From transportblog.co.nz — "Downtown development is the golden goose of urban economics"

When it comes to the debate about housing and development, there’s been plenty of discussion about the physical impacts of decisions we make, for example the height and bulk of buildings. There’s even been to a lesser extent a discussion on the capital costs of development, the costs of building or upgrading roads, pipes and other infrastructure. Some of this is quite evident now with the Transport for Future Growth consultations currently underway.

One area that hasn’t really been discussed at any level – other than probably some obscure high level planning papers – is the impact our development choices have on rates and operational costs. In many ways this is odd given how loudly many sections of our society protest every time rates are increased. But there is a clear link between rates and the types of development we allow. More at: The Value of Well-Designed Cities.

"Downtown development is the golden goose of urban economics" @TransportBlog #yycplan #yyccc https://t.co/ctLRDXtP5A pic.twitter.com/8quQrBwMYt

— Dale Calkins (@DaleCalkins) April 25, 2016

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 @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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From @JeffSpeckAICP — Street too wide? what you need to know, in 30 seconds.

Street too wide?: what you need to know, in 30 seconds. https://t.co/AJ7pn7FWhp @paulgoldberger @bcitiestowns @MikeLydon @DPZandCo

— Jeff Speck (@JeffSpeckAICP) August 20, 2015

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From SFU Continuing Studies — Strong Towns' Charles Marohn Curbside Chat

In October 2013, SFU hosted an urban planning lecture featuring Charles Marohn. The lecture was part of a series on Minnesota, a state that shares more than a border with Canada. 

Marohn is the co-founder and president of Strong Towns, and a professional engineer who is passionate about planning and small towns. He brings a civil-engineering perspective that results in original ideas such as the "stroad," a street/road hybrid that manages to be both expensive and unproductive. He's a fiscal conservative who makes his case effectively to a small-government audience as much as to urban planners and engineers.

This lecture was sponsored by TransLink, the City of Surrey, and SFU Urban Studies. It requires an hour of your time but if you're interested in cities you won't spend a more rewarding hour this week: 

The Minnesota Series: Original Thinking from the American Midwest - YouTube

I recently raised pedestrian safety concerns at the...@StrongTowns

I recently raised pedestrian safety concerns at the Fitzwilliam/Wallace intersection with City of Na... @StrongTowns https://t.co/VZkKj48vCW

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) June 4, 2015

Shipping container market for ‪#‎Nanaimo‬ Waterfront Pioneer Plaza

Post by The Sidewalk Ballet.

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From @StrongTowns @TheSchoolOfLife — How to make an attractive city

A great pedestrian experience has 4 elements effecting #walkability. Great design considers all 4. pic.twitter.com/ITJIpyQOek via @skyejduncan
— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) February 4, 2015

More at: An attractive city — Strong Towns

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From FutureChristchurch.co.nz Art and creativity bring life to Christchurch streets

More at: Christchurch: The Ever Evolving City - Chapter 2: IMAGINE Pohewa from Future Christchurch on Vimeo.

Author of The High Cost of Free Parking @DonaldShoup will find you a parking spot...

Author of The High Cost of Free Parking @DonaldShoup will find you a parking spot... http://t.co/Y48y2gfKb5 http://t.co/dffBFaT72B

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) January 9, 2015

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From CityLab — The Tragic Comedy of Small Business Permitting

It’s as if as soon as there is activity in an urban setting, local government springs into action to regulate it. Cities and towns are well-known for imposing all kinds of of rules and codes, a great maze to be navigated both in the creation of buildings and their occupation and operation. On a proportional basis, the tight control exceeds anything decreed at the state or federal level. So it was with great interest to learn of an initiative in one of the regulatory regime’s most guilty parties, San Francisco, to loosen up a little bit. And the rebellion, to its great credit, began in the Planning Department. More: CityLab — The Tragic Comedy of Small Business Permitting

From Nanaimo Bulletin — Video chat with Nanaimo Councillor Bill Yoachim

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Jeff Speck's Albuquerque New Mexico Downtown Walkability Analysis

Albuquerque, New Mexico Downtown Walkability Analysis. This project focuses on walkability and connectivity in downtown, with special attention to the area surrounding the Convention Center and Innovate ABQ site as well as the railroad track at Central Avenue. Jeff Speck's final report submitted Sept 2014 here. More from the City of Albuquerque's website here.

"If it's about us, don't do it without us..." @SFUPublicSquare

Can dialogue & civic engagement make a difference? This video, feat community members & instructors from SFU explores http://t.co/qfOfcjWVB1

— SFU Public Square (@SFUPublicSquare) July 28, 2014

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From Streetfilms — Parking Craters: The Scourge of American Downtowns

Streetsblog's Angie Schmitt popularized the term "parking crater," and she explains it simply: A parking crater is "a depression in the middle of an urban area formed by the absence of buildings."

Different types of "meteors" left behind parking craters in the 20th Century -- sprawl subsidies, the erosion of manufacturing, highway building. Whatever the cause, parking craters absolutely destroy sections of downtowns and make the environment more inhospitable and unattractive for people. In these areas, there is virtually no street life. In warm weather the asphalt makes the air more oppressive. It's hell on earth. It's a parking crater.Parking Craters: Scourge of American Downtowns from STREETFILMS on Vimeo.

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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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