Archive for 'Planning'

Parks, Sidewalks, Industrial Sites and Other Things That Make People Happy

Living near parks and sidewalks can make people happy, according to the results of a long-term study, but what about living near an industrial area? Planners across the nation are focusing more on adding amenities that make areas more livable. While playgrounds and bike lanes often come to mind, some planners say industrial areas can [...]

Five Ways Greenways Impact Communities Beyond Recreation

Confession: About 15 years ago, I would not have been able to accurately explain what “greenway” means.  But as it turned out 10 years later, getting closer to a great one eventually drew me to my neighborhood. Most people define a greenway as a corridor of land set aside primarily for recreation, usually offering people [...]

The Agile City: Making Many Small Plans

Daniel Burnham, famed Chicago architect and planner from the turn of the 20th century, is famous for saying, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably will not themselves be realized.” There’s something to that. Grand plans are fun to get behind. In today’s world, however, making lots of [...]

Parks, Running Tracks, Outdoor Urinals Give Residents Something They Can Use

You might not think of a urinal as something that could improve quality of life, but read on. We’ve got a story that might change your mind. This week’s roundup of livability-related stories from around the Web looks at some of the projects cities have taken on in an effort to improve their residents’ lives. [...]

Reshaping of Communities Focuses on Livability – Weekly Round Up

There’s no doubt that a reshaping is occurring in many communities. An increasing number of older adults, population growth in large cities, and changes in consumer shopping habits have dictated that cities themselves need to evolve and adapt. Our weekly round up of livability-related stories from around the Web focuses on some of the changes [...]

Complete Streets: If You Can Remake It Here, You Can Remake It Anywhere

Woodward Avenue is the least likely street in America to undergo a “complete streets” makeover, but that’s just what is being considered in Detroit and its suburbs to the north and west. For one thing, it’s an exceptionally long stretch of roadway. If you ran the length of Woodward, you’d have a marathon and then [...]

Cities Must Choose Their Identities Before They’re Chosen for Them

It’s becoming increasingly important for cities to choose their identities and how they want to be seen. That’s the theme of this week’s roundup of livability related articles around the Web. Throughout the subjects covered is the underlying message that communities can define what they are. Without a clear vision of the future, a community [...]

Parking Made Painless: City Maps and New Apps Help Address Often Underestimated Issue

City governments, downtown organizations and independent mobile app developers all seem intent on outreach and education to maximize cities’ existing parking infrastructure.