As North Texas is growing at a record setting pace, we are facing very real and pressing transportation obstacles. Within the DFW metroplex, our highways are becoming increasingly congested and are in need of constant expansion in order to accommodate the transportation needs of a rapidly growing ans sprawling urban area.

Bedroom communities like Argyle…

Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs both had visions when it came to the concept of Urban Planning for New York City. The two had different views and ideas as to how New York City should be constructed. Moses was behind the concept of expressways, which displaced many people during the time of him being the city’s “Master Builder”.  He envisioned that New York would be a city that was built for driving. With the idea of expressways, this created revenue from the tolls. Although the tolls brought in…

There is an ongoing debate as to if help should go to distressed places or distressed people. There are many communities that are struggling due to lack of resources and funds to finance the area. On the other had there are communities that are financially stable enough to support themselves. In a article titled “People or Place?” takes a look into both sides to see if there is a correct route to take. Many factors can contribute to whether or not a place should be helped, or a…

            Gentrification is simply the renovation of an area or part of a city. McKnight-Chavers, author of “Gentrification Rolls on in Dallas,” seems torn between supporting and opposing gentrification, especially in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas. She describes residents of areas under gentrification as hard working, well-educated, professional and good citizens. Yet, she identifies decades of neglect to that area of the city since the JFK assassination. She admits that gentrification has…

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            The City Beautiful movement began with Daniel Burnham, who challenged architects to make city plans that had “magic to stir men’s blood”. George Kessler was a fellow planner and believer in the City Beautiful movement. Kessler was born in Germany in 1862, raised in Dallas, studied landscape architecture in Germany, and eventually accepted a planning job in Kansas City. His Kansas City creation of urban parks and boulevards opened the door for him to similarly plan Memphis,…

Believe it or not, one of the more controversial urban development topics is parking.  So many questions to address:

Should parking be a required piece of any property development?

How much is enough or too much??

Does excess parking increase car use?

Planners are addressing these and many more questions.  Many believe that …

Increasing population density occurs via increased demand for urban land.  This in turn increases the cost of real estate which logically impacts housing affordability.  This is an emerging reality in the urban world.…