Recently the national-award winning, Duany Plater-Zyberk designed community of Southside in Greensboro lost a key tenant, Vintage 301. Outside of Manny’s Universal Café, this was the only restaurant in the neighborhood and only consistent draw of people outside of the small neighborhood inside. While there are a few hair salons and other small businesses… Continue reading Urban Design Must Have Heart and Soul
Year: 2011
The Case for Better Neighborhood Associations
You either pay exorbitant amounts of money to it or you have moved to a community on purpose to get away from it. You probably want to get rid of it, especially if you want to tear out your front yard or save for retirement without watching that $300 a month go down the drain.… Continue reading The Case for Better Neighborhood Associations
Making Big Box Stores Part of the Urban Fabric
Ahh, the urbanist’s dreaded big box. No one wants the thing in their neighborhood, but oh do we love having Trader Joes and Whole Foods nearby. Never mind that the Trader Joes moved into the old Wal-Mart space and the Whole Foods was built next door to a massive Petsmart, Babies R’ Us, and Target.… Continue reading Making Big Box Stores Part of the Urban Fabric
The Walkability Paradox
In November 2008, I was considering moving into the neighborhood in Raleigh I’d been working and playing in, North Hills (Midtown) Raleigh. North Hills is one of the many examples of successful classical new urbanism in North Carolina. It took a shopping mall that was emptying due to competition from nearby Crabtree Valley Mall and… Continue reading The Walkability Paradox
Only Because it’s Newsworthy- Reaction to CNN’s Story on Greensboro
The local Facebook and Twitter and Blogosphere are heating up with a controversial article on Greensboro, NC written by CNN. Much like the one they wrote about Charlotte earlier, it spares no bones in highlighting and illuminating some of the more negative aspects of the city. What I want to ask though, is what do… Continue reading Only Because it’s Newsworthy- Reaction to CNN’s Story on Greensboro
Towards a Cultural Urbanism- CNU 19 NextGen Panel Preview
On April 18th I happened upon this post-on popular urbanist blog Greater Greater Washington. The author in my opinion just wanted to get people talking about solutions to the problems DC residents are facing with the loss of the Chocolate City identity. It made me think back to when I published my article in Grist… Continue reading Towards a Cultural Urbanism- CNU 19 NextGen Panel Preview
Saying Goodbye to Borders
For many of you, your neighborhood Borders is just another part of the sprawburbia that has eaten our landscape alive in the past few years. However, for my neighborhood and I, Borders is more than a crappy overpriced bookstore and wannabe music store, it’s a gathering place, our true third space. Just like our shopping… Continue reading Saying Goodbye to Borders
The Future of the Black Experience in Urban Development
The last two posts explored what urban development has meant to the black community in honor of Black History Month. This time I’m sharing what I think the future needs to be to strengthen and honor black neighborhoods and communities, while including them in the sustainable community movement. Education systems that offer students more options… Continue reading The Future of the Black Experience in Urban Development
Successful Sustainable Community Projects Affecting the Black Community
Last post we explored how movements in history relate to the black experience and what we define as smart growth policies today. Here are how some sustainable community/smart growth policies are affecting the black community today. Harlem Children’s Zone Since 1997, Geoffrey Canada has been helping children and families in Harlem by concentrating all social… Continue reading Successful Sustainable Community Projects Affecting the Black Community
Quotes and Notes from the NCSU College of Design Urban Design Conference 2011(#ncsuudc2011)
First of all, I want to congratulate the NC State University College of Design, the City of Raleigh Planning Department and all the sponsors for putting on a sharp, timely and powerful conference. I also want to thank those sponsors who were able to keep the student rates of attendance low. Also enjoyed meeting almost… Continue reading Quotes and Notes from the NCSU College of Design Urban Design Conference 2011(#ncsuudc2011)