• The four phases of New Urbanism

    As revitalization of cities moves forward, urbanists are partway through a multiphase process that is changing America.
    The New Urbanism began mostly as a large-project, greenfield movement. Some new urbanists concentrated on infill in the 1980s and 1990s, but their efforts attracted less media attention and investment. Intellectually, the movement aspired to revitalize entire regions—especially historic cities and...Read more

  • A walkable urban retail primer

    Nuture unique historic character in walkable formats and don’t build leasable space that you can’t lease. For downtown to have a critical mass, the goal is to capture 20 percent of the retail market share.
    A couple weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of working with Bob Gibbs in Las Cruces, New Mexico , looking at ways to help downtown outperform the suburbs, helping Main Street be more profitable than strip malls. The top lessons were to nurture unique historic character in walkable formats and don’...Read more

  • Home design: The community is key

    Good news for architects and urbanists.
    The good news for architects is that their business is strong. The good news for urbanists is that architects are increasingly designing for infill, transit-accessible, compact, and walkable neighborhoods. All of these features rose in prominence according to the American Institute for Architects (...Read more
  • Pearl Brewery Redevelopment

    An industrial shell turns powerhouse

    The former Pearl Brewery is the economic and social hub for San Antonio's revitalizing River North neighborhood.
    The former Pearl Brewery is the economic and social hub for San Antonio's revitalizing River North neighborhood.Read more