Archives
Welcome to the archives of Better Cities & Towns, a publication founded by Robert Steuteville as New Urban News in 1996. This archive holds two decades of the best news and analysis on compact, mixed-use growth and development, from 1996 to 2015.
CNU’s Charter Book is up and running, once again. Michael Leccese and Kathleen McCormick of Fountainhead Communications have recently been hired as editors of this forthcoming book elaborating on the Charter of the New Urbanism. We hope to have the...
The Charter of the New Urbanism states that “civic, institutional and commercial activity should be embedded in neighborhoods and districts, not isolated in remote, single-use complexes. Schools should be sized and located to enable children to walk...
A Narrow Streets Database has been compiled by architect Alan B. Cohen and is accessible on the Internet. The database includes at least 10 municipalities in six states that have adopted street standards far narrower than the typical 35 to 36 foot...
Not all new urbanist developments start with strong sales. Due to their market, product mix and/or lack of amenities and maturity in the first phase, many projects struggle to gain momentum. Developers say it is important to be flexible, adjusting...
A group of developers — several of whom are leading members of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) — agreed May 20 to incorporate a new trade group for new urbanist developers. The National Town Builders Association (NTBA) will serve a purpose...
Jefferson County, Kentucky, approved a Planned Village Development (PVD) District ordinance in late April, 1998, which applies to unincorporated areas surrounding the City of Louisville. The PVD is similar to many traditional neighborhood...
Construction began in May on 1,500-acre Austin Ranch, the latest in a series of projects in or near Dallas, Texas, using new urbanist principles. The master plan for the 5,000 home project was designed by RTKL and the first neighborhood, called...
After probably the most extensive public process ever to initiate a new urbanist development, the City of Orlando selected Orlando Partners to redevelop the 1,100-acre Orlando Naval Training Center (ONTC).
Orlando Partners, led by Mesirow Stein...
A charrette was held in May, 1998, to design Miles Point, an 89-acre traditional neighborhood development (TND) in St. Michael’s, Maryland. Representatives of the developer, the Midland Companies of Washington, D.C., and the design firm, Duany...
An abundance of books have come out of interest to new urbanists. These include: The Wealth of Cities: Revitalizing the Centers of American Life, by Mayor John Norquist of Milwaukee, a dedicated new urbanist; Architecture: Choice or Fate, by Leon...
The National Building Museum is seeking to raise $50,000 to $100,000 from foundations, businesses and other groups to mount an exhibit, The New Urbanism and the Future of Community. It would be presented in a 3,000 square foot gallery in the former...
Sales have picked up in traditional neighborhood developments (TNDs) in the last two years, according to an analysis by John Schleimer of Market Perspectives in Roseville, California. A survey of sales in selected projects was conducted in April,...