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.

The online articles below represent a portion of the material available in the printed version of New Urban News. To get the full printed publication, subscribe.

April/May 2009,

Vol. 14, No. 3

Common ground found

for urbanism and the disabled

“Lifelong Communities” charrette spurs a warming of relations between new urbanists and  disability-rights activists.

Federal program excites smart growth advocates

DOT and HUD announce a joint effort to merge land use and planning to improve livability.

Narrower, more connected streets coming to VA

But new urbanists may have muffed an opportunity to make the new standards even better.

Commentary: In a shrunken economy,

small opportunities loom larger

At the beginning of April, I attended a surprisingly cheerful gathering of the underemployed, otherwise known as the 2009 conference of the Congress for New Urbanism’s New England Chapter...

Available in print only:

Infill outpaces greenfield development

A federal study confirmed what many in the real estate industry have observed — the share of development in cities and first-ring suburbs has increased significantly since 1990 — and this trend continues in the wake of the real estate recession.

Federal CLEAN TEA bill includes street networks

Local road networks are included in “CLEAN TEA” legislation that was introduced in both the US Senate and House of Representatives in March.

City dwellers produce lower CO2 emissions

Recently released and soon-to-be released studies show that people who live in cities and near transit generate substantially lower greenhouse gas emissions, both in the US and internationally.

Baldwin Park, Columbia Heights,
and SmartCode win awards

The 2009 Charter Awards presented by the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) include a mix of built and designed projects,

Delaware mandates connected streets

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), which has jurisdiction over most streets and roads in its state, is — like Virginia — requiring that new subdivision streets be connected to neighboring areas.

Coach houses take center stage in British Columbia

A “Laneway Loft House” — a 624 sq. ft. dwelling designed to be placed along an alley — was the star of this year’s BC Home + Garden Show in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Q&A: Robert Gibbs on the downcast state of retail

The current downturn, says a top retail expert, is “shaking out plans and centers that were poorly conceived.”

Hybrid codes versus form-based codes

Ventura California assistant community development director Kaiser Rangwala gives a field guide of current codes.

Book reviews:

Getting Real About Urbanism:

Contextual Design for Cities

By Bernard Zyscovich with Douglas R. Porter

Also: CNU Update

Plus: • “Green infrastructure” • Oklahoma City •  closing five blocks of Broadway in Midtown Manhattan • Loudoun County, Virginia •  Hutto, Texas •  Miami, Florida, and St. Paul, Minnesota • Brent Warr • George Schloegel • Reid Ewing • Where Things Are, From Near to Far • “Greene Street Cottages.”