JNorquist's blog

The Portfolio of Minoru Yamasaki

Minoru Yamasaki was the architect of Pruitt-Igoe in St. Louis. The failed housing project (1955-1972) gave the word "project" its bad connotation and eventually helped sell the design reforms we usually refer to as HOPE VI. I should have known this, but today I was surprised when someone mentioned another of his projects shown below.

What a remarkable portfolio!

Landscape Urbanism and NYU's Superblocks

NYU's Greenwich Village Superblock Plans. Photo via Curbed NY.

Grimshaw Architects Unveils Designs For NYU Superblocks - ArchRecord

The Case for Congestion

Cities, Conservatives and the Future of the Country

Harvard economist Ed Glaeser is recognized as fairly conservative, certainly an enthusiast for market based policies. His new book, Triumph of the City, calls the city man's "greatest invention". He counts the many blessings that come from well planned and well run cities; economic growth, wealth, leisure time, culture, social justice, creativity, invention and more efficient use of resources.

Message from Victor Dover and John Norquist: HUD Sustainability Program at Risk

Dear CNU member,

We want to alert you to an impending threat to some relatively small but important programs that are on the cho

Prop 23 Rejected

California voters rejected Prop 23. The oil and gas industry dumped millions into the pro 23 campaign, but California's citizens saw through the ads and voted overwhelmingly against the Proposition. CNU co founder Peter Calthorpe was part of a bi partisan coalition against Prop 23.

Stop Proposition 23

There is a proposition on the California ballot that, if passed, will essentially repeal California’s strongest environmental protection law designed to decrease auto dependency and reduce greenhouse gasses This initiative, known as proposition 23, threatens a body of law enacted over the last few years by a bipartisan coalition including Republican Governor Ar

Buffalo: Dead or Alive?

Buffalo is a port on Lake Erie with no visible connection to the lake. The entire shoreline is separated from the neighborhood fabric of Buffalo by grade separated highways.

Stimulus to Nowhere?

Can we avoid the upcoming Economic Recovery Program from being a Stimulus to Nowhere?