for these ideas. Do you want to discuss an urban issue with thousands of your peers? Do you have a burning topic that you want to discuss? Do you have an idea that you want to share or have published? The Congress for the New Urbanism is in Madison, Wisconsin this year is the place you need to be. The Congress is opening with Congress wide Open Source session. I am going to be posting more about Open Sourcing later this week.

Start collecting your ideas, and book your travel to Madison.

America Walks Survey

2011-05-03T07:13:00.000-04:00

America Walks is seeking your help. They are requesting your assistance to collect valuable information on walking behavior. Click the link for the National Walk Survey. It takes five minutes to complete, and will help to advance the cause of walkability.

America Walks is a national resource which fosters communities by engaging, educating, and connecting walking advocates.

EPA Leaving Kansas City

2011-04-29T12:35:00.000-04:00

Like many of you, I was very upset with EPA decision to leave Downtown Kansas City for the suburbs. I wrote a letter to the EPA explaining my concerns with a Federal Agency that is responsible for sustainability and Smart Growth to chose a location that is anything but. I received a response that is as stupid as the decision to move:

Thank you for your email concerning our decision to award a new lease for the EPA Region 7 headquarters. I am glad to know of your support for smart growth.

In Executive Order 13514, issued in October 2009, President Obama asked federal agencies, including GSA, to establish site selection policies that give priority to "central business district and rural town center locations, prioritizing sites well served by transit, including site design elements that ensure safe and convenient pedestrian access, consideration of transit access and proximity to housing affordable to a wide range of Federal employees, adaptive reuse or renovation of buildings..." GSA has enthusiastically embraced that direction.

Of course, our location decisions also have to consider federal agency functional requirements and overall cost to the government and the taxpayers. In this particular case, EPA Region 7 has been in a leased building in Kansas City, Kansas for more than ten years. In the course of providing open competition to house EPA in the future, we afforded the current building's ownership the opportunity to offer us a lease renewal.

I am not at liberty to divulge the factors that went into our decision, but I can say that weighing cost and technical factors (including location), we made a well-supported decision to move EPA to a new location at which an existing building will be renovated for EPA's use.

I am confident that if you follow the many hundreds of such location decisions we make each year, you will see GSA making the extra effort to support smart growth and transit-oriented development.

ROBERT A. PECK
COMMISSIONER
PUBLIC BUILDING SERVICE
U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
1800 F STREET, NW. SUITE 6340
WASHINGTON, DC 20405
202.501.1100
202.219.2310
robert.peck@gsa.gov www.gsa.gov

As you can see there is a lot be be concerned about in this responsee. First, I think that we all need to be concerned with a Government Agency that cannot share the decision making process to the taxpayers. If the Commissioner of the Public Building Service is not at liberty to discuss this who is? What are they trying to hide? Why can they not live by the Executive Orders of the President of the United States.

Who's tax dollars are you really saving with this decision? By moving these offices into a suburban community, you are now requiring every single employee and visitor to arrive by car, and limiting the access for citizens to reach these offices. With this decision, how can the EPA expect private business to meet new air quality rules, when they are now going to increase the carbon footprint of every federal employee in this office.

Is the EPA now going to award Sustainable or Choice Community Grants for other communities to re-locate all of their government offices away from town centers?

Angry Urbanists

2011-04-26T11:30:00.001-04:00

Believe it or not, there are many angry urbanists out there. You in fact may be one yourself. These are the people are more then just the typical urbanist. These are the ones go beyond that turning purple during transportation meetings for road widening, cringe at the thought of down zoning, and refuse to shop at the blue box giant Walmart.

The angry urbanists, rant about peak oil until their audience breaks into sustainable submission. They become frustrated in the current zoning code to the point that they alienate any conventional planner in a 50 mile radius. They also continually groan and complain about current or past political leadership because they feel that they regressed urban existence.

Angry urbanists also roam the earth until they find a place that they love. These lessons are lost with the reality of their lives, because they have to travel miles to get to their offices, or they move to a place they hate in order to prove that they can walk to the office. This missionary like lifestyle is marketed as a penitence to the sins of the suburanites.

When you come across an angry urbanists’ purple faces, or sharp criticism, remember it is not “you” it is “them”. Angry urbanists have a difficult internal struggle that is virtually impossible to manage with medication. The only temporary cure is to send the urbanists to the urban meccas, which can range from small scale of Seaside to the grandeur of the eternal city of Rome. These are the places they admire where they can recharge and gain inspiration.

Now, that we have identified the traits of an angry urbanist, I want to point out this fact: Urbanists do not need to be Angry. Frustrations may run high, and you may not feel that you are making any progress, but I assure you that are making a difference. Urbanist do not have to accept everything, but they need to get over their anger.

I do understand your anger, and I am guilty of this myself. The reality is that angry gets you nowhere. If you are an angry urbanist, you may need to change where you live, where you work, or who you work for. There is simply not enough time for you to waste your talents in a place that does not value you. The human body is too fragile to take the strain and stress of anger.

I do not think that angry urbanists need to move to a new urbanist commune to have a happy life. I do however think that urbanists need to focus on success. Focus on the millions of people that now live in communities that have adopted smart codes, legalized accessory dwelling units, or adopted complete street manuals. Focus on the millions of miles of vehicles miles travel that have been reduced due to smart growth.

Angry urbanist focus on the success of the last 20 years. Turn your internal struggle into a positive: share what has been done, and move on from what has not been done. People will attracted to success.

Educating Cars

2011-03-25T07:52:00.000-04:00

I finally have stumbled onto the higher education home of the car. Today, I am at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Cranes are busy raising the decks of several new parking garages. As I stare across the campus the are parking garages on literally every corner. I am trying to read the bland stucco-texture, but it appears that there are more blank windows for the car than windows for classrooms or dorms.

I can only make two conclusions: First, every student drives to every single class on campus. This auto centric design supports this, and the University is willing to focus their budget on this idea. Secondly, this could be the best education for the car. Yes, a happy place for foreign cars to be introduced to American coeds. A place for the cars of Detroit to come to get out of the winter cold and salt, while earning a fine arts degree.

This is all just nonsense. Possibly someone could add light to this situation.

Another Great Blog

2011-03-04T05:56:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share with all of you the work of Chad Cooper. Chad is an architect and fellow blogger that is "Guided by Precedent, Focused on Achieving Timeless Beauty". Every couple of weeks, Chad posts his work along the Gulf Coast showing the range of his talent. Take a few moments to take a look at his work.

Strong Towns

2011-02-26T12:52:00.000-05:00

Here is a great blog to follow: Strong Towns. It has taken me several months to plug them into my blog reading list, so you will all have to check out their archives to get caught up. Like the Restless Urbanist, Strong Towns are sharing their daily observations of the built world. These guys have a site full of great research, curbside chats, and frank observations.

Be sure to check it out.

Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T18:56:00.001-05:00

It may surprise you, but the love of my life is not urbanism, but my lovely wife Michelle. I did however meet Michelle in at our locally owned coffee shop in Pittsburgh. Yes, we both walked almost daily to this place to get a caffeine pick up and an earful of local gossip.

For me, Valentine's Day is an opportunity to not only celebrate the one you love, but how you met them. We met in a local coffee shop that we could walk to. What we paid for coffee is equivalent to what you might pay for the gas to idle in the Starbucks drive-through. A dollar coffee bought your seat at the bar for hours, which is important because it took almost a year of visits for us to meet.

Every community, needs to have these types of places for people to gather and meet. Even better, we need these places in walking distance of where we live. This seems simple enough, but can you believe that most communities across the country make it illegal to live near restaurants and coffee shops. I would still be a lonely soul, and would never had met the love of my life if it was not for that little neighborhood coffee shop.

On this day of love, think about how you met your sweet heart. If you have not met that special one, I recommend taking a walk to your local coffee shop tonight.

Builder or Planner

2011-02-14T06:41:00.000-05:00

“Every builder thinks that they are a planner, and every planner thinks that they can build.” This should be a very provocative statement. This statement leads to several questions.

First, why do people with little to now education in planning think that they are planners? I never hear people walking around stating that they are a lawyer, because they read a contract. You will never hear someone state that they are a doctor just because they took a Tylenol or used a bandage. However, everyone that talks about cities thinks that they are a planner.

Secondly, why do planners think that they can build? Pencils and Chartpak markers do not build cities. The best drawings and diagrams may inspire, but they are two dimensional ideas. Bricks and mortar male roads and buildings, but they also do not build cities.

Why do we muddy up these two professions? I would argue that active people fill the voids of the moment. Yes, I do believe that there is a large void in American planning, and planners are not planning.

There is a large need that needs to be filled. Whether you call it haphazard, sprawl, or crap, poor planning is all around us. These places were constructed with drawings that follow the rules established by local governance. Planners need to return to their professional roots and claim their professional rights.

Super Bowl Weekend

2011-02-04T08:04:00.000-05:00

Today cannot go by on this Blog without a cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yes, Heinz field can be seen in the view on the top of my blog. It should be no surprise to all of you that Pittsburgh is one my favorite places. I started my career in this great city, met my wife in the a coffee shop in the North Hills, and would take the bus to all the Steeler home games. There are very few football towns with as much passion and pride.

