• Choice and the ‘sprawl tax’

    Daniel Hertz at City Observatory introduced what he called the “Sprawl Tax” last week—defined as the cost associated with excess commuting distance for the top 50 metro areas. This distance adds real costs for gas, depreciation, and wear and tear on motor vehicles as well as time spent commuting...Read more

  • Existing assets boost Detroit revival

    Note: This article was written as part of the Project for Lean Urbanism and edited for Public Square . Lean Urbanism will be a topic of discussion at CNU 24 in Detroit taking place June 8-11, 2016. Detroit is a place of intrigue. The dramatic rise and fall of the city over the last half century has...Read more

  • New eco-city combines ancient practice and modern technology

    Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is designed with energy, transit, human comfort, and sustainability in mind.
    A new city rising on the edge of the Arabian desert may become one of the most sustainable cities in the world. Perhaps ironically, this attempt at creating a low-carbon city is occurring in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which has grown wealthy exporting hydrocarbons to the world. Yet it’s not pouring...Read more

  • Car-free streets: When old becomes new again

    Americans are returning to walkable neighborhoods. Property values are appreciating much faster in these types of places than they are in car-dependent areas, suggesting people are becoming increasingly willing to pay a premium to live, work, and play in walkable environments. [1] Though widespread...Read more