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Are Urban Microcenters the Solution to Urban Sprawl?
During the last decades, the conurbation problem in large cities has increased, reaching alarming levels. According to the information published in the 2010 Living Planet Report, 3,500 million people live in urban areas and estimations say that for the year 2050 this number will duplicate to almost 6,300 million people.In the case... [read more]
From Ingenuity to Implementation: Urban Ideas in Action
Over 180,000 people move into cities every single day. This has enormous infrastructural implications, from accommodating new hospital patients and updating sewer infrastructure to increasing energy production to serve new residents. [read more]
Mapping With Abandon
I teach at a design college. Last month a senior was mapping abandoned properties in Minneapolis using Google Fusion software; her purpose was to elicit some storytelling from urban residents. A couple dozen property markers popped up in her map of North Minneapolis neighborhoods; surprised by a noticeable linear pattern, she inquired of... [read more]
What Is the True Cost of Affordable Housing?
Affordable housing is not just a necessity for low-income individuals and families. Providing safe, affordable housing is essential to the overall health of our nation's communities and to the economy. It's possible to meet this basic need with innovative thinking and cooperation between government and private enterprise. [read more]
Livability reconsidered, locally defined
Density is not livability, and livability is more than shops and cafes. Livability is a complex issue. One man’s livability may be another man’s claustrophobia. [read more]
Reading the Eclectic Urban Curbside
Check out Chuck Wolfe's photo essay on the different uses of the American yard - from urban settings to