My football friends will probably leave comments about their own football pride in their own city, and challenge my Pittsburgh claims. Before you think you have a better football town, take a look at the North Shore in Pittsburgh. Heinz Field pulls in a walkscore of 74. You can walk from the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh to the Stadium. On the other hand Lambeau Field is somewhat walkable with a walkscore of 53.

HERE WE GO STEELERS!

Great Streets

2011-01-27T00:33:00.001-05:00

I want to share with all of you a great street in Eustis, Florida. Rarely do I stumble across a great new street in an old neighborhood. Yes, this is a very old right of way, where the community inserted one of the dumbest one-way street configurations, and then came back to their senses and built this street.

The street is now a place that people want to be, it has additional on-street parking, and has encouraged economic development. The final project looks quite simple, but there is a great level of detail for this street.

The Valley Gutter: this simple band of concrete does more than carry water. The gutter adds a clear separation of the parking and the travel lanes. It also lowers the crown of the road, which is beneficial with the existing buildings and finished floors.

Raised Table: The main intersection of Magnolia and Eustis Streets is a raised intersection. This prioritizes the pedestrian by simply raising the pedestrian in the intersection to the level of the curb. This also allows the pedestrian the greatest mobility when crossing the street, and reduces the need to directional ADA ramps.

Pavement: Yes, bricks are better. The brick pavement adds a level of sophistication to an otherwise mundane piece of urbanism. This pavement really adds to the value of the place, and it is clear that the retailers have raised the bar in their stores.

Street Trees: Yes, several aged oak trees, were removed for these improvements due to underground utility work, however they have been exponentially replaced. The live oak is a hallmark to Central Florida, and adds to the character of these streets. In only a few years the branches will canopy the street, and add shade for the pedestrian.

The Power of Intersection Density

2010-12-30T10:22:00.001-05:00

I have to share this great blog post with all of you.

Highways to Boulevards

2010-12-28T09:32:00.000-05:00

Planners should set their targets on Downtown Columbus for the next Highway to Boulevard project. Currently, downtown Columbus is strangled by one of America’s largest highway confluences. Across the County Cities on both coasts are replacing these outdated transportation systems with urban boulevards.

I would suggest that Columbus Planners begin planning to replace the west section of the 70/71 freeway with an urban boulevard. This section of roadway currently is the nemesis of commuters, separates the Brewery District and German Village from Downtown, and discourages redevelopment and investment adjacent to the current roadway.

Columbus does not have to do this planning alone. Cities like New Orleans and Hartford have recently received federal funding through the TIGER II program to remove freeways through their downtowns. These cities have found that property values increase, transportation improves, and redevelopment follows these projects.

Carter Park Neighborhood

2010-12-02T07:24:00.000-05:00

Indiantown's Booker Park is getting two new streets of affordable housing, a 20,000 square foot community center, innovative storm water management and a signature public park. Learn more from a recent TC Palm article Indiantown's Booker Park to Get Facelift

The Martin County Community Redevelopment Agency has also posted the draft plan on their website. Learn more about this community partnership: Draft Plan

Planes Trains and Automobiles

2010-11-27T08:12:00.000-05:00

I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and warm wishes as we start the winter holiday season. One of my favorite holiday movies is the 1987 classic film “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.” Beyond the humor of the comedic giants Steve Martin and John Candy, this movie highlights the holiday travel rituals of millions of Americans.

As a frequent flyer, I wish that I could say that this movie was fiction. During my travels I have meet several people like Neal Page and Del Griffith. I have never shared a bed with any of them, but I have been trapped in airports with these personalities. I am not sure if these mythical characters are channeled due to the situation, or if these personalities live within all of us.

I question which is more barbaric: the trip or the distance? It amazes me how common it is for all of us to get a flight across the country or drive across the a state to spend a holiday with the ones we love. It is even amazing that we accept the conditions provided in the route. Potholes, traffic jams, long lines, and cramped airplanes, have become the accepted norm.

I would encourage all of you to share your travel experiences this holiday season. Where are you going, who have you meet, and what have you seen? Share your stories and pictures in the comment section of this post.

Simple Solutions: Use Tables

2010-10-14T07:16:00.000-04:00

Many times the use tables contradict the zoning codes, older layers exist which makes it very confusing for owners. Property owners need to know what they have, what they can do, and how they can market their property. The use table should have the least number of uses with the greatest flexibility. For example, planning departments should not split hairs over the

The idea that commercial businesses such as retail sales are different then commercial office space again hinders the market and marketability for a parcel of land. Whether the use is 2,000 square foot a law office with 15 employees or a 2,000 square foot retail store with 4 employees, the impacts are comparable.

Municipalities do have a responsibility of public trust, but confusing zoning does not build on this trust. Use tables could be simplified to the following categories: Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional. The details of design are not a question for zoning, but should be consolidated into the building code.

With the thousands of square feet of vacant space in our communities, you should not prohibit anyone from coming and promoting innovation. By clarifying regulations, communities can support a competitive edge for business growth.

New Park Planned for Jensen Beach Waterfront

2010-10-11T18:39:00.001-04:00

This is a really great story. Read more at TCPALM. You can also see the design presentation on the Martin County Community Redevelopment Website.

Simple Solutions: Home Office

2010-09-26T09:47:00.000-04:00

A simple solution to redevelopment is to encourage home offices. A simple review could unlock a wealth of potential. Local governments should review local zoning codes and remove any language that would discourage or outlaw a home office or home based business. This would provide the ability for someone to work from home, and possibly add an office addition to an existing home. Home owners could use their existing home infrastructure like their internet and phone connections to connect to the world. They would also be eligible to take advantage the Federal Home Office tax credit and transfer the expense of of renting an office into a mortgage or house payment.

The home office is an opportunity to allow for innovation, thinking and development of mental capital in someones existing home.This not only encourages an investment into existing residents of a community, it encourages residents to invest in their home. All fo this could be achieved at no cost to a community.

Simple Solutions

2010-09-22T09:44:00.001-04:00

Vacant and underutilized properties dot our cities, and we need to question why. There are many reasons that one can come up with that explain why many of these properties have not developed in job creating and tax generating parcels. This is an important topic for communities that need to increase their tax base without raising taxes. There are thousands of under utilized properties located in our cities that sit vacant. This discourse is focused on the barriers that local government has burdened properties and how local government should begin to revise the process and code to support infill development.

The parameters are simple:

Topics should encourage redevelopment and investment on existing parcels
The recommended actions are to be taken by local government
Each action should not cost local communities money to implement

Development Starter: Write and Article

2010-09-21T21:08:00.000-04:00

This may seem like a very slow way to gain momentum or attract attention, but this is the first step into inspiring development. Our communities are hungry for ideas and knowledge. Community leaders are seeking fresh ideas to solve the problems of the day, and need to understand why conventional development patterns do not work. There is a need to share ideas.

Unlike the print sources of the past, our words and ideas can be shared and travel at light speed through the web. Whether you have a blog, Facebook account, or are a Twitter addict, you can share your thoughts instantaneously. These are existing platforms to publish and share your thoughts.

We live in a world today that people network every aspect of their lives connecting and weaving the points of interest. By writing, your ideas can become part of this social infrastructure. Others will find you, sites can link to you, and people can comment. You will get direct feedback.

This all may see too easy, and that is the point. Fill a need, use existing lines of communication, welcome feedback, and connect with others.

Development Starter

2010-09-08T20:07:00.000-04:00

It is clear that we need to inspire new development in our communities. Whether you are in the suburbs, or in a city. The economy has hit all of us hard. Thinkers like Richard Florida, described the mobility of our generation, and how we used this mobility to move to cool places. With the crash, our mobility has become every limited, but our desires have not recessed. With these limited resources, it is time to look within and begin to support cool places where we live.

I want to start a series of discussions on this topic: Development Starters. There are simple things that we can do to improve the places we live. In this series, I will discuss a series of development starters that very in difficulty. My goal is to start a conversation that I hope multiple people add their thoughts, and calibrate the ideas to their own locations.

Keep tuned as I post these ideas. Please feel free to post your own ideas or topics you would like to discuss.

Book of the Week

2010-09-08T19:41:00.001-04:00

I wanted to share a book that documents one of the most culturally vibrant communities in Miami. At the same time, Reimaging West Coconut Grove records the struggles and issues this community had to face to become safe and vibrant. Samina Quraeshi shows the positive power that can be brought to a community when the leadership of a University takes the time to have their students reach out into the community.

Reimaging West Coconut Grove should be read by every community advocate. Yes, you can make a difference in even the worst of places.

Book of the Week

2010-08-16T10:01:00.002-04:00

The Design World never really seems to be very successful in the corporate structure, until now. I want to share with all of you one of my favorite and inspirational books: “Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace”. As I turned every page of this book, I was a amazed at how Gordon MacKenizie’s experiences have paralleled my own. This is my secret weapon against the corporate culture.

When you share this book with your peers, you will find your Pink Buddha. You will be able to successfully identify the pitfalls in your workplace, and learn how to be successful.

Summer Neglect

2010-08-14T08:58:00.000-04:00

Well it is no surprise to all of you that my blog has been quiet for well over a month. Frankly, I am a little disappointed that I have not shared more with all of you. My professional work has consumed most of my time this summer, so I apologize for the quiet summer.

