Alex McKeag's blog

To view the e-vite online, visit http://www.miami.edu/communications/evites/des/diaz/index.html

What’s your home’s story? Or your neighborhood’s?

On January 9th, Lunch Talks @ CAF (Chicago Architecture Foundation), held a talk titled “Historic Preservation and Neighborhood Change.” This was a presentation of stories. Leading the talk was a lone Matt Cole, Project Coordinator of the Historic Greystone Initiative with Neighborhood Housing Services in Chicago.

The International Planning History Society (IPHS) and the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Lisbon, Portugal are now accepting papers for a conference on urban plannig in Africa to be held in Lisbon on September 5-6, 2013.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation held a panel discussion, Design for Social Change, as a part of its ongoing series Architecture is Activism. Tuesday night's talk featured architects, activists, and designers from across the country, all of whom brought their stories and unique perspectives on how to “design for the public good.”

The New York Times reported on a recent rule changed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that increases the allotment for government-insured mortgages for condos built within mixed-use projects. The change, championed by CNU via its Live/Work/Walk: Removing Obstacles to Investment initiative, makes it possible for owners to acquire a government-insured mortgage in developments with 35% commercial space, up from 25% previously.

From BSU: "In order to better serve the geothermal industry, the Geothermal Conclave originally scheduled for February 11-13, 2013, will occur at a later time this calendar year; we are working with national and international industry groups to enrich the potential opportunities for attendees and to expand the impact of this on-site gathering."

On Tuesday, November 13th, the American Planning Association held a discussion "Complete Streets: Tools to Move from Idea to Practice." Two speakers from Chicago's community of transportation experts, Stefanie Seskin, deputy director of the National Complete Streets Coalition, and M. Paul Lippens, senior planner with Active Transportation Alliance, gave presentations.