• From COP28 to green cities: A call to action

    Sustainable urban design, policy advocacy, and citizen engagement are increasingly important to transform global climate goals into local realities after the UN Climate Change Conference.
    The COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, held from 30 November to 13 December 2023, marked a significant milestone in global efforts to address climate change. With over 85,000 participants, including more than 150 Heads of State and Government, the conference concluded with a...Read more

  • A pocket neighborhood designed for connection

    The Ember in Edmond, Oklahoma, is designed so that all neighbors will feel part of the whole via a central gathering space.
    Pocket neighborhoods designed around mid-block cottage courts are a notable trend in New Urbanism. They have several advantages, especially on infill sites. The houses are sited on small lots, taking advantage of a high-quality open space serving all residents. They achieve decent density, due to...Read more

  • Traveling near and far toward low-carbon cities

    Conceiving two tiers of travel suggests possibilities for sustainable mobility and a built landscape designed for it.
    The conventions of New Urbanism show maps of urban areas dotted with quarter-mile circular pedestrian sheds. Recent thinking expands planning units of urbanism to walking or bicycling sheds of 15 minutes. An emerging multimodal transportation revolution is adding more dimensions that stretch ranges...Read more

  • Town extensions with urbanism are a great idea

    Towns and cities used to grow by extending their street grids. Sprawl makes it harder, but many opportunities still exist. Why don’t we have more of this kind of development?
    I recently wrote about Belmont, North Carolina, where landowners and the city are planning a 15-acre extension of downtown. The plan carries the historic street grid through the property and offers a compelling vision for doubling the size of the small main street district. From Poundbury to the...Read more