Feature...
Join CNU!Be a Part of the Movement»»» 
CNU Salons
Too Early To Declare Victory on Affordability
Submitted by MLewyn on Mon, 08/25/2014 - 7:37pmI just read numerous discussions about how high-cost cities really are cheaper than you might think, based on a study by New York's Citizens' Budget Commission purporting to show that when housing and transportation costs are combined, New York is actually one of the most affordable cities in the United States. Since I just left New York, this seemed a bit too good to be true.
Mr. Kotkin Talks About What "People Really Want"
Submitted by MLewyn on Fri, 08/22/2014 - 10:15amJoel Kotkin recently wrote in the Washington Post that unspecified urban planners want "to create an ideal locate for hipsters and older, sophisticated urban dwellers" rather than focusing on the needs of "most middle-class residents of the metropolis." He claims that these people want "home ownership, rapid access to employment throughout the metropolitan area, good schools, and 'human scale' neighborhoods" as well as "decent
Bordeaux: A Journey of Wine, Food, French and New Urbanism
Submitted by wajdighoussoub on Tue, 08/19/2014 - 5:59amI visited Bordeaux, France this past July to practice my French and learn some more about wine. I did not expect to see a classic example of New Urbanism in play. In a way I shouldn’t be too surprised for I always considered visiting the best way to learn about cities and discover their urban plans. It is just that in this case I did not foresee this aspect to be a dominating factor. New Urbanism welcomes you straightaway in Bordeaux and stays with you till the moment you leave.
What Ferguson Tells Us About Working-Class Suburbia
Submitted by MLewyn on Thu, 08/14/2014 - 10:07pmRecently, Ferguson, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis, has received lots of attention because of a police officer's questionable decision to shoot an unarmed civilian, followed by demonstrations, followed by some even more questionable decisions by police (such as arresting journalists and tear-gassing the citizenry).
The "Chains Are Ruining Our City" Myth
Submitted by MLewyn on Mon, 08/11/2014 - 12:32pmI recently read about a blog complaining that New York was "suburbanizing" due to the "disappearance of small stores and restaurants" and their alleged replacement by national chains.
The "Building Boom" Myth
Submitted by MLewyn on Wed, 08/06/2014 - 12:25pmOne common argument against new infill development is "my city has already experienced a building boom, and rents keep going up." But in New York City, one of the nation's most expensive cities, this claim is built on false assumptions. A recent study by the Citizens Budget Commission shows that New York has experienced lower growth in housing supply than all but 3 of 22 cities surveyed- and 2 of the 3 (Detroit and Chicago) lost population over the past decade.
worst practices: vanishing medians
Submitted by MLewyn on Wed, 08/06/2014 - 10:56amOne thing that can make suburban roads less intolerable for pedestrians is a large median, so that the pedestrian can cross a huge road two or three lanes at a time, instead of having to cross an entire six- or eight-lane highway in one mad dash.
The Toxic Results of NIMBYism
Submitted by MLewyn on Mon, 08/04/2014 - 9:54amAn article in today's New York Times discusses population growth patterns over the past several years, and suggests that population growth is fastest in the inland Sun Belt-places combining relatively warm weather and cheap housing.
interesting blog post on congestion pricing
Submitted by MLewyn on Mon, 07/28/2014 - 9:41amAt the Smart Growth for Conservatives blog, analyst Michael Brown has written a series of interesting posts about congestion pricing, most recently one on how to make congestion pricing (that is, tolling highways during peak periods to reduce congestion) sound appealing to the general public. He also suggests that congestion pricing will increase