I also have Twitter to blame as well. It is really to easy, and I wish I had gotten on the bandwagon sooner. With my phone, I am able to capture my rants on the go. If you are interested, you can follow my through my Twitter Account @Edward_Erfurt.

Twitter

2010-07-09T17:34:00.000-04:00

I am now feeding my new Twitter account from my blog. I am not sure how all of this works, but my hope is that I do not repeat myself with all of this. As you may have noticed, I have placed a feed from Twitter on the right column of my blog. I find that is it really easy to share quick thoughts and ideas through Twitter. You will also see a couple of other folks I am following.

Tool of the Week

2010-07-06T09:45:00.001-04:00

I wanted to share a great site a stumbled across a little over a year ago: www.geturbanplanningjobs.com

Get Urban Planning Jobs is a blog that searches and announces job openings for those of you seeking urban design and planning jobs. The searches are very easy. You can trigger key words and search locations. As an employer, you can post jobs to this site, and receive maximum exposure. I like the email feature of the site. In just a few clicks you will begin receiving a weekly email with openings that match you search request.

I have used several other job search sites in the past, but they fail to acknowledge that there is an entire career path in Urbanism. Get Urban Planning Jobs is a direct tool that is not filled with a lot of adds and useless information. If you are seeking work, I would recommend that you start with this site.

Social Networks

2010-07-05T07:58:00.000-04:00

I have found a new addiction: Social Networking. The social use of the causal Facebook or myspace posts, are not not enough. I have graduated up to the rush of the instantaneous postings on sites such as twitter and yelp. To make it worse, I have linked all of these sites which neatly exposes my addition.

It is amazing the amount of information that can be composed and shared in 140 characters or less. Where was this type of compressed literature when I was in high school?

I point all of this out in a humorous, because this technology makes me laugh. Even our personal social interaction is reached through the small touch screen of a phone. For example, last night we went out to dinner with friends last night. As we arrived, we all announced on yelp that we had arrived. Our phones came a buzz as this information reached the web and populated all of our other accounts telling the world that we were on the scene.

This type of instant and condensed information tracks and records some of the most common and interesting events in our lives. This is an addition, but this is also a way to voice what people like and why. This is also an up to the minute analysis and critic of our world.

Communities should embrace this technology, and support this addition. Humans are social beings, and this may be the best result of our Suburban Nation. The social interaction that was once played out along Main Street, are now being discusses on the web.

As we transition away from the artificial suburban environments, these additions will subside. Until the built world catches up, these social networking sites will be the underground resource.

Ellen Dunham-Jones: Retrofitting suburbia | Video on TED.com

2010-06-29T21:37:00.000-04:00

Ellen Dunham-Jones: Retrofitting suburbia | Video on TED.com

Policy Power

2010-06-27T09:22:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share with you some very interesting Comprehensive Plan Policy Language from the City of West Palm Beach, Florida. This language comes directly from the Transportation element of their Comprehensive Plan. There are a couple of important observations in this vision. First, this vision establishes policies to increase quality of life. Secondly, these transportation policies establish goals to reduce vehicle miles travelled. Finally, these policies are written in clear plain language.

TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT

Transportation Vision:

The Transportation Vision outlines the direction of transportation planning for the City of West Palm Beach. It identifies the major priorities that the City needs to address from a transportation standpoint in order to ensure the development of a transportation system that increases the quality of life for its residents and visitors while providing for a variety of transportation choices that help reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas emissions.

The City of West Palm Beach’s Transportation Vision can be broken down in to the following principles:

1. Provide a wider choice of transportation options. The City shall strive to provide a variety of transportation options that include pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure as well as public transit facilities. By providing these alternatives, the City is creating a more environmentally sound and more equitable transportation system.

2. Promote the increased use of bicycle and pedestrian facilities as a viable alternate means of transportation to the automobile. Due to their health and environmental benefits, the City shall seek to improve the bicycling and pedestrian environment by providing, or requiring, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and amenities throughout the City and by seeking to provide wider sidewalks.

3. Promote transit options throughout the City. The City shall continue to coordinate with the different public transit providers on enhancing public transit service throughout the City, including exploring the use of the Intracoastal Waterway as a public transportation corridor. In addition, the City shall continue to look at ways to expand the existing Downtown trolley service.

4. Develop Complete Streets: The City shall promote the development of “Complete Streets” that are designed, built, and maintained in a manner that accommodates not only automobiles, but transit vehicles and non-motorized modes of travel such as pedestrians and bicyclists. “Complete Streets” shall seek to be aesthetically pleasing and provide for a comfortable environment for its different users.

5. Use of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and Transportation System Management (TSM) measures to reduce congestion. The City shall continue the implementation of TDM programs to reduce the use of the automobile and driver behavior. Also the City shall continue to implement TSM strategies that increase the efficiency of the existing transportation infrastructure.

6. Develop a transportation network that emphasizes safety and aesthetics. The City shall seek to create a transportation network that it is both safe and attractive. As a result, roads and intersections with high accident rates shall be evaluated periodically and measures should be implemented to make them safer for cars, cyclists, and pedestrians. In addition, the City shall continually pursue funding to beautify streets.

7. Evaluate the environmental impacts of transportation projects. The City shall consider the environmental effects of proposed transportation projects and initiatives when determining the future funding of the projects.

8. Plan for increased densities around designated nodes and corridors and more mixed land use. In order to reduce automobile-dependence and encourage modal shifts to walking, cycling, and transit, the City shall seek to develop more compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented communities offering a range of housing types around designated nodes and corridors.

Book of the Week

2010-06-23T18:36:00.000-04:00

I just picked up this book at the Congress for the New Urbanism Conference, and wanted to share my thoughts. I grabbed The Smart Growth Manual, not only because of the catchy title, but because of the simplicity of the message. I have commented before on the value and importance of the checklist at the end of the book Suburban Nation. The Smart Growth Manual is the visual companion to this list, and should be added on your list of urban design tools.

Each page clearly explains and illustrates examples demonstrating each principle of urban design. The only fault I can find with this book is both a blessing and a curse. This is a 101 look at the world, so the graduate students of urban design will not find the secret to life here. However, the Smart Growth Manual is a plain speak book, where anyone can find resources, images, and examples of key urban design principles.

This is the book that you should have on your desk as a reference manual. Do not be afraid to hand this manual to your clients and colleagues. The Smart Growth Manual will inform and educate the importance of Smart Growth.

Dead Malls

2010-05-22T08:11:00.001-04:00

I have just been introduced to this great site, and I want to share it with all of you. Dead Malls is more then a funny joke, this is a very complete resources documenting the Great American Wasteland. This site is one of the most complete collections of the failed malls across the country. The authors of the site have commentary for each of this malls, and provides a series of resources for developers.

Yes, this is a funny site full of irony, but I would not lose site of the reality of the policies that continue to exist that support the construction of new malls. We need to learn from our mistakes.

Moving Sidewalks

2010-05-18T08:38:00.000-04:00

I was recently at the Atlanta airport, and I was riding the moving sidewalks between terminals. I began to ask myself if these things could be used anywhere else in the urban environment. In a travelers daze, I began to look around and day dream. The tunnel in which I was traveling lacked all inspiration, and I am convinced that it drains any happiness from its riders.

The only benefit I could find for moving sidewalks is that they provide opportunities for funny pictures. I would encourage any of you traveling through the Atlanta airport to take your own funny pictures. Hopefully the airport authority realizes how bad this space is and is inspired by our creativity.

Product of the Week

2010-05-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

This week, I was reminded of one of the most powerful tools we have, yet fail to use: hand written letters. I was reminded of the importance of this tool through a recent presentation by Omar Ahmad. This TEDster shares his experience in the power of the pen, and teaches how to effectively deliver your message.

Check out this 3 minute informative presentation: Political Change with Pen and Paper

In There Own Words

2010-05-04T09:00:00.001-04:00

I want to share a recent interview from the Diane Rehm Show of Peter Lovenheim. Lovenheim is author of In the Neighborhood: The Search for Community on an American Street, One Sleepover at a Time. He like many other Americans have rediscovered the joys of front porches and knowing your neighbors.

Listen to Peter on the Diane Rehm Show.

Real Communities, Real Details

2010-05-03T09:32:00.001-04:00

I always like to clip articles that show how important the little details are for supporting a sense of community. Yes, the front porch, whether real or literal, is an important detail for Americans. This week in Parade Magazine there is a great article “Meet the Neighbors” written by Peter Lovenheim. Lovenhiem is the author of In the Neighborhood: The Search for Community on an American Street, One Sleepover at a Time
Check it out:
http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2010/edition_05-02-2010/Meet-the-Neighbors.html

It’s not a Parking Issue, It’s a Driving Issue

2010-05-02T08:22:00.002-04:00

I am amazed how quickly people are to point out how bad their fellow drivers are at driving. I am even more amazed how quickly someone is willing to jump behind the wheel, but are completely lacking in the skill to do so. I am not as surprised at hearing this, but I am surprised how easy it is to find these examples of stupidity.
I have been recently working on adding parking to several of my community main streets. One would think that these improvements would be welcomed in the current environment. The first response by business owners is to insult to their customers. “Do not do parallel parking,” they all exclaim, “My customers will drive past me, because they do not know how to parallel park.”

