• Why build a stoop or porch?

    Urbanists emphasize front-entry features like stoops and porches, which appear prominently in form-based codes—whereas they are less important or rarely mentioned in conventional zoning. Urbanists place high importance on frontage features because they transition people from the public to the...Read more

  • How walkable places lead to healthier people

    Speck and Lombard outline the best research on how the built environment and health in CNU’s On the Park Bench.
    Twenty years ago, Urban Sprawl and Public Health was published, marking a watershed in our understanding of how the built environment impacts human well-being. The book by Jackson, Frank, and Frumkin explained the science of how walkable places are better for your health than living in sprawl—and...Read more

  • Planning for climate change and aging

    Older Americans are the most vulnerable population in a natural disaster and provide the key to making communities more resilient for everyone, argues Danielle Arigoni, author of Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation.
    Danielle Arigoni discusses her new book on how communities with aging populations can prepare for climate change on On the Park Bench . Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation argues that older adults should be the lens through which we view resilient communities. When we plan for those most...Read more

  • On Netflix, Blue Zones highlight the benefits of ‘place’

    New urbanists can be encouraged by the popularity of Blue Zone research and learn from the many place-based factors to longevity, including walkability, social institutions, and local diet—which can be included in plans to boost quality of life.
    Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones debuted on Netflix at the end of August, and critics and the audience have liked the four-part documentary series (100 percent fresh critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and strong audience ratings across many platforms). Throughout the series, new urbanist...Read more