• ‘Vertical Evolution Cottage’ offers affordable variety

    A design for a North Carolina Habitat for Humanity chapter fits a range of infill locations with standardized production.
    In Brunswick County, North Carolina, the local Habitat for Humanity chapter builds houses on varied lot sizes, and it needs a flexible design that would fit into existing neighborhoods. The Vertical Evolution Cottage by Moser Design Group (MDG) won a merit award from the Urban Guild this year for a...Read more

  • Removing I-794 is a ‘generational opportunity’

    A new study shows that demolishing a second freeway spur in downtown Milwaukee could provide housing for 4,200 people and $1.1 billion in property value.
    Milwaukee was a cradle of freeway removal in the US, with the pioneering teardown of the Park East Expressway. The $25 million project (in the early 2000s) has spurred more than a billion dollars in downtown development. Twenty-four blocks of mixed-use urbanism were opened up for redevelopment on...Read more

  • How roundabouts transformed Carmel

    The fast-growing Indianapolis suburb had the gumption to reform its suburban street network—a rare achievement that should get more attention.
    We made serious mistakes in planning and building suburbs in the 20th Century, which is why the New Urbanism movement began. For example, planners separated the integral uses of cities and towns, including live, work, play, civic functions, and parks, and put them in different locations. Traffic...Read more

  • Stacked duplex is cute and cost-effective

    A ‘missing middle’ design creatively maximizes space to provide an affordable workforce option in Beaufort and beyond.
    The Washington Duplex, designed to meet the requirements of a Charter Award-winning form-based code adopted in Beaufort, South Carolina, was built on a challenging lot in the city’s downtown historic district. This design maximizes space to provide affordable, workforce, and flexible housing. The...Read more