Yes, we have not only licensed the worst possible drivers, we have also design our roads for them, and apparently our communities will only sell products to bad drivers. Well, the world is full of irony. As I stood alongside one of the main streets, I had just explained to my colleague that this is really not a parking issue, but a driving issue. I was just pausing to breath, when we heard the crunch of mangled metal.

At that moment the debate was over. The traffic of the entire street was at a standstill. At the same time, a Mercedes felt the need to blindly back out into traffic. As the car crashed into a pick-up truck, the Mercedes continued gain speed until it firmly lodged itself into the tailgate of the stopped pick-up. Instead of stopping to evaluate the situation, the Mercedes flipped into drive and completed the destruction in the other direction.

It really is not a parking, it is really a driving issue.

Are Bicycle Lanes Always Best?

2010-04-23T22:27:00.000-04:00

I have been thinking about this question for several weeks after a rough public meeting. Are these default settings really the best choice for every situation? Now that I have mulled over this for almost two months it should be no surprise that, Best Miami News, summed this question up in a recent post, Are Bicycle Lanes Always Best?

The mystery bike writer composes several important observations. If you are interested I encourage you to read this posting.

Product of the Week

2010-04-14T08:09:00.004-04:00

How do you find a walkable place to live? Use Walk Score! This is one of the applications that I cannot find an end to its potential. Walk Score calculates the walkability of an address based on the distance from your house to nearby amenities. Walk Score measures how easy it is to live a car-lite lifestyle—not how pretty the area is for walking. It is really simple: type in your address. The site does all the work. If you are IPhone savvy, you download the app and ping your location.

I like this site because it is like a cool parlor trick that you can use to start conversation or share with your friends. This is just the beginning. This is a tool that can use in almost all fields. Realtors are now using this to market property. Communities are looking for the missing links in their community. According to the site, by raising your score by just one point, you can increase your property value as much as $3000.00.

The best part of this site is that you have the opportunity to raise your score. No, it does not take an act of Congress to raise your score. I will write more about this in length a future posting, but here is the short version. Once you get your score, look on the left side of the page. Is anything missing? If so, you can have it added. By properly mapping and linking your community to Google applications you can boost your score.

Take this application for a spin. You will be surprised with what you learn.

Great Place: Burns Court

2010-04-11T08:22:00.002-04:00

Burns Court is one of the many gems found in the Burns Square Neighborhood in Sarasota Florida. I stumbled across this exciting place as I was driving through downtown Sarasota. As I walked through this little block, I could feel the history and energy of this oasis. These small cottages sit at the base of taller high-rise towers, yet these one story homes hold their own.

Several things really stood out to me in the development. First, the cottages are all very simple in form and architectural expression. These simple forms create a complex urban environment. Each cottage has been placed in the perfect location that frames views, and distorts the perspective. As I walked the street, the perspective made this short street feel as though as though there were blocks of these cottages.

Another amazing measurement of the quality of the urban design of this court is the parking. Despite the compact design, there is an amazingly large of amount of possible parking locations. Each cottage has a small drive into a side or rear court where cars could park. I stress could. Over half of these parking areas are now used for outdoor dining, gardens and patios. Yes, they designed for the car, yet the end users chose people.

If you like this type of American urbanism, I would suggest that you take a look at Mixson Avenue in North Charleston, South Carolina. The design is very similar, yet 80 years younger.

Don’t Mistake Me for Angry

2010-04-08T07:27:00.000-04:00

My wife has pointed out that many of my restless posts seem to be filled with anger. I assure you that I am not an angry person, nor am I stuck in angry little old man syndrome. I am just really frustrated with the policies and decisions that are being made in our built environment. I am frustrated that we are spending billions on the car, yet nothing on affordable housing. I am concerned that we build excessive roads with high speed (45 mph plus), and then add bike lanes to meet active transportation credits. I cannot understand why we have regulations that require buildings to be placed in the worst location that divide our communities. I worry that our children have to be bussed across town to the new super school, instead of walking to a local neighborhood school. Our rules and regulations require us to build terrible places. These are things that keep me up at night, and this blog is my opportunity to share my restless thoughts.

Please feel free to share your thoughts here.

Book of the Week

2010-04-07T10:25:00.002-04:00

“I did write that, but that is not what I meant.” This is one of the most common discussion starters every time I open a code or charrette report. Here is a book that should sit on your desk as you put down your markers and pick up your pen. Eats Shoots & Leaves, by Lynne Truss, is both humorous and informative.

In this text and IM world we live in, it is even easier to confuse our readers. It is important to step back and review the text that accompanies all of you drawings. I am sure that many of you have found these mistakes in this blog. I know you have, because I get polite emails pointing out my errors. It is important to have non-planning professionals to read your reports and codes before you get them adopted by your clients. Yes, it is worth every penny spent with a professional technical editor to read your work. This book will point out the common mistakes that we all make, and show you the accidental humor in our writing.

Product of the Week

2010-04-07T07:49:00.003-04:00

This week I want to highlight a cool Facebook page: Walkable and Livable Communities Institute. This Walkapedia of knowledge is great resource for knowledge, networking, and images. The over 1,000 fans are comprised of some of the greatest and most passionate minds for the advocating and implementing of walkable and livable communities across the globe.

The page is a source book of information. You can download and upload images and video, link this to your site, or simply become a fan. This has been a great tool to get rapid responses to urgent questions. I also enjoy flipping through Dan Burden’s collection of images. Any one of these images will turn any suburbanite into a believer of urbanism.

If you are not already a fan then click on the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute page. The power and shared knowledge can only grow with your participation.

No Time to Fall Short

2010-04-04T19:18:00.001-04:00

Now is not the time to shortchange our cities. Now is the time to design and build Complete Streets. We will never again be in a better time to build. Design, construction, and material costs are at an all time low. The stars are aligned for municipalities to construct great streets. Most designers have the time in their offices to focus on projects. Many contractors are bidding at cost to keep construction teams working. Materials are available in supply yards across the county.

We do not have to settle for the basic incomplete street design anymore. Now is the time to demand sidewalks, canopy trees and proper drainage on every roadway project. We need to demand for two reasons. First, it is the right thing to do. We can no longer accept public projects that do not take into account all modes of transportation, and that do not take into account the pedestrian. Secondly, these infrastructure projects can increase the value of properties. The Federal Government will not be able to buy every foreclosed home in the country, but it can stabilize communities by investing into them.

Here is a simple way that a municipality can boost property values: complete the street. Countless studies show a real fiscal boost in property values with the addition of street trees. Here is a quick list of resources and facts:

1. The International Society of Arboriculture estimates that the improvement in curb appeal due to street trees increases real estate values by 5-20%.

2. In the book City Comforts: How to Build an Urban Village urban planner and author David Sucher says, "Even streets of modest houses gain a grandeur and presence when treed. Old money need not be the only ones to have old trees." Sucher estimates that street trees can boost the value of each home on the street by at least $1000 to $5000.

3. Geoffrey Donovan, a forest economist for the U.S. Forest Service in Portland, and David Butry of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, recently published a study that estimated that street tress can raise home prices in Portland as much as $7,000. So according to Donovan planting a tree, and letting it grow, is a similar investment to adding on a new bathroom.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T07:39:00.002-04:00

I want to wish a Happy Easter to everyone. Enjoy this joyous holiday.

Local School Removes Sidewalk

2010-04-01T08:17:00.004-04:00

School Board orders removal of community sidewalk due to the risk it posed to local students. Teachers have been complaining about the sidewalk for the past several months, explained school board representative Nick Naylor. Sidewalks are to blame for the recent rise in negative self esteem of students. “Many of my students can barely walk across the campus due to wide spread obesity. This sidewalk only depresses them because it reminds them of their physical challenges,” states third grade teach Mr. Simmons. Representatives for the school bus drivers union educated the school board on the risk that sidewalks had to the ridership of school buses. “If you get enough of these things (sidewalks) in the community, then no one will ride, and we will all be out of a job,” explain driver veteran Otto Mann.

After a long discussion from several local planning officials and school representatives, Local officials have agreed to start the removal of the sidewalks throughout the community. The hope is to protect the children from walking, physical activity, and nature. All of which are activities that occur outside the safe haven of the school, and have impacted the student body. City officials believe that the sidewalks will be removed and forgotten by the end of the month.

Now that I have you attention, remember that this is April 1st. Walk away with a smile, and carry the possibility of this bleak future with you next time some says, “Why do we need to add a Sidewalk?”

Book of the Week

2010-03-30T10:01:00.001-04:00

Emergence opened my eyes to another dimension of the crazy world we live in. As I would work in cities across the country, I noticed that there were always two or three groups that popped up in the attendance at the charrette that no one could explain. These decentralized groups literally emerged, expressed a view point that at times had nothing to do with the area or scope of our work, and then disappear. These groups rarely had a central leader, but these groups always have a big impact on the charrette. The more difficult aspect is that as soon as appeared, they slipped back into oblivion.

Steven Johnson’s book “Emergence” explains this complicated theory in a way that will changed the way I look at the world. It has helped me in two ways. First, this book has explained the mystery at a charrette. The lesson is not to react to the person, but to react to the core issue expressed. The second lesson is that successful groups do not need a core leadership to be successful. Goal and issue driven groups direct the focus to purpose. This also allows for individuals to participate towards the goal with their strengths. This also allows for goals to be reached through a larger pool of individuals.

