A recent conference in Portland, Sustainable Stormwater Symposium, conducted a field trip which toured Portland's stormwater systems (LEED buildings, green streets, bioswales, eco-roofs). The tour wasn't taken by a vehicle caravan, not even by bus, but instead by bike! Bikes were loaned by a local bike shop, and the tour ended Portland-style at a brewpub. For those that missed the tour, you can get a brochure and do a self-guided tour. Here's the full story in The Oregonian.
Toby, you must have just missed this!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Retrofitting Suburban Neighborhoods into Walkable Communities
This is a great article from The Wall Street Journal about the retrofit of existing suburban neighborhoods into walkable, mixed-use development. Here is my summary:
Many individuals who moved to the suburbs in search of privacy, elbow room, and/or affordability have since aged. Now elderly, these individuals are beginning to realize that these suburbs are a tough place to grow old with the burden of maintaining yards and driving everywhere for anything. Many are now realizing that this privacy has now become isolation. According to studies however, the majority of these older adults don’t want to leave; they want to age in place. Many suburban cities are pursuing to fix these problems by retrofitting existing suburban neighborhoods into more livable, “lifelong communities.” The idea is to retrofit the single-family neighborhoods with more housing options (such as row houses, condominiums, and town homes) and more walking destinations such as shopping, restaurants, services, and other amenities. It is essentially the spawn of New Urbanism. In order to accomplish these retrofits, a host of various planning and design disciplines is required to address things such as zoning codes and transportation networks.
One example of a suburban retrofit is in Lakewood, CO which converted a collapsing shopping mall into a mixed-use neighborhood where people could live, work, and play. Other cities such as Fayetteville, GA, a suburb of Atlanta, are currently looking at opportunities for retrofitting their suburban neighborhoods. In fact, Atlanta’s suburbs are leading this idea of suburban retrofits with the help of planning and architectural firm Duany Plater-Zyberk. Their design of the Fayetteville retrofit includes greenway paths, a shuttle bus to shopping and health services, and improved links among neighborhoods. According to an Atlanta developer, the challenge is getting all of the many stakeholders involved to collaborate and work together. Financing is another major concern. However, according to Duany, the recession has actually forced planners, builders, and developers to consider alternatives to conventional suburban developments.
This article reminds me of my grandparents, now 88 and 78, who live on 3 acres in a suburban neighborhood. They previously owned 5 acres but sold the lot next door because my grandfather could no longer maintain it. He is no longer able to drive and my grandmother is beginning to slow down as well.
Many individuals who moved to the suburbs in search of privacy, elbow room, and/or affordability have since aged. Now elderly, these individuals are beginning to realize that these suburbs are a tough place to grow old with the burden of maintaining yards and driving everywhere for anything. Many are now realizing that this privacy has now become isolation. According to studies however, the majority of these older adults don’t want to leave; they want to age in place. Many suburban cities are pursuing to fix these problems by retrofitting existing suburban neighborhoods into more livable, “lifelong communities.” The idea is to retrofit the single-family neighborhoods with more housing options (such as row houses, condominiums, and town homes) and more walking destinations such as shopping, restaurants, services, and other amenities. It is essentially the spawn of New Urbanism. In order to accomplish these retrofits, a host of various planning and design disciplines is required to address things such as zoning codes and transportation networks.
One example of a suburban retrofit is in Lakewood, CO which converted a collapsing shopping mall into a mixed-use neighborhood where people could live, work, and play. Other cities such as Fayetteville, GA, a suburb of Atlanta, are currently looking at opportunities for retrofitting their suburban neighborhoods. In fact, Atlanta’s suburbs are leading this idea of suburban retrofits with the help of planning and architectural firm Duany Plater-Zyberk. Their design of the Fayetteville retrofit includes greenway paths, a shuttle bus to shopping and health services, and improved links among neighborhoods. According to an Atlanta developer, the challenge is getting all of the many stakeholders involved to collaborate and work together. Financing is another major concern. However, according to Duany, the recession has actually forced planners, builders, and developers to consider alternatives to conventional suburban developments.
This article reminds me of my grandparents, now 88 and 78, who live on 3 acres in a suburban neighborhood. They previously owned 5 acres but sold the lot next door because my grandfather could no longer maintain it. He is no longer able to drive and my grandmother is beginning to slow down as well.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Highlands Plantation "features exterior design similar to the look of the Cotton District"
I selected Highlands Plantation as one of my community studies for our second project. I'm sure most of you are familiar with this conventional, clustered, cookie-cutter neighborhood. While doing my research, I stumbled across Garden Homes of Highlands Plantation website. According to their site, the garden homes in Highlands are "built motivated by traditional core values of quality, featuring exterior design similar to the look of the 'Cotton District', a historical downtown area of Starkville." I'm not so sure about that, but I could be biased since I am a resident of the Cotton District - a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented, historic neighborhood.
Highlands Plantation
VERSUS
The Cotton District
Highlands Plantation
VERSUS
The Cotton District
Friday, September 11, 2009
Consumers could see a 40% price increase on energy-related bills
According to a recent article in MyBusiness, a new legislative plan could hike energy prices by up to 40 percent to individuals and businesses. This new energy policy plan would place hidden taxes on energy-related utility costs. Congress’ proposal, a cap and trade system, would require businesses which emit greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) to purchase governmental credits to offset their emissions. Under this system, businesses who stay below their specified level can sell their remaining credits to other businesses, thus allowing them to pollute more. (Sounds like a great plan to me.. sarcasm). Even businesses which emit minimal levels of greenhouse gases would experience price increases through their utility bills; since utility providers emit a significant amount of greenhouse gases, the price increase would be passed along to businesses and consumers. The government sees it as a win-win situation: environmentalists get regulation of emissions and politicians get tax money. (Notice they say "regulation" and not "reduction." Someone needs to get their priorities straight).
So where does the additional tax money go? Congress wants to use the additional revenues to fund the new government-provided healthcare program. President Obama is obviously in favor of the plan admitting that “under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.” How much, an estimated $1300 average annual increase to families’ energy-related bills.
One small business owner, Douglass Henry, suggests a better solution would be for the government to offer credits and grants to businesses for installing energy-efficient equipment. He thinks small businesses could greatly benefit from it, and it would promote conservation of our natural resources. (Sounds more logical to me).
According to a figure in the article, Mississippi ranks as “medium” in its level of vulnerability to an energy tax.
So where does the additional tax money go? Congress wants to use the additional revenues to fund the new government-provided healthcare program. President Obama is obviously in favor of the plan admitting that “under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.” How much, an estimated $1300 average annual increase to families’ energy-related bills.
One small business owner, Douglass Henry, suggests a better solution would be for the government to offer credits and grants to businesses for installing energy-efficient equipment. He thinks small businesses could greatly benefit from it, and it would promote conservation of our natural resources. (Sounds more logical to me).
According to a figure in the article, Mississippi ranks as “medium” in its level of vulnerability to an energy tax.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Congress for New Urbanism Video
I found a video on CNU's website that is promoting new urbanism. It kind of reminds me of Taze's "ticky tacky" video. Pretty cool video. May be a good "introduction to new urbanism" video for a class lecture to the undergrads.
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