Kids across the nation started back to school last week. My two boys started on Monday with my 5 year old starting kindergarten.  Fun times!!  While we all have fond memories of friends, teachers, and recess, the academic experience and how effectively our country prepares future generations remains under constant scrutiny.  Inner city school performance is…

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Vanishing Automobile update #4

The Falling Cost of Transportation

The Surface Transportation Policy Project has issued another report blaming transportation problems on the suburbs. Driven to Spend claims that low-density suburbs ("sprawl") make people poor because it forces them to spend more of their incomes on transportation.

"Transportation is a big expense for…

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Most iconic homes attain their lofty status via a famous inhabitant or owner.  Fallingwater enjoys its own reservoir of fame although the fact that the designer was legendary and mercurial Frank Lloyd Wright certainly helps.



The architectural community recently celebrated… Continue

 

 

 

An emerging controversy in traffic enforcement, red light camera debates rarely find common ground.  Advocates argues that the cameras promote safety and save lives by discouraging last second decisions to plow through intersections.  Critics believe the that cities introduced the cameras as revenue producing tools with no consideration for public safety.  Of course, the privacy issues are obvious.  Downtowns that utilize the cameras begin to develop a big brother…

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A vital priority for New Urban trends is walkable neighborhoods that yield a more compact, dense urban region.  Advocates associate walkability with a healthier, safer lifestyle for citizens.  Denser community grids also promote a sense of community.  

In fact, recent studies indicate that prospective homebuyers list walkability as a desirable neighborhood…

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One of more controversial urban planning issues is urban renewal or gentrification.  Critics either fret over the changing urban landscape or the displacement experienced by lower income families. 

The questions remains-how can cities or urban regions…

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