Share Readers , Family and Friends: As I wrote a few weeks ago, I want to expand the reach of this site. I believe there are many voices in placemaking, community development and cultural awarness that need to be heard together. The recent neighborhood shooting in Florida and the rising gas prices make this type […]
I ’ve read a few of the posts lamenting the loss of urban issues (inner city problems as well as transportation and development issues) as the focus of the Congress and many state and local governments. As we are now almost two weeks past election day, what should we do? 1. Start drumming up support […]
L ast night at one of our many grad student gatherings, we were teasing one of the girls for having to drive through the ghetto to get home. I was really cringing on the inside, because I feel like no neighborhood is the ghetto by default. There is rundown housing, drug drops and violent crime […]
Share I originally planed to re-post my entire series on Black History Month. However, as the month progressed, I’ve been inspired to take things a step further. When I started this project in October 2010, I was looking to give a voice to African-Americans who have technical and professional backgrounds in urban planning. I also […]
For many of you, your neighborhood Borders is just another part of the sprawburbia that has eaten our landscape alive in the past few years. However, for my neighborhood and I, Borders is more than a crappy overpriced bookstore and wannabe music store, it’s a gathering place, our true third space. Just like our shopping […]
Streets like my own are becoming more desirable for Black Americans and others looking for better deals down South This weekend( April 20-21, 2012) I have the honor of being on a panel at the UNC Global South Symposium on the “reverse migration” of African Americans. In honor of this, I’m re-posting my original thoughts […]
ShareI know many of my readers are like myself. They can’t draw buildings or maps. However, they may have the time and money to go out and organize the community. The passion for the city is still there, but in a different way. So how can these people contribute to urban planning? Here are five […]
Urbanism should be second nature, not bound by jargon or complex activities. ShareDuring a conversation at the recent Streetsblog training in Kansas City, I mentioned again the story of why the site […] It shoudln’t be, but sadly, in many cities, it is. Graham Sheridan, masters candidate in public administration at Brown University, takes my […]
Share So your clothes are dirty. The hamper is overflowing. No big deal right? The washer and dryer are in the closet. Or maybe you have to lug them downstairs, but nevertheless, laundry machines are never too far away. Unless you are me and living in Downtown Greensboro, without the rental machines that cost way […]
First of all, I want to congratulate the NC State University College of Design, the City of Raleigh Planning Department and all the sponsors for putting on a sharp, timely and powerful conference. I also want to thank those sponsors who were able to keep the student rates of attendance low. Also enjoyed meeting almost […]
ShareAs I mentioned before, I spent Friday February 4th, 2011 at the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in Charlotte, just an hour and a half from my home in Greensboro. Many of you readers were either there in the flesh or there in spirit, so you were able to see and hear some of […]
T he last two posts explored what urban development has meant to the black community in honor of Black History Month. This time I’m sharing what I think the future needs to be to strengthen and honor black neighborhoods and communities, while including them in the sustainable community movement. Education systems that offer students more […]
L ast post we explored how movements in history relate to the black experience and what we define as smart growth policies today. Here are how some sustainable community/smart growth policies are affecting the black community today. Harlem Children’s Zone Since 1997, Geoffrey Canada has been helping children and families in Harlem by concentrating all […]
Why natural disasters cancel the trivial problems of places. Urbanism should be second nature, not bound by jargon or complex activities. ShareDuring a conversation at the recent Streetsblog training in Kansas City, I mentioned again the story of why the site […] It shoudln’t be, but sadly, in many cities, it is. Graham Sheridan, masters […]
