From Congress for the New Urbanism — The morbid and mortal toll of sprawl

A federal report revealed that US traffic deaths have risen 9 percent over the last year and have totaled 19,100 in the first six months of 2016. More than 2.2 million people have been seriously injured in that time. The economic cost is estimated annually at $410 billion, or 2.3 percent of gross domestic product. The human cost is harder to calculate. They are the most frequent reason for fatality of children 5 and up and young adults. Much of the blame has been placed, predictably, on distracted and drunk driving and rising vehicle miles traveled. The “elephant in the living room,” the factor that nobody wants to talk about, is sprawl and the infrastructure of sprawl. The roads built to support sprawl, designed to modern safety standards, are contributors to the majority of US traffic deaths and injuries.

From @NewUrbanism — Roads built to support sprawl designed to modern standards are contributors to the majority... https://t.co/u9f9M0QWTc

— TheSidewalkBallet (@1sidewalkballet) August 29, 2016

Read more: The morbid and mortal toll of sprawl | CNU

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From Project for Public Spaces — 9 Steps to Creating a Great Waterfront -

1. Look First at the Public Space In planning a waterfront development, city officials or a developer should begin by envisioning a network of well-connected, multi-use public spaces that fit with the community’s shared goals. By orienting waterfront revitalization around public spaces, new construction will enhance the quality of existing destinations and result in a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.  While streets may be appropriate on some waterfronts, pedestrian connections should be given top priority, making large parking lots and auto-oriented development out of the question. Read more: 9 Steps to Creating a Great Waterfront - Project for Public Spaces

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From Granola Shotgun — Transactions of Decline

A transaction of decline, as Jane Jacobs explains in Cities and the Wealth of Nations, is an attempt to mitigate a problem but it can't eliminate the cause. Further she says once they have begun as an overall policy approach, they have no ending. In this blog post Johnny Sanphillippo (he's also a contributor to Strong Towns) considers an example in Santa Rosa CA.

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Santa Rosa Junior College is installing another parking lot near campus. No big deal, right? 

This is a commuter school serving people from all corners of the county. Faculty and students need places to park. This parking lot is carefully designed to meet all sorts of requirements. There’s comprehensive handicap accessibility. 

There’s a shade structure on the corner for pedestrians. I have no doubt there will be electric vehicle charging stations and that the lighting will be downward facing to preserve the night sky and view of the stars. As parking lots go this one will be as attractive and well appointed as possible.... 

This is the kind of plain vanilla project that travels through various regulatory agencies with tremendous institutional inertia and minimal community resistance. Read more: Transactions of Decline – Granola Shotgun

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From Better! Cities — An animated Donald Shoup explains How cars took over cities

The TruTV show Adams Ruins Everything ran an episode on cars that is a good history of our favoritism toward automobile transportation and why that hurts people. The show stars Adam Conover, who mixes comedy and education on real issues—in this case the form of cities and the impact on how we get around. The episode was posted to You Tube this week. Below is a short segment that features an animated representation of UCLA professor and parking expert Donald Shoup.



Read more: Comedic history of how cars took over cities | Better! Cities

From @grescoe — In the 20th century, "modern" meant bringing cars into cities. In the 21st it means keeping them out.

In the 20th century, being "modern" meant bringing cars into cities. In the 21st, it means keeping them out. pic.twitter.com/XVBgpSSpus

— Taras Grescoe (@grescoe) November 11, 2015

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@WorldVIU Days Nov. 2-6 — Free keynote by Charles Montgomery @thehappycity

—@WorldVIU Days Nov. 2-6 features free keynote by Charles Montgomery@thehappycity @viunews

Posted by Nanaimo Commons on Wednesday, October 28, 2015

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From Bicycle Diaries / David Byrne — "Our cities are alive, just like us..."

Our cities are alive, just like us; they have both a deep intelligence that guides them and a physical presence....
Posted by Nanaimo Commons on Tuesday, October 20, 2015

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From Winnipeg Free Press —From parking lot to urban paradise

It is rare for a city to be given an opportunity to build a brand new neighbourhood in the heart of its downtown. When it happens, it is usually the result of an industry that was once the economic engine relocating out of the modern core.

In Toronto, the railway lands along Lake Ontario have seen a multibillion-dollar transformation into a forest of highrises, altering the city's postcard skyline image into something resembling lower Manhattan. False Creek was once the industrial heart of Vancouver, but today it is home to 60,000 people living in a signature West Coast condo tower neighbourhood.