Earth Hour: Why not Earth Day?

2010-03-28T11:41:00.000-04:00

Millions across the globe dimed their lights yesterday to show support for Earth Sustainability, with the passing of yet another Earth Hour. This small gesture highlights, though the dimming of lights, the concern that people have for the world we live in. Social gatherings, candle light suppers, and spontaneous street parades, all marked hour, but beyond awareness what did it do?

I would like to call a bigger action plan for the world. Let’s make a bigger impact. Why don’t we pledge to garage our cars for one day? Yes, choose a day to walk instead of driving, pick up a bicycle instead of the pump, and walk the streets instead sitting in traffic. The carbon reduction for this one day would make a real difference.

This would be a day that our children can experience a trip that does not require them being harnessed into the back seat of a mini-van. We take the opportunity to remind ourselves who our neighbors by face and not by the car they drive. For this one day, we can take back our cities from the machine.

Book of the Week

2010-03-23T09:40:00.001-04:00

How do you build a timeless brand, and focus your design team? The Urban Design Handbook compiles 40 years of experience into the covers of this book. This is one of those books that I keep by my desk as a reference manual for my office. I recommend this book to those of you that have chosen to branch out on your own, and are working on establishing your own practice. Urban Design Associates is a Pittsburgh based Urban Design and Architecture firm with over 40 years of experience that has perfected their brand and defined their image through a culture of discipline.

This Urban Design Handbook illustrates that by taking the time upfront to establish a team leadership, file structure, and color palette, you can focus on the success of the design. Urban Design Associates is an active firm that works across the globe. They have established a set of standard practices that make it easy for team members, consultants and interns to comfortably step in and out of the design process.

The benefits of this are endless. The first benefit is that you and your team will be able to find the files needed to put together a last minute presentation or the final report. Secondly, by defining the color palette you will be able to quickly react to feed back. Yes, you will be able to “patch” a drawing and not have to completely redraw the plan. Thirdly, because you are consistent in the presentation, will be able build a lasting relationship with your client. This consistency allows you to step in and out of a project to meet the needs and fee of your client.

This book will save you time, money, and headaches. Use this handbook as a structure so that you can focus on the design.

Lousy World We Built

2010-03-15T17:14:00.007-04:00

Here are some thoughts I had from a recent blog post by Russell Preston. He recently posted after a lecture by David Byrne where he spoke on his book Bicycle Diaries.

“Most U.S. cities are not very bike friendly. They’re not pedestrian-friendly either. They’re car-friendly-or at least they try very hard to be. In most of these cities one could say that the machine won. Lives, city planning, budgets, and time are all focused around the automobile. It’s long term unsustainable and short-term lousy living.”

These introductory words of Byrne’s book express my very feelings at this moment. I feel that we do live in a lousy world. What makes me feel even worse about this situation is that we spent a lot of time and money building this lousy place. Planners had to go out of their way to manipulate basic human needs that have brought us to this lousy place.

When are we going to stop forcing people to live in a place designed not for them, but their cars? Take a look at how we measure our cities. We have gone from human based measurements to the measure of the car. Parcels need corner clips and sight lines so the car can get onto the street. Streets need to be 60 feet wide so there is enough room for the car to drive, park, and pass. Block need to be big enough so that a parking garage can be place in the middle and wrapped with active uses. Development must be stopped because there is not enough parking, roads, or highways.

At what point did we switch from prioritizing the human and focused on the machine? When did we put up the white flag and handed the keys to the city to the car?

Book of the Week

2010-03-15T10:55:00.001-04:00

Where have all the walkers gone? The Lost Art of Walking by Geoff Nicholson reminds us all of this great art form. From Lao-tzu to Kennedy, Nicholson explains the history, science, philosophy, and literature of pedestrianism. This is a collection that is a pool of knowledge on walkability. Each chapter and page is another reason why walking is so important.

As I began to read this book, I started folding the corners of pages of the facts I wanted to remember. I soon realized that I was folding almost all the pages of the book. I am now waiting for the opportunity to use the history of swagger or saunter in a presentation. You too will find tidbits of knowledge from this book.

Transect of Pompeii

2010-03-14T21:53:00.011-04:00

Image of Roma

2010-03-13T10:24:00.001-05:00

Here is just a cool photo from the first time I visited Rome. These are the magical moments that exist everyday in the eternal city. This is living art.

The Question of Proximity

2010-03-12T21:47:00.000-05:00

Today, oil prices and the distances that we are required to travel on a daily basis challenge us. Many communities are seeing a decline in automobile trips, yet the quality of life is not improving.
An option is to provide new multi model options like mass transit and fixed rail. While transit is a great option, it is costly, and we are not likely to see an increase in federal funding. Over 85% of the American population lives in suburban or rural communities, where transit is just not a viable option, and the car will continue to be king.
We need to be thinking about proximity. How close are you to your job? How far away is your children’s school from your house? How far to you have to drive for your children to play in a park? Do you choose the Super Target/Walmart for one stop shopping? Can you go to the bar, and get home without risking a DUI?

These are the questions we have not asked ourselves when we have chosen our homes over the last 50 years. For the last ten years, we have asked more questions during our car purchase then our house purchase. Leather seats, cup holders, power windows and lock, GPS, ect have influenced our car buying decisions.
Buying a home is much more complicated, but Americans are not asking more questions. Appraisals and School districts guide the process. In fact, many homebuyers purchase a home without even meeting their neighbors prior to purchasing. We are not in balance with ourselves.
I am calling for Americans to get back into balance with their community. Proximity and variety are the most time-tested values for our homes. The communities across the country that continue to hold their value and maintain a high rate of sales are places in proximity to a variety of goods and services. It is also in these communities that you find small business investment and growth in new goods and services.

Product of the Week

2010-03-10T10:00:00.004-05:00

How long is this block? Measuring wheels are one of the most important tools for urban designers. I found that these small compact type of wheels are easy to carry in luggage, and are not a problem with TSA. I also like the compact size when I am in the field. Larger wheels are more accurate for true survey work, but you will be stopped by inquisitive residents. The small size can quickly be put to use, and then collapsed back to pocket size.

Here are a few of my tricks when I use the measuring wheel.

1. Check your wheel before you go out into the field. Make sure that everything works before you leave the office.

2. Practice. The wheel is helpful in measuring large anti-pedestrian roads. You will be risking a lot (possibly life and limb) when you cross the street, so make sure you are comfortable measuring. The small wheel may jump or skip when you hit gravel or sand, so learn how to adapt.

3. Plan your attack and think first. Cities are ever changing and active places. You will never be able to mark a straight line on the street. Plan where you want to go and make sure that there is not pot hole in your path, or a parked car that blocks you way. These things will come up, so plan how you will measure around these.

4. Photograph yourself measuring. Believe it or not, but some people just do not believe the facts. They may disagree with your observations, or suggest that you did not really measure the streets. A photograph in action not only counters this attack, it makes a great image for the report.

5. Photograph the street or block measured with your wheel measurement in the shot. This will help you to remember the street and measurement. These types of images help once you get back into the office.

6. Make it look easy. Yes, make this look easy. You will be dodging traffic, circling around pedestrians, and climbing over urban wreckage. If you make it look hard, your client will never let you out in the city again. Take every measurement in stride with a smile. You will create enthusiasm for measuring.

Thumbs Up for Walkability

2010-03-07T08:32:00.000-05:00

People really do want walkable neighborhoods. Here is more evidence found in The Stuart News editorial pages. Thumbs Up: Improving community redevelopment areas for pedestrians, cyclists. This is a result of a three day workshop Dan Burden of Walkable and Livable Communities held in Martin County, Florida. The editorial staff captured one of Dan’s best quotes: “If we want a booming economy of mom and pop stores, we’d better build the environment where they succeed,” Burden said.

To read the full editorial, click here.

Product of the Week

2010-03-03T10:00:00.002-05:00

Video is the new Black. The Flip Camcorder is a great tool for capturing speakers in their own words. The Flip is really easy to use. There are only three buttons: power, record, and zoom. I meet with a lot of different people, in their neighborhoods and they all have very interesting things to say. With this, I am able to capture these ideas in their own words.

I am also carrying my flip around with me to do video musing in the streets. These short videos are easy to capture and share. This is the best way to capture the real world and talk about what I am observing.

Book of the Week

2010-03-01T10:00:00.002-05:00

The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs is one of the most informative books for community leaders and urban planners. Jacobs writes about her observations of her neighborhood, and the success of her community. These observations are small lessons with a big impact.

I cannot stress how important it is for everyone to read this book. Yes, this should be on the reading list for all planning and urban design courses. I also encourage our political leadership to have a copy of this book in their library.

I recently took a straw poll in my local planning office to see if anyone had ever read The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Not a single person in the entire department had ever read this book. I am posting this blog in protest and because of my extreme disappoint. I hope that they are inspired to purchase and read the book.

