• New Urbanism's impact on small-to-midsize cities

    In small to mid-sized cities, the impact of New Urbanism can be dramatic.
    New Urbanism in a big city may get lost in the scale of the metropolis, although new urban street design, infill development, and regulatory practices like form-based codes have an impact. The new urban approach tends to blend in to a New York City or Chicago rather than shout “look at me.” In mid-...Read more

  • Five reasons why downtown revival is great

    Justin Fox of Montgomery, Alabama, has watched downtown return from the dead in the last quarter century. Montgomery has benefited from a form-based code and new urban planning, and, most of all, the nationwide resurgence in urban living. Fox, a Bloomburg writer, listed five reasons why this...Read more

  • Syracuse I-81 teardown would save money, buildings

    The State of New York is nearing a decision on whether to demolish or rebuild the aging elevated I-81 expressway through downtown Syracuse, and the city’s daily newspaper, the Post-Standard, thinks the highway will be replaced by a surface boulevard. Governor Andrew Cuomo has signaled support for...Read more

  • Jane Jacobs was right

    Older and smaller buildings and a wide range in building age offer real economic and social benefits for neighborhoods and urban centers.
    This year is the centenary of Jane Jacobs's birth. Two years ago, the National Trust for Historic Preservation tested her theories on old buildings and walkable places, releasing a report called Older, Smaller, Better that strongly supports many of her observations on cities. This month, a follow-...Read more