• The Princeton roots of New Urbanism

    The New Urbanism grew out of an open-minded educational environment, where students were encouraged to read and think for themselves rather than follow a particular design approach.
    An interesting piece in the Princeton Alumni Weekly outlines educational roots of New Urbanism founders and early leaders, and it turns out that Princeton University played a significant role. Four of the six architectural founders (Peter Katz, a nonarchitect who was the first Executive Director of...Read more

  • AARP, CNU team up on zoning reform report

    Ten changes are recommended to improve Main Street streetscapes.
    AARP, a nonprofit representing the interests of the 50-plus age group that claims 38 million members , published a new report on zoning reform to create more walkable communities. Enabling Better Places: A Handbook for Improved Neighborhoods , was cowritten with CNU. The report promotes incremental...Read more

  • This year, CNU will get a new leader

    Sadly, Lynn Richards will be moving on from leading the Congress for the New Urbanism this year. I was shocked and deeply sorry when Lynn announced she was leaving CNU. In the seven short years she has been CEO, Lynn has accomplished so much on behalf of the organization. Lynn’s outstanding...Read more

  • A farewell to one-size-fits-all urbanism

    Sustaining culture and character is more than a black or white proposition. It requires a careful blend that depends on local circumstances, meticulous research, and self-knowledge.
    Like idiomatic phrases that say similar things in a variety of languages, urban environments are customized adaptations to different conditions. Sustaining culture and character is more than a black or white proposition. It requires a careful blend that depends on local circumstances, meticulous...Read more