New Urbanism: Best Practices Guide, 4th Edition
The definitive reference for new urban ideas, practices, and projects
Food stands enliven the urban fabric in Portland, Oregon. Photo by Philip Langdon.
New Urban News
A professional newsletter for planners, developers, architects, builders, public officials and others who are interested in the creation of human-scale communities.
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Abu Dhabi: new urban showcase in the Middle East?
Guided by Vancouver’s Larry Beasley, the oil-rich emirate is using North America’s top urbanists to shape development.
Designer Marianne Cusato is introducing a house tailored to today’s insecure economic conditions.
Food carts take the curse off Portland’s parking lots
On formerly barren edges of surface parking, inexpensive meals of all kinds are being dished out.
The last half of the 20th Century was dominated by suburbia, but cities made a comeback in the first decade of the new millennium.
Smart growth achievement recognized by EPA
The US Environmental Protection Agency announced the winners of the 2009 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement in December, recognizing programs and projects in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; and Tempe, Arizona.
Other articles from the January/February 2010 issue of New Urban News:
Southern Village’s center defies recession gloom
Management practices and a good tenant mix help keep business brisk in a new urban center in North Carolina. (In print only)
Lessons on street design from Abu Dhabi
Gulf region takes context-sensitive roadway design to a new level. (In print only)
Yuma approves its first TND; includes farm
Financing from land owner partly offsets the continuing lack of bank lending for real estate development. (In print only)
Canadian urbanists organize, fight
climate change
Years of preparation by Canadian urbanists have culminated in the formation of the Council for Canadian Urbanism. One of the organization’s initial purposes is to press governments in Canada to address climate change. (In print only)
Book reviews:
The Smart Growth Manual
By Andres Duany and Jeff Speck with Mike Lydon
Sidewalks: Conflict and Negotiation over
Public Space
By Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris and Renia Ehrenfeucht
194X: Architecture, Planning, and Consumer Culture on the American Home Front
By Andrew M. Shanken
Also: CNU Update
Plus: • Abdo Development • Renaissance Downtowns • “The Alley Flat Initiative • Temple Terrace • Washington, DC is considering eliminating its minimum parking requirements • Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment • City of Pasadena • Dan Burden • Jason Miller
The source for New Urbanism, smart growth, and walkable communities
Energizing a sluggish
town center
Best-of-kind businesses are being enticed to a new Main Street in Habersham, South Carolina, that had previously failed to catch on.
Demographic and market conditions are causing supermarkets in the DC region and elsewhere to modify their designs and fit walkable neighborhoods.
The most-loved places around the world vary enormously. At first glance, there seems to be no common thread, because it is the uniqueness of each of these places that makes them notable.
US DOT has $1.5 billion for livable communities
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) is seeking to use $1.5 billion in multimodal discretionary funding to support livable communities, says Beth Osborne, deputy assistant secretary for transportation policy.
Reform of state departments of transportation
A key goal of new urbanists appears to be underway in Pennsylvania and Texas.
TOPICS
More neighborliness, less driving in Canadian NU
New urban developments show lower automobile use, more walking, and higher levels of social activity.
Miami 21 delayed;
changes likely
Miami’s landmark new form based code, Miami 21, was put on hold until May.
The only book that condenses principles of good design — from the building to the street, neighborhood, and regional scale — into a manual containing just enough information to get its ideas across, and not a word more.