• A main street makeover for a first-ring suburb

    A CNU charrette led by Moule & Polyzoides, Architects and Urbanists, focused on how to transform a two-mile stretch of the John R Road that traverses Hazel Park, Michigan. The goal is to promote development of a walkable downtown where none exists today. Doing so requires the taming of an...Read more

  • From Ideas to Action: Cheaply, quickly, fairly

    Last week, sociologist David Brain outlined strategies for a Lean charrette , which is a work-in-progress concept designed to match up with Lean Urbanism strategies. Opportunist that I am, I welcome that as an excuse to try Part 2 of the charrette discussion I offered here . Also, there’s this:...Read more

  • Ten towns that changed America

    PBS explores urban planning and the New Urbanism.
    On April 19, a PBS will explore urban planning ideas that changed America. This show begins with St. Augustine, Philadelphia, and Salt Lake City, which represent traditional cities and towns across the US. The series then delves into early, transit-oriented suburbs (Riverside, IL), company towns (...Read more

  • New York State emerges as freeway teardown leader

    All of a sudden, New York State is the nation’s leader in urban freeway removal, as reported by Streetsblog . Andrew Cuomo is on a bit of a roll when it comes to urban planning and city-based economic development. Cuomo and his administration have announced or budgeted for multiple projects over...Read more