CNU Salons
A New Urbanist’s Pilgrimage (Part II): Seaside.
Submitted by erin.chantry on Wed, 06/06/2012 - 7:09pmAfter I wallowed in Duany’s crowning achievement for 4 days, I finally headed down the 30A to spend a day where it all started. I of course was aware of Seaside’s legacy, celebration, and the bouts of criticism its endured over the last few decades (even by its own creators.) I knew I couldn’t properly form a critical opinion in just one day, so I decided to go with an open-mind and a youthful excitement. That’s right, second best to a critic: a tourist (after all, I did buy a t-shirt.)
The lion can lie down with the lamb
Submitted by MLewyn on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 9:10pmThere's been a lot of argument on a new urbanist listserv about DC's height limits. (In the interest of full disclosure I note that I'm doing some of the arguing!) I think one of the concerns animating opponents of taller buildings is the fear of a high-rise monoculture.
Coincidentally, I was walking down Fifth Avenue in New York, just a block or two from the Empire State Building. But in addition to that famous skyscraper, I saw a whole row of four-story buildings- evidence that the high-rise lion can lie down with the low-rise lamb.
New Rainwater-in-Context Photos
Submitted by Bryant Au on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 3:45pmWe just received some great photos from CNU Member Alan Cunningham detailing a project with our Rainwater-in-Context Initiative. Alan visited bumpouts near the Water Works Museum in Boston, designed to capture rainwater runoff and return it to the natural environment. You can find the pictures on CNU’s Flickr page here.
CNU Named to Top 20 International Urban Planning Websites: Giants of Urban Planning,
Submitted by Ben Schulman on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 10:38amCNU is honored to be included on the list of "Top 20 International Urban Planning Websites: Giants of Urban Planning," as judged by Global Site Plans.
Calling All Students!
Submitted by Bryant Au on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 10:00amAfter a successful Open Source session with students at CNU 20 in West Palm Beach, CNU student members and staff are working together to bring New Urbanism to your campus! Students for New Urbanism (SNU) are student chapters of CNU that help share the ideas and benefits of New Urbanism at a grassroots level.
Freeways without Futures: Possibilities for Urban Freeway Removal in Chicago
Submitted by Caitlin Ghoshal on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 4:41pmIf you are not already aware of CNU’s Highways-to-Boulevards initiative, CNU believes replacing urban freeways with surface streets, boulevards, and avenues is the most cost-effective, and value-producing option for cities with aging grade-separated roads. The Highways-to-Boulevards Initiative unites a diverse set of professionals, residents and activists in advocating for and demonstrating the value of freeway teardowns.
BEAT THE HEAT THIS SUMMER WHILE SUPPORTING CNU
Submitted by Ben Schulman on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 1:55pmAttention CNU members in Connecticut; Illinois; Maryland;
Listen Live to John Norquist on Chicago Public Radio's "848"!
Submitted by Ben Schulman on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 8:37amListen to the archive of Norquist's appearance here.
Listen live to CNU's John Norquist, appearing on Chicago Public Radio's "848" morning program, as he speaks alongside Brookings' Chris Leinberger on the demographic desire and strong economic performance of walkable, urban areas.
Jane Jacobs on height
Submitted by MLewyn on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 6:54pm"I think the specific scheme of diversity zoning, or the specific combination of schemes, that an outstandingly successful city locality requires is likely to differ with the locality... A park being surrounded by intensive duplications of tall offices or apartments might well be zoned for lower buildings along its south side in particular, thus accomplishing two useful purposes at one stroke: preserving the park's supply of winter sun, and protecting indirectly , to some extent at least, its diversity of surrounding uses." (Death and Life, p. 253).
Who walks to transit and how much?
Submitted by MLewyn on Fri, 06/01/2012 - 5:10pmAt CNU, I picked up a short article written by Lilah Besser and Andrew Dannenberg of the Center for Disease Control on walking to public transit.