• Portrait of a successful ‘flex street’

    Will street designers and public officials take notice of shared, flexible Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach, which contributes to both transportation and placemaking?
    On weekends, bollards go up and Clematis Street in West Palm Beach, Florida, becomes car-free. During the week, cars move slowly through the seven-block downtown corridor, sharing the curbless street with pedestrians. Clematis Street makes a bold statement at the center of West Palm Beach,...Read more

  • Eye-opening video shows church site reuse

    Creating intimate spaces within blocks could be the answer for some underutilized house of worship sites—as shown by a plan for catholic churches in a midwestern city.
    The US is facing a tremendous and growing number of church properties that are in need of better utilization or reuse . A plan and video for two catholic churches in South Bend, Indiana, shows how such properties might enable new urban placemaking of a high order while preserving the houses of...Read more

  • ‘Car-free’ development substantially built

    A video of construction shows the public spaces taking shape at the innovative Culdesac Tempe, in Arizona. Designer: “Car-free is the future of New Urbanism.”
    The Culdesac “car-free” development in Tempe, Arizona, is one of the most anticipated new urban projects in the US, getting nationwide media attention . The unique 15-acre design of Culdesac Tempe, by Opticos Design, won a CNU award in 2021 . The development will provide 636 low-rise living spaces...Read more

  • Hammond, Indiana, and a more walkable USA

    A film segment tells the story of an American city, its struggles, and a future revitalized by urban design.
    The video below is a segment of a larger documentary, not yet released, called Walkable USA. This film tells the compelling story of Hammond, Indiana, a rust belt city that once had a great downtown, and intends to have one again. Walkable USA - Proof of Concept from House Painter Media on Vimeo ...Read more