Pocket Neigborhoods

2010-02-27T22:20:00.002-05:00

Dan Burden of Walkable and Livable Communities recently spoke to a group of citizens in Martin County, Florida. In this segment, he speaks about Pocket Neighborhoods. The idea is simple, and has countless benefits. In his own words:

In Thier Own Words

2010-02-27T22:14:00.000-05:00

I feel that sometimes ideas are best understood when you hear them spoken by the author. In their own words, is my attempt to capture video and sound of people describing their ideas. I will be using my wife’s Flip Camcorder to capture the musings of others. I hope that you too get inspired by these musings.

Gift Horses

2010-02-14T18:25:00.000-05:00

“No man ought to look a guift Horse in the mouth” (Proverbs 80). I am recovering from a recent community visioning session. I have completed hundreds of these meetings before, but this is the first time I have facilitated one of these sessions in my own backyard. This was a rude awakening.

I should not complain about this session, but I have to vent my frustrastration. I should be thankful that I have the opportunity to not only improve my community, but I am also provided with the tools to implement improvement. Unfortunately, the teeth of this horse are terrible.

As I listened to others in the past describe their community, I was able to distance myself because this was a job. I knew that I was going to be on a plane at the end of the week and return home. This weekend was different. I watched as citizens bashed their own neighborhood. The hate for their streets rolled off their tongues with ease.

This localized planning is much harder than the typical paratrooping I have done in the past. I live in this community, I see these places every day, and I chose this place for me to raise my family. This hate does not foster the sense of community that energies me as an urbanist.

This opportunity is a gift, and I will have to continue to dig. I hope that despite this terrible mouth, this horse will carry me to a better place.

Tool of the Week

2010-02-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

Is the Congress for the New Urbanism really that different than the Tea Party?

2010-02-07T08:40:00.002-05:00

As I watch the Tea Party coverage on CSPAN, the similarities are striking to the National meeting of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU). Both organizations are grass roots movements and believe that the current hierarchy has led us astray. Both are full of intelligent professionals that believe that there is a better way. Both feel that the truth will empower our base.

I am sure that the progressives of the CNU will out lash against this observation. The last thing that the CNU would like to associated with is social conservatives. I am confident that the progressives have already stopped reading and moved onto another blog.

This observation is important for several reasons. First, when was the last time that you saw national coverage, and live nation news feeds from a grass roots conference of 1,000 people? When have you ever seen live interviews of 20 something’s discussing seminars they just led? When was the last time that a keynote speaker received national primetime airtime? We need to learn and connect to this type of media machine.

Secondly, the principles of the Tea Party could make or break the work of the CNU in the coming years. The talking points of the Tea Party are common principles that have struck a cord of fiscal responsibility throughout the country. I have already seen this attitude show up in several of my public meetings. This is the cultural backlash of progressive ideas and principles. As a progressive liberal, you should be afraid of the success of the Tea Party Campaign. The social programs that support much of our work are at risk at being cut, and the Federal and State budget items to pay for our services are under attack. We need to understand the ideas coming out of Tea Party.

The Charter for the New Urbanism is a document that will stand the test of time. It was not written for the left or the right, but it is founded in human needs. New Urbanists need to be smarter in how we present ourselves. Our work is important and there will continue to be a need for our services. Take advantage of the Tea Party. We need to learn how they are spreading their message and empowering their base to act.
This is also an opportunity to reach out to the Tea Party. We should invite members to the Congress. The Tea Party will be developing public policy statements that we have the opportunity to influence. We have more in common then we may initially think.

Dan Burden and Martin County CRA

2010-02-06T12:10:00.000-05:00

Renowned Urban Planner Dan Burden Will work with all Martin County CRA Neighborhood Advisory Committee Members & Staff to identify the best redevelopment practices.

Wed. 2/24 9-5 Thu. 2/25 9-noon & 6-8

Day One

Wednesday 2/24 Port Salerno Civic Center 4950 Anchor Ave., off Dixie Highway at Rocky Point
WALKING AUDIT & ROUNDTABLE 9am – 5pm
Meet up with Dan Burden for a Walking Audit around Port Salerno with Staff and Members of ALL NACs. You’ll see a familiar area with new eyes as Dan teaches you to spot the elements that make or break a community.

Following the Walking Audit, Dan will meet with NAC Members to discuss opportunities, constraints, and initiatives in an Interactive Roundtable format.

This meeting will include a presentation by Dan on Smart Growth, Active Community Environments, Livable Communities and Best Practices relevant to Martin County CRA’s.

Day Two

Thursday 2/25 Blake Library John F. Armstrong Auditorium, 2351 Monterey Road, Stuart
PUBLIC PRESENTATION 6-7:30 p.m. Presented by the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council

Dan will make an evening presentation for the general public concerning Martin County’s Redevelopment Areas. He will present an Existing Conditions Evaluation and address the Community’s Needs. Dan will discuss Best Practices and other Tools in order to communicate initial ideas and to establish direction and purpose with the community. During the evening presentation, the public will be invited to Share their ideas and desires for the CRA’s.

All meetings are free and open to the public.

Porch Columns

2010-02-02T20:03:00.000-05:00

Today, yet again, another building was submitted for building permti that had a window placed behind a column. When will architects take the time to review their work before it leaves their office?

This is something that should not upset me so much, but with over 4,000 years of history I think that we should have learned something. The premise is really simple: when you look out a window, you should not stare into the back of a column. There is no excuse for any architect or builder to seal a set of plans that have windows in front of porch columns.

Here is an example of a new home built in Orlando. This home is located in a historic district, was designed by a modern architect, and the windows are placed between the columns. This house is also built close to the street with a raised porch. It really is not that hard when we take the time to think about what we are drawing.

The World is Our Oyster

2010-01-30T08:14:00.000-05:00

I am tired of the doom and gloom that exists around us, so I want to point out some very exciting observations. Opportunity surrounds all of us; it just may take a little energy to grab onto it. This blog is an example of an opportunity. With a creative domain name, several free applications, and some patience, I am able to reach out to the world and share the ideas bouncing around in my head.

I do not have to convince a newspaper editor or publishing company to publish my thoughts. I simply write and press post. We need to acknowledge the power of the blog.

The power of Google will web like minded individuals to my thoughts and observations. Through this I am able to make connections with people across the globe. I am also able to instantaneous feedback.
Now, is the time for the lecture: Do not just sit there! You may have to take a job that pays the bill, or are focused on a virtual job search, but do not give up your passions. Get out there and post. The world is your oyster.

Will Power

2010-01-29T07:27:00.001-05:00

Will we ever see the same energy focused on Health Care focused on Walkability?

Walkability at the White House

2010-01-29T07:23:00.000-05:00

Now that the First Lady has taken the lead on Childhood Obesity, this is an opportunity for the power of the White House to support Walkability. Now is the time to CHANGE our National focus from Freeways to Neighborhoods. I HOPE that this is a turning point for action.

New Web Address

2010-01-24T08:39:00.000-05:00

My wife Michelle has helped to raise the bar on my blog, and I now have a real domain name for this site. This blog can now be reached at http://www.restlessurbanist.com/. It will now be even easier for people to find and read my Restless thoughts on the built world.

Walkable and Livable Communities Institute

2010-01-10T13:57:00.000-05:00

Dan Burden continues to expand and save the world. Last month he started the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute. Check out the website and watch this Institute grow.

http://www.walklive.org/

Does Snow Make Better Urbanism?

2009-12-23T08:35:00.001-05:00

Does snow make better urbanism? I answer yes. I came to this conclusion as I flew into Columbus, Ohio, this week. As I looked out the window on the plane, I had several observations. Snow is a natural equalizer for communities. It is the result of the magic wand waived across the city by Mother Nature.

We have to first step back to the warmer months of late fall. Every store, Christmas card, and Christmas village, showed images of snow covered main streets, or tiny log cabins settled at the foot of mountains. The majority of the architecture is covered under a blanket of cold winter snow. The warm glow of windows and the spires of smoking chimneys grab our eyes and capture our imaginations as they pierce through the white blanket. The snow focuses our minds on sugarplum dreams, and the restless urbanist’s mind finally can relax and prepare to lay down for a long winter’s nap.

Now, as I drop in altitude to earth and reality, the Christmas card picture comes to life. The blanket of snow has been laid, and my eyes focus on the beauty of the landscape. The rolling hills of Ohio are crowned with farmhouses. The hills roll into the edge of the city where fields are replaced with large yards that meet the street, and finally the spires of downtown Columbus break through the clouds. The transect has been achieved, but wait…

What has happened to the thousands of miles of roadways, the millions of acres of parking, and the placeless boxes people are forced to call home. Has all of this has been erased from the earth? Did the Mayor finally direct his staff away from convention and towards real city building and placemaking? Has the economy crashed so low that the people have revolted and stripped the resources held in the excessive infrastructure?

Hell may have come close to freezing with the low temperatures, and Saint Michael did not come from the heavens in Armageddon. An overnight snow storm hit the city. The four and size lane roads are now reduced to a single lane, and yet the city still lives. The mundane heater vents across suburbia rise above the snowy roof tops, and make Columbus look like a snap shot out of a Charles Dickinson classic. The fields of parking that have yet to be completely filled by shoppers are covered in snow as if they have been returned to Mother Earth. Even the downtown looks warm and inviting. The wall to ceiling glass condo towers in the Arena District now look at white fields of snow instead of the dirt yards and gravel parking lots that where there just hour before. The city has been given an extreme makeover just in time for Christmas.

