I’ve just started reading this memoir of the two journalists who moved their family to Celebration, FL, one of the famous “new town” settlements of the late 1990s. I’m very interested in hearing what it’s really like for people who are not architecture and planning nerds to move into a town like this, especially right when the trend began and with Disney’s stamp on the venture, which added a larger commercial element. Would this town really be Perfect Town, USA or was it just a major marketing ploy?

Many of us who are active in CNU and similar organizations know that these towns can work, but there are many issues to be ironed out, some that I know I’ll see throughout the book. Also, there’s a major elephant of diversity that already seems missing and I’m looking forward to see if they address that too. Any readers that currently live there, please feel free to share. Also, note that I’m only in the first chapter, and yes I do know about the murder that happened there in the last couple of years, but I want these folks story to stand for itself, at least for now. And with that, your news:

NC Roundup

An inside view into the strategic planning process of the Winston-Salem City Council.

The Scuppernong Books guys looked great yesterday morning on WFMY News 2, our CBS affiliate here in the Triad.

Raleigh is moving its Greyhound Station out of downtown. The hope is that the new Union Station will bring it back, but that’s 7-10 years from now.

The son of the founder of SAS is restoring historic Raleigh properties around downtown.

Raleigh and Charlotte are 16 and 17 on this list of the best cities to be an artist.

US and World Roundup

Fast Company‘s 9 inventive ideas for improving cities.

Even though there’s a new type of car and possible new service, beloved amenities are being cut on Amtrak trains.

When a black gentrifier, who’s tired of reading these kind of articles and longing for solace among his books and his writings, moves to a suburb that still has a river view and is close enough to Manhattan.

More cities need walking school buses, concerned neighbors in neighborhoods of all income levels to make sure our students get to school. More on that and the other tenets of this San Francisco project.

Man’s best friend may not be so friendly if he shows up with a police officer asking to search your car.

Could Cupertino, CA become Detroit if Apple were to ever fail?

This town’s lessons on snow plowing can teach us all how to incorporate pocket parks and curb bumpouts into areas we thought might not be able to handle them thanks to traffic demand.

It used to be transient homeless and poor people were the fear. For Evanston, IL, transient academics (read: people with or receiving advanced degrees and teaching classes) are the new blight of the neighborhood.

And finally, our place-based love story of the day: two DC residents fall in love on the X2 bus.

I’m usually not a fan of the rain. However, there’s something about seeing the rain come down on a city street, while people continue to scurry about and everything’s just close enough that you might be able to slide into the next bar or coffeeshop (or now bookstore) without using your umbrella. Of course, there’s summer rain too and the rainbows I’ve seen that rise above the skyscrapers, letting you know the weather’s about to get awesome again. Or, you can retreat and go inside, wrap up in a blanket and finally start that book you want to start. I did a little bit of both last night and because I did come in out of the rain, here’s your news for this Wednesday.

NC Roundup

Trader Joes has finally said yes, I want to come to Greensboro. And yes, in the spot we’ve all been waiting for them to show up in. Meanwhile, hometown hero grocers The Fresh Market are dealing with lowered stock prices and a less successful westward expansion.

Some of what happened at the city council meeting last night.

Several local cyclist deaths are raising questions on safety.

The High Point Council’s ceded to High Point University’s wishes and will close Montileu Ave next to the campus.

The City of Greensboro, Guilford County and the state will have to figure out what to call the new part of the Jamestown Bypass that will somewhat replace Gate City Boulevard, or still currently  High Point Road outside of the Greensboro city limits.

Lee Mortensen, formerly with Downtown Greensboro, Inc and the driver of many of the special events in downtown is now the executive director of the  Greensboro Farmers Curb Market.

Wake County Schools at capacity again in several popular neighborhoods, but will reassign district -wide to help with the crunch.

Raleigh has been selected as one of 7 national research hubs on ways to prevent and deal with droughts faced by farmers.

Mecklenburg County has outsourced its health services to a private company.

Charlotte planners are asking, who will build our next skyscraper? Meanwhile,several changes, including Charlotte’s new H&M, happening at Southpark Mall and the Sausarita’s chain, which is based in Charlotte, is adding a fast-casual (a.ka. Panera-style) Italian restaurant to it’s portfolio.

