• New urban plan for Olympic park

    A makeover for a central LA park will create a neighborhood and citywide asset, even as the site prepares to host the biggest international event.
    A Los Angeles park that will host the 2028 Olympics—and already hosted two Olympics—has been approved for a makeover that will better connect the site to surrounding neighborhoods. Exposition Park Master Plan by Torti Gallas and Partners has been approved by the park’s Board of Directors. The 152-...Read more

  • Reclaiming waterfront as an economic growth strategy

    Design is a tool to strengthen community connections, extend the value of the waterfront inland, and to improve sustainability and resilience.
    One of the most rewarding aspects of New Urbanism is being able to help a community solve a problem or overcome a perceived obstacle to growth by looking at a situation with fresh eyes. Sometimes we find a solution that has been “hiding in plain sight,” to quote the old adage, and for waterfront...Read more

  • Italian coastal towns: The power of public spaces

    A few simple policy steps rooted in design and public access have dramatically improved a stretch of the Adriatic coast. Similar ideas could be implemented in US towns.
    Two and half years ago I retired and my wife and I moved to Italy permanently. Following extensive research and multiple visits in previous years, we found a house and a village that perfectly suited our needs and preferences. The region we live in is called Le Marche. Although situated in the...Read more

  • Ten great public squares

    Here are ten of the best public spaces at the heart of cities in America, plus honorable mentions.
    It seems only right that we should feature great public squares on Public Square . Squares are the outdoor living rooms of cities worldwide, and they have been planned at the center of the best North American cities for half of a millennium. The Law of the Indies required settlements to be built...Read more