The snow has equalized the city, and shows us how simple it can be to change a city. Rome was not built in a day, but after a single snow storm Columbus was repaired in one night.

Death and Life of Great American Cities

2009-12-13T12:41:00.002-05:00

There are only a few urban design texts that are truly timeless. Recently, I was asked for a recommendation for the best “Urban Design” book to read. My mind flipped through the hundreds of texts from the ancients, the classics, and even the modern. My mind returned to Jane Jacob’s book “Death and Life of Great American Cities.”

I assume that during the last 40 plus years since it original printing, that all of today’s planners and urbanists have read this book. I am almost afraid to use it as starting point, because her writing is so commonly referenced. Surprisingly enough, very few people have read it. Recently, I found that my entire department only knew this book, and no one had ever read it.

I really recommend that everyone take the time to read “Death and Life of Great American Cities.” You will not be disappointed, and will finish with a new perspective on the built world.

The Tea Party Effect

2009-12-12T16:55:00.000-05:00

As a recent public servant, I can see the storm on the horizon. It is going to be a very hard next few years for all public projects across the Country. For the first time in many years, local government has a stream of federal funding through the T.A.R.P. program. At the same time, construction is at an all time low. This should be the perfect storm for building public infrastructure. Unfortunately, another storm is on the horizon.

The American Public is just plain angry at the Federal Government, which is trickling down to local government. Right now, the Tea Party’s message has hit the core of many in our communities. Americans are generally upset with the spending of the federal government, and any projects associated with this spending.

This puts all public projects in the crosshairs of this anger. As mentioned above, this is a perfect storm for another couple of hard years. By the time the storm clears, it will be too late to take advantage of the true perfect storm.

Amazon Associate

2009-11-27T11:21:00.001-05:00

Yes, I am now an Amazon Associate. Please click on the banner at the bottom of the page to see the products and books that I recommend.

Great Bike Site

2009-11-27T08:07:00.003-05:00

I want to share the Bike Pittsburgh blog with all of you. Finally, a yinzer guide to biking: Bike Commuting 101 . Seriously, this is a great resource. I really like the entire site, and have spent a lot of time exploring all the great information on the blog. You can learn everything from how to ride to work, to how to get your bike on the bike rack on the bus.

I would recomend that you share this with your friends and co-workers. This is a great starting point if you owuld like to increase education and awareness in your community.

Death of the Budget

2009-11-21T08:53:00.000-05:00

Have we not learned from the past? For the past eight years many of the Federal Urban Design programs were cut. HOPE VI, Public Housing, National Rail, Walkability, and Public Infrastructure projects were all cut, yet Federal Spending increased. Democrats blamed the increased spending and decreased program funding on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

If a Government run health care program is passed, then we can say good-by to any hope in our urban design programs. Once again, our public infrastructure programs on under attack. As a taxpayer, we need to ask how this new Government Program is going to be funded. Look hard at the programs that improve the built world and impact more then 16% of the population.

City Gets Needed Make Over with Recovery Funds

2009-11-17T22:54:00.002-05:00

$10.2 million in Recovery funds are being used to improve the quality of life for residents in New Molvania in Florida’s 28th Congressional District. The grant will fund restorative dentistry and full mouth reconstruction for all 113 the town’s residents. These necessary surgeries have been on hold as the community pays off their debt of their airline tickets from their relocation to the US.

The new community of New Molvania was established at the height of the real estate boom. Residents moved from their eastern European home country to Florida in pursuit of clean water and smooth pavement. Until recently, the community was able to survive on pureed baby food, but the costs of the bottled nutrients have out surpassed the community’s turnip production.

These grants from recovery funds will employee a team of 10 surgical dentists and 15 dental assistants. These jobs would have otherwise have lost their jobs under the proposed House Healthcare bill.

Worst Streets in Orlando

2009-11-17T17:39:00.002-05:00

With falling gas prices, and increased bike ridership there is a real need to make Orlando walkable. While the City Council and City Engineers focus on expensive red light cameras, pedestrians and bicyclist continue being hit. These accidents should have reduced due to the drop in car trips, but these injuries continue to rise. As a City, have two choices: we can continue to throw money at the problem, or solve the problem.

I will start a list of the worst intersections and streets in the city of Orlando. I will photograph, and document the worst streets in the City. Please feel add your own worst streets to my list.

1. Intersection of Bumby and South Street
2. South Street from Crystal Lake west towards downtown
3. Intersection of Sumerlin and Washington

The Intersection of Bumby and South Street

2009-11-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

This is one of the worst neighborhood intersections in the city. Children use this intersection to get to and from school. The school board has placed a City of Orlando Police officer at this intersection to help students cross. The police officers do not feel safe and never stand on the corner. They either stand under the 408 or in the parking lot driveway.

List of Problems
1. Excessive Posted Speeds.
2. South Street has three lanes of through traffic which expands to 4 lanes on the west side of the intersection.
3. South and Anderson Streets are an unbalanced one-way pair. Anderson has two lanes and South Street has over three lanes. The Large road, South Street, is the problem.
4. 408 west on-ramp. Cars traveling south on Bumby wiggle across all the lanes to get to this ramp.
5. Dedicated right turn lane on southbound Bumby. The dairy trucks are the worst offenders of gunning the green light. They are too high and cannot see pedestrians at the intersection.
6. Small 4’ sidewalk along Bumby north of South Street.
7. Sidewalks on South Street west of Bumby are destroyed and need repaired.
8. Sidewalks on South Street East of Bumby are used as parking spaces by local businesses.
9. Bumby is too wide. Bumby is one lane north of Central and one lane south of Anderson, and five lanes between. This math does not add up.

Pride in Work

2009-11-14T09:01:00.000-05:00

Now is the time to take pride in our work. I cannot tell you how many countless development and building applications that I review that lack professional pride and ownership. These mistakes were common during the big boom because of the pace of many offices. Common mistakes slipped through the cracks because of the volume of work being produced. Today, the market has changed, yet all the bad habits have stuck.

As I tour local planning and design offices in my community, empty desks and vacant offices lay in the wake of the market crash carnage. Only the fittest are surviving this economy. Despite all of this, we do not have to act defeated.

This is the best time to evaluate every aspect of your business. Pull out your last three projects. Take a hard look with a critical eye at these drawings. What was missing? Was there an additional detail or note you should have added? Are there details or notes that you can apply to your next project?

Take these lessons to the work you have sitting on your desk. Take the time to review what you are doing. You should share your work with other colleagues. This serves two purposes. First, you get a second set of eyes to review your work. Secondly, this is an opportunity to market and share your work with another professional.

Taking the time to double check your work and doing that extra drawing will not only improve your project; it will let your client feel that you are adding value to their vision.

Progress being made on Rio center and County Road 707

2009-06-02T20:17:00.000-04:00

Recently in the news:
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/may/22/progress-being-made-rio-center-and-county-road-707/

Bicycle Racks Save Developers Thousands

2009-05-25T11:21:00.000-04:00

Now that I have your attention, I would like to push the importance of bike racks for new development. It is in the best interest of a developer to include properly designed bike parking in a development. Many times during a development review, developers complain about the requirements for bike racks in their projects. The argument quickly turns to the typical lines: “No one rides or will ride bikes,” or “These things cost too much.” I argue that this requirement is in their best interest, and can save their projects thousands of dollars.

Here are the facts:
1. LESS PARKING. Every bike rack reduces the demand for vehicular parking. Every bike that is ridden to a location is one less needed vehicular parking space.

2. AFFORDABILITY. No matter the scale or use of the development, you will find bike riders. Bicycles are the cheapest form of transportation after walking. The affordability of a bicycle makes this a primary mode of transportation for employees that are in the lower economic levels. This affordability increases the available workforce to a development. With the new employee benefits under the 2008 TARP Bill, employees that ride bicycles to work can receive a rebate of up to $20 a month or $240 a year for riding a bicycle from their home to place of employment.

2. REDUCED TRIPS. By reducing parking, you can reduce transportation demand. Parking spaces are used to calculate trips to a business. By reducing trips, you are able to show a reduction in traffic impacts, and can reduce the impact fees for a project. Many local governments have policies on reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), which include multi-model transportation options. Providing Smart Growth infrastructure such as bike racks, or outlining a Bike-To-Work program may qualify for credits in these policies.

3. RACKS ARE CHEAPER THEN SPACES. A typical bollard style bike rack costs around under $500 and take up less then half the area for one parking space. In comparison, a paved parking space can cost on average of $10,000 a space.

4. NOTHING TO LOSE. For the non-believers, you really have nothing to loose by adding bicycle parking to your development. There will always be skeptics that refuse to think that Americans will get out of their cars. The national trends show us that VMT are reducing across the country for the first time in 30 years, bike sales are up, and virtually every lobbying group is supporting alternative modes of transportation. The fact is that you have nothing to lose by including bicycle parking in your development.

AARP Recognizes the importance of Complete Streets

2009-05-24T10:07:00.000-04:00

"America needs streets designed to be safe and convenient for travel by automobile, foot, bicycle and transit regardless of age or ability. As the nation ages, Complete Streets planning presents an opportunity to increase the safety and availability of older adults' travel options."
-AARP Policy and Research http://www.aarp.org/research/housing-mobility/transportation/inb167_streets.html

I highly recommend adding this policy statement and brief to your urban design toolkit. AARP represents a powerful lobby and is setting the record strait for the needs of its growing membership. The graphics in the report will aid you when talking to engineers and community stakeholders alike.