Charlotte Douglas Airport moves to expand the foreign trade zone around the airport.

And the 2nd Congressional District race officially has a big infusion of celebrity.

US and World Round-up

Meanwhile, in Portland, a Trader Joes has been rejected for being a potential driver of gentrification. Wendell Pierce of the Wire and Treme opens his first Sterling Farms grocery in the New Orleans area, bringing high end grocery back to an underserved area.

Harriet Tregoning is leaving the DC Office of Planning for HUD. Reflections from the Washington City Paper and Greater Greater Washington on this news.

The Atlantic Cities has began a new series on the Future of Transportation, with a focus on why the US hates their commutes and how Europe’s commutes ended up better than ours.

What you learn on a train.

Now that there’s a new mayoral regime in NYC, what planning professionals and others engaged in planning hope the new mayor will do.

And finally, in the spirt of sharing our love for places and the people that make them: Valentines for Planners.

Image Credit: Flickr User Rivertarts under a Attribution-Non-Commerical Creative Commons Licence.

Last night after work I decided to get gas and pick up a few groceries at a store  and station I don’t normally frequent.  The benefit of being at the center of town is being able to be at any business I want within 10-15 minutes. However, something about this shopping center just felt convenient and right. My bank, the cleaners, two pharmacies(and the two that I use the most), and of course the grocery were all in the same vicinity. Also, the area is known for having lots of small specialty shops, and only one of them is anchored by a massive parking lot, so walkability is at a premium. The Starbucks that was there did shut down a while back, but there’s a nice speciality tea room in the walkshed of this area. Also, there are homes of all income levels within walking distance. There  used to be two grocery stores in the shopping center, but that’s a story in of itself. Anyway, enough of this story. It’s a love story of place though, don’t forget to send me those. Time though for some news:

NC News Roundup

Once again, tonight’s Greensboro City Council agenda. Council is set to vote on incentives for the Elm Street Center hotel, along with several items to enable the High Point Road Streetscape plan.

All these road construction projects are under construction or slated to begin construction this year in Guilford County.

The head of the Piedmont Triad Airport Commission is stepping down as chairman and from the board after 15 years of service.

Hanes Park in Winston-Salem needs work after 100 years of service to the city.

Apparently the Gawker survey about what neighborhoods are Bushwick and Williamsburg in a particular city that’s not NYC included Raleigh and Charlotte. For the record, in Greensboro it’s Glenwood and Lindley Park respectively.  Also, Carrboro is not a neighborhood!

RTP (the actual park and its governance) have announced plans to rehab The Park Center, which is what you see when you drive down I-40 between Southpoint and the airport. They hope the rehab will bring more than 100,000 jobs to the area.

The Powerhouse Development in the Glenwood South area of Raleigh (an real neighborhood!) is under new ownership. If you are confused to what are this is, Natty Greenes Raleigh is in one of the buildings.

There’s been a coal-ash spill into the Dan River, just outside of Eden.

The City of Greensboro’s federally-funded energy efficiency program has failed to meet all of its goals.

Elizabeth City and Pasquotank County election troubles cited in this Next City article as one of the worst failures of election proceedings in the country.

US and World News Round-Up

The Federal Highway Fund is actually in jeopardy. Regardless of what you think about highway placement, some of the ones that are necessary are in need of repair and this is the only fund for some of them to get the money they need. But when a road needs to go, a road needs to go. Akron, OH realizes that now too.

Cincinnati is looking at bikeshare. In addition, this momentum around the streetcar and bikeshare has encouraged an op-ed in the local paper to call for more transit  investment.

So proud that the Triad area is far ahead of DC in this. But I am glad that DC has launched this, to deal with that, on the very important issue of eradicating homelessness.

Apparently, there were issues with public transit after the Super Bowl Sunday night. Some analysis of the issues here.

I can speak from experience, children are some of the best community planners.

Michael Pollan addresses inequities in food pricing and the labor required to get food to market. However, in better food news, this underserved neighborhood in Kansas City is getting an Aldi stocked with fresh foods and staffed by community members.

Elizabeth Warren has an awesome plan to remake old post offices into low cost banks to help those who are taken on the regular by payday lenders and even regular banks with crazy fees.

And finally, I think these libraries and their sculptures are a lot of awesome and not too much strange.

