• CNU 29 review: How can we design for change?

    This past week I had the pleasure to attend CNU 29.Design for Change , CNU’s annual Congress. In an oversaturated time period of virtual conferences, CNU 29 was different. It was engaging, enlightening, and entertaining. Organized as a 3-day virtual conference, from May 19-21, the Congress explored...Read more

  • The rise of pedestrian-first streets

    The woonerf is coming of age as a thoroughfare type, allowing streets to take center stage as public spaces.
    Call them “woonerfs,” or “shared space,” these are skinny streets where motor vehicles may be allowed—but play second-fiddle to human-powered transportation. These streets often have no vertical curbs and are designed so that drivers feel comfortable only going very slow—5 or 10 mph. “Blurring the...Read more

  • Making a new urbanist of me

    Great places have the ability to inspire, and Seaside changed my life from building wide, fast roads to analyzing and documenting the DNA of places.
    The first time I visited Seaside, I knew very little about traditional neighborhood development. The trip was a vacation with 10 family members, including my parents. We made ourselves quite comfortable in an amazing home designed and owned by Robert Orr, called the Old Natchez Compound, which...Read more

  • Climate goals translate to work for new urbanists

    A recent report by Brookings sums up the challenge for US climate goals: It can’t be done without moving much more decisively to compact, mixed-use, walkable development. To quote from their report: “Simply put, the United States cannot reach its GHG reduction targets if our urban areas continue to...Read more