Developing in a Smart Growth Climate: A Developer’s Perspective

2009-01-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Upcoming Presentation: The New Partners for Smart Growth. Greg Trimmer with JBG, Evan Goldman with Federal Realty, and Edward Erfurt with Town Planning and Design, will be discussing the developer's perspective in a Smart Growth Environment. From the program:

The White Flint area of North Bethesda is a unique asset to Montgomery County, MD, a suburb immediately north of Washington D.C. White Flint holds major growth potential in the local economy as a commercial center located directly on a Metro subway station and containing the County’s conference center, and as a redevelopment site for mixed-use projects. With an urban service area already supported by existing infrastructure and a Metro line, White Flint is poised to be a regional draw for shopping and a haven for its fiercely loyal residents.

However, White Flint currently suffers from significant mobility problems. Missing sidewalks and crosswalks, lack of a street network, and limited travel routes restrict growth and hurt White Flintʼs quality of life. These problems detract from valuable existing transportation infrastructure investments such as the Metro Redline and extensive regional bus services. More importantly, these concerns and an inability by public officials to craft a workable solution jeopardized the potential redevelopment opportunity.

The development community is poised to redevelop along Rockville Pike, a major retail spine, but also a north-south state road. The success, and frankly the feasibility, of any redevelopment project would come to depend on the success of mobility and accessibility through the Rockville Pike corridor. Though, the problems facing White Flint are greater than any one agency or developer could solve alone, a redraft of the area’s Master Plan provided the platform to develop a broad solution. Once this effort started however, the requisite density for development incentives was (seemingly) at odds with transportation solutions. Stakeholders equated density to traffic, rather than embracing the ideals of smart growth.

Five independent development teams and landholders realized that through Stakeholder collaboration the whole would be greater than the parts. The development community hosted a public process between the local residents, Montgomery County Planning Commission staff, and the development community to identify macro-level transportation and planning solutions for the sector. A series of key design principles were developed and tested to increase the walkability and transportation movement of the sector.

This panel will discuss the source of traffic and transportation solutions, the collaboration process with state and local officials and citizens, and enacting the broad solutions though the Master Plan.

Details on the Conference can be found at http://www.newpartners.org/

Codes must be updated to create traditional, walkable communities

2008-12-11T10:57:00.000-05:00

Codes must be updated to create traditional, walkable communities
http://www.glatting.com/Resources/Files/Presentations/Dan_Burden_Codes_must_be%20updated_FL%20Real_Estate_Journa_09-2008.pdf
By Dan Burden and Edward Erfurt, Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin, Inc.Florida Real Estate JournalSept. 1 – 15, 2008

Students for the New Urbanism Conference

2008-12-08T11:12:00.000-05:00

The Students for New Urbanism has opened registration for its second annual meeting being held at the University of Miami. The conference will consist of lectures, a round table, and discussions, and is open to all from student to professional. Seating is limited by the auditorium size; register now at http://arc.miami.edu/ and click on the "SNU II" link under News.

The intent of the conference is to foster an environment for sharing ideas openly between professionals and students. This is one of the few conferences where there are no back seats, and participants are encouraged to engage the speakers. The conversations and ideas shared are frank and open for deep discussion. The conference is also very affordable for students and young proffesionals.

Find out more at http://arc.miami.edu/

Amtrak, America's Railroad

2008-11-06T17:05:00.001-05:00

I recently had the pleasure to ride Amtrak this week. I have taken trains all across Europe in the past, yet I have never taken a trip on Amtrak. Amtrak is an undiscovered gem in American transportation, and I highly recommend giving rail a try.

Like many of you, I have about had it with the airlines. The ticket prices continue to climb, the trips and connections are increasing, and the seats are shrinking. Jet-Setting, is just not that cool anymore.

On the other hand, Amtrak has inexpensive tickets, huge seats with power outlets, and plenty of room for all your luggage, and has revived my travel enthusiasm. This week I traveled from Orlando, Florida, to Charleston, South Carolina. The trip took 8 hours, which is the same travel time by plane, and only 1.5 hours longer then by car. A one-way ticket cost less then a tank of gas, and I just set back and spent the time watching movies on my IPod.

Besides the time savings, the cost savings, and the comfort, I had the chance to interact with people. Unlike the airport, where you spend your time talking to people to see if your flight is delayed, I was able to talk to fellow travelers about where they were going, and where they had been. These are the types of conversations that can only happen on trains. Unlike airplanes, you are able to converse in calm voices over the gently hum of the tracks. On the train, you can walk around, request a reservation for dinner, or pick-up a cocktail in the dinning car. You have the opportunity to see America.

I recommend that everyone seek out the rail opportunities in their community. You may find another way to travel for your next business trip or vacation.

Free Dr Robert Lang Lecture in Orlando

2008-10-13T11:32:00.000-04:00

Dr Lang will be speaking on Tuesday October 14th at 7:00 p.m. in the Bush Auditorium at Rollins College in Winter Park Florida. Admission is free. Below is an editorial written by Dr. Lang regarding Orlando and Tampa .

When Orlando and Tampa Collide—Planning Central Florida’s Megapolitan Future

The Orlando and Tampa metropolitan areas will merge into one super region by 2020. The combined space will be one of 20 U.S. “megapolitan areas,” which contain over 5 million residents. Many of us sense that a large metropolitan convergence is under way because we see regions that were once distinct places forming enormous urban complexes. In the 1960s, it was a shock that Dallas and Fort Worth—which are about 35 miles apart—unified into one big metroplex. By the 1980s, the same pattern became evident between the DC and Baltimore metros. In this decade, places such as Boston and Providence, and Cleveland and Akron officially joined as census-designated “combined statistical areas.”

Now metros with even more distance between their centers are on the verge of combining, including Phoenix-Tucson, San Antonio-Austin, San Francisco-Sacramento and, yes, Orlando-Tampa. The megapolitan concept was developed by the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech to project which big regions will merge in the coming decades. The idea is that the planning for convergence should start now in terms of land use policy, transportation infrastructure, and economic development. It is better for regions to anticipate this scale of change and plan ahead than to wait until statisticians at the census tell them they have combined.

The planning process has already begun in the Phoenix-Tucson (or the Sun Corridor) and San Francisco-Sacramento (or Northern California) megapolitan areas. The first “Sanframento” interregional summit occurred this month at the University of California-Davis. Arizona State University will release a report on the Sun Corridor in May. Orlando and Tampa should begin the same process of engagement.

It is instructive for Orlando and Tampa to consider how the similar-sized Sun Corridor is planning its megapolitan future. Most importantly, it is critical that residents in Orlando and Tampa see a stake in working together. The two places have long been rivals, yet the Phoenix-Tucson rivalry is also legend. Phoenix looks on Tucson as its poor country cousin and Tucson sees Phoenix as a mini-LA that has created a “Disney Desert.”

However, cooperation between Phoenix and Tucson is already well underway. Evidence includes the new joint University of Arizona-Arizona State University Medical School in downtown Phoenix. The school is a much needed spark to Phoenix’s ambition to become a player in the bio tech industry. Arizona is now pushing transportation investments that link up the entire Sun Corridor, including high speed rail between Phoenix and Tucson. The overarching policy is to assess both regions economic competitive advantages to determine what synergies of the type already found in bio tech exist in other business sectors.

A combined Orlando and Tampa area could likewise be more than the sum of its parts. Orlando has one of the most globally connected airports in the nation because of its large tourist industry. Tampa’s port ranks in the top 20 U.S. sea links in terms of foreign trade. The combination of Orlando’s airport and Tampa’s sea port makes Central Florida a large globally integrated metropolis. While apart, Orlando and Tampa barely register as world cities, falling well behind well-established Atlanta, or even up-and-coming Charlotte. But a well-coordinated strategy that markets the combined region as offering world class connections could lure more branch offices of leading global firms and attract more exporters.

But before Orlando and Tampa improve how they link to the world they must better link to one another. Adding high speed passenger rail is a logical first step. This is a given in the rest of the world. In fact, our competitors in Europe and Asia have national policies of connecting major cities by high speed rail in an effort to integrate their economies and reinforce business synergies. In the case of Central Florida, improved transportation capacity would also help in disaster planning. Consider the difficulty that New Orleans had in evacuating to Baton Rouge and how much better that process might have been with high speed rail.

Finally, the Orlando and Tampa must confront a host or environmental and resources challenges that impact both places and demand unified solutions. By the Metropolitan Institute’s megapolitan area measure Central Florida now contains nearly 8 million residents. The region could top 10 million by 2020, thus rivaling the Chicago metropolitan area in population.

Because of land limitations in South Florida due to the Everglades protection, the Central Florida is now the most southern place in the continental U.S. that has a significant amount of remaining open space—much it lying in the path of development between Orlando and Tampa. It would be a disaster to extend current suburban building practices to this space. Instead, Orlando and Tampa must work off a new model of growth that clusters development while preserving land. Orlando and Tampa are now building at one another, but their best hope lies in building together.