Friday evening I experienced something I’d only experienced but one time before. Dinner at the home of Charlie and Ruth Jones. Sure, you can have dinner at a lot of homes, but dinner at this home is a lot different. You ascend the steps to their top floor apartment. At the top, you are greeted with lots of warmth and the sight of a massively long table, always set to a different theme. You mingle and then you sit down and then you chat with people you may have seen in passing, but now know a lot more about, encouraged by a prayer by the hosts to lay down all your pretensions and esteem your seatmate better than oneself. To love for a few minutes, maybe just a little bit better than you loved before you came in. Oh, and to share a part of yourself on the stage in the parlor room after your bellies are full with the wonderful physical food that was shared, and listen to more spiritual food shared by others.

And in this spirit, this month here on the blog, we will be focusing on love, as well as the history of my people, as many of us do for this month. Each week, there will be an essay on some form of love for the places we live. I invite you to share your love stories of where you live too. I’ll also be reposting some of my Black History Month content and I invite you, if you have a special story about the black experience and place, please feel free to share it. Email me at the email above or if you are reading this in your email, reply back to it with your stories. Throughout the month, I’ll share them in this section of Placebook.

And with a mighty Go Seahawks,the news:

North Carolina News Round-Up

Tuesday night’s Greensboro City Council agenda.

These two Greensboro notables could have disappeared and given up on their life’s mission when their terms/jobs ended on Election Day. Yet, they take to Stephanie’s and have a conversation together, showing the power of many and many more second acts to come.

New mixed-use development set to start soon near NewBridge Bank Park in downtown, which will be anchored by another hotel.

The head of the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance defends his record.

People in Burlington were not hurt, but not notified of a major sewage spill in the Haw River last week.

Can we really compare Greensboro and Winston-Salem on economic measures? The News & Record makes an attempt. From what I can see both cities having winning times and losing times.

Guilford County School Board issues a resolution against ending teacher tenure.

The state of North Carolina’s HBCU’s.

The uncovered story of a Buffalo Soldier with roots and connections to Greensboro.

U.S. and World News Round-Up

NPR has a great report on the impact of crack on DC. It’s latest struggle with public housing and gentrification.

California’s State Water Project will not deliver water for the first time in its history due to the drought.

Fellow Streetsblogger Alex Ihnen just published a study on Millennials in St. Louis and makes the case for retaining them.

Thoughts on the concept of jaywalking. There’s a science to all foot traffic too and it helps us design cities better.

After the eventful day we had yesterday, I felt like I needed to remind folks what is proper to do when weird weather comes around.  Please pass that PSA around to folks, because we are not out of the woods yet for extreme cold, extreme heat, snow, ice, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires and anything else that combines tragedy and nature. And with that, let’s get into some news for today.

NC News Round-up

A man jumped off the Marriott parking deck in Downtown Greensboro

GTA is short 2 million dollars. Meanwhile a man was robbed at the bus stop.

City of Greensboro still working on financing for the STPAC.

A profile of the new interim (independent) citizens police review board in Greensboro and also the details on the latest movements with the Renaissance Co-op and shopping center.

A train hit a tractor-trailer in Colfax, just west of Greensboro. No one was hurt.

Kroger now officially owns Harris Teeter.

These photos of Dix Hill remind me of the fact I never got to sled as a student in Raleigh. The one snow may have snarled traffic, but it cleared up before I could get back outside to play.

Oh, it’s funny, that Onion article about Charlotte, but it’s also so true.

Person County (just above Durham) will be receiving funds and technical assistance from Smart Growth America.

Students at Davidson College are aiming for zero waste at athletic events.

National and World News Round-Up

Aaron Renn makes a compelling argument that Houston’s had a bad rap in the media for no reason, as it has a lot of the qualities we want in a city, despite no zoning restrictions.

Free transit seems to be a win-win for both the government and citizens of Tallin, Estonia.

Die-hard bike commuters report no problems with getting around in the snow, in NYC and in ATL.

Several California cities are running out of water.

Why the Greater Greater Washington crew lives exactly where they do in the region. Like most of us, it’s a pretty personal decision where exactly to live.

So yeah, this happened yesterday. 

If you read the blog before noon, you’ll note that I had a note about the State of the Union last night. However, that speech would never be able to capture my shock at what has happened in Atlanta and Birmingham thanks to the storm. The Atlantic has a great analysis of the politics of the situation, from an Atlanta-area resident. Gawker started out making fun of the situation, but now has pictures of people taking shelter in drug stores and other 24 hour establishments. Kids are stuck in schools. I’ve had a number of people on my Facebook timeline with stories of either being stuck at work, abandoning cars or it taking them hours to get home, if they are home. If you want to follow what’s going on down there, here are direct links to WSB-TV and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Oh, and there’s snow in Myrtle Beach. Please be safe as you get home, go to work, or do whatever you absolutely need to do today in areas where the snow has driven you crazy.

I have more thoughts on this,  but for now, news of note on NC and the rest of the nation.

NC News Round-up

The Governor has declared a state of emergency due to the winter weather we saw yesterday.

Our jobless rate is going down, and those who file unemployment will now be required to go into an office to claim benefits for the first time.

A new hotel could be coming to Downtown Raleigh.

Charlotte is on this list of the most affordable cities in the world. 

Durham and Greensboro, followed by Raleigh, Charlotte and Winston-Salem have the highest Walk-Scores in the state. none of these are anywhere near not being car-dependent. 

National Roundup

Chicago wants to turn an entire neighborhood into a national park.

Cleveland wants to turn vacant lots into pop-up libraries, but using the settings of different books as themes for the spaces.

NYC is going after jaywalkers more aggressively.

Famous metro maps as Super Mario Brothers games. 

What’s possible if you commit to turning a strip mall into a real neighborhood.

How to see wildlife in an urban setting in the snow.

Detroit’s new downtown apartments are pricing out everyone but the rich.

This is Placebook. Here you will find the news you need every weekday to create and maintain awesome cities, towns, neighborhoods, farms and everything in between. Subscribe on the left to get this information in a daily email and share using the social buttons below.

So the USDA has declared parts of Greensboro a food desert. Honestly, when I wrote about the city as a food oasis, I acknowledged that this was only the case for those folks who had a car or could cart food on a bus or a bike or foot even. However, not everyone is able-bodied and a licensed driver and they shouldn’t have to be to get a basic meal. Also, once again, s/o to my city councilman, the mayor and the many other community leaders and members working to get more grocery options in East Greensboro. Now, for the round-up.

NC News Roundup

Here in Greensboro,a new children’s health clinic is opening, with the promise of another adult clinic in the future… Pyramids Village is just a mile away from the Renaissance Co-op and has managed to attract a few national chain stores, including three that just opened…the cold is weakening our waterlines…economic development leaders defend their record…annual count of homeless is expected to be lower…elsewhere around the Triad, High Point University’s plans for Oak Hollow Mall are on hold.

In Charlotte, city council leaders voted to invest in streetcar development, with the hopes they will receive federal funds next year for the remainder of the line.

Raleigh’s housing authority director has a new contract and a Durham coffee-house operated by a veteran, whose struggles were profiled twice by NPR, is now open.

In Asheville, a new hotel is set to be built…abandoned buildings torn down…Aldi opens and why there are not as many chain stores in Asheville, despite consumer demand.

In Wilmington, the mayor gives his state of the city address…zoning changes allow for smaller child care centers to open…the city is ranked as a good destination for young artists by PolicyMic…an editorial calls for more rec centers…and a long time restaurateur is hanging up her hat, but not closing the restaurant chain.

Nation and World Round-up

The New York/New Jersey based Super Bowl is expected to lose money.

The farm bill is set to cut food stamp funding by 1%.

The Guardian Cities launches with multiple good stories, including this outsiders perspective of what’s happened in New Orléans since Katrina.

Greater Greater Washington argues that Baltimore should get rid of their downtown jail…a young boy tells the story of a unique community in Baltimore, a rebel dirt bike gang.

The Atlantic Cities argues if streetcars are really transit outside of New Orleans…and Debra Fallows continues The Atlantic‘s coverage of the Greenville-Spartanburg area of South Carolina, this time with a focus on accents.

And finally, the role of black barbers from slavery to now in the community…how Greenwood,OK rebuilt after the riot that destroyed it in 1921 and how it’s coping now.