When the rail yards at the intersection of the Red and Assiniboine rivers were closed 30 years ago, Winnipeg was given that same opportunity -- but went in a different direction... Read more: From parking lot to urban paradise - Winnipeg Free Press

From @100architects — Urban intervention in Santiago

Check out our last Huellas Artes video! It contains interesting shots of the whole process of intervention. https://t.co/cIYdqFFkYS

— 100architects (@100architects) January 16, 2015

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Sidewalks are a social space... oh, and they can also be used for walking

#Sidewalks are a social space, and a place for commerce. Oh, and they can also be used for #walking. #UrbanDesign pic.twitter.com/DskgjB58rq

— AntonioGomez-Palacio (@aurbanist) July 25, 2015

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Nanaimo South Downtown Waterfront master plan terms of reference report has been sent to Council

BACKGROUND: On 2013-MAR-27, the City purchased 10.8 ha (26.7 acres) of land and water from Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway along the southern Nanaimo waterfront (1 Port Drive). Since that time, a number of initiatives have been undertaken to prepare the property for redevelopment, including environmental studies and select demolition work. The 2015-2019 Financial Plan identifies completing the plan as a priority for 2015; the planning process is scheduled to begin in September 2015 with a target completion date of February 2016. 

The next step is to issue a Request for Proposals for consulting services based on the attached Terms of Reference. The purpose of the Master Plan is to provide specific guidelines for future land use, transportation, servicing, open space, trails and environmental protection, as well as phasing of development for this portion of the south downtown waterfront. The long-term vision for the area includes enhancement of the downtown waterfront, improving connectivity of the south downtown with the surrounding neighbourhoods, and creating opportunity for a new regional transportation hub.

The report was presented to Council on July 20. Pdf here

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Infographic: City parks around the world @thiscitylifeyvr @Builtvisible

Infographic: City parks around the world @thiscitylifeyvr @Builtvisible

Posted by Nanaimo Commons on Wednesday, July 8, 2015

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How landscape architecture is changing the face of the city. @globeandmail

How landscape architecture is changing the face of the city. @globeandmail

Posted by Nanaimo Commons on Thursday, May 7, 2015

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#Squamish Councillor Susan Chapelle — An advocate for community walkability

Healthy Built Environment toolkit: Improved productivity, improved social cohesion, decreased obesity, increased... http://t.co/KwQpc14LRg
— Susan Chapelle (@squamishsusan) March 10, 2015

As I advocate for community #walkability, lets look at the economic benefits from a policy perspective. http://t.co/iUsYk6ymqG
— Susan Chapelle (@squamishsusan) March 10, 2015

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From Vancouver Public Space Network — 50 Ideas for Improving Public Space

The Vancouver Public Space Network is a volunteer-run non-profit doing advocacy, education and outreach on Vancouver’s public realm. Since 2008, the VPSN has produced Last Candidate Standing and simultaneously released a series of policy recommendations for improving the state of Vancouver’s public spaces. Here are the VPSN’s priorities for the consideration of candidates for local government to take action on from 2014 to 2018: –  you can read more here: http://bit.ly/1zq9y7Y And on Facebook.

Industrial Revolution: The Design and Influence of #GranvilleIsland @DIALOGvancouver

This is what the South Downtown Waterfront Initiative visioning statement means when it says that the site, done right, has the potential to be truly transformative for Nanaimo...

Industrial Revolution: The Design and Influence of #GranvilleIsland http://t.co/J2KQtG6G7t #dialog
— DIALOG Vancouver (@DIALOGvancouver) August 26, 2014

Just incredible #GranvilleIsland mural taking shape via @designboom http://t.co/QR9GEe7XCN @Van_Biennale @OsGemeos pic.twitter.com/avoXcvFjls

— DIALOG Vancouver (@DIALOGvancouver) August 26, 2014

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Badass Democracy: Reclaiming the Public Commons: @CityRepair at @TEDx SantaCruz

Badass Democracy: Reclaiming the Public Commons: Mark Lakeman at TEDxSantaCruz http://t.co/jb1mjpriYz

— City Repair Project (@CityRepair) June 23, 2014

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—@KGreenbergTO talk at the recent Congress for New Urbanism in Buffalo

My talk at the recent Congress for New Urbanism in Buffalo https://t.co/FrxemZ1ksz

— Ken Greenberg (@KGreenbergTO) June 20, 2014

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From the National Film Board — Radiant City

Radiant City by Jim Brown& by Gary Burns, National Film Board of Canada

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Surface parking lots are the invasive weed of my walkable downtown #Nanaimo neighbourhood.

Surface parking lots are the invasive weed of my walkable downtown #Nanaimo neighbourhood.

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) May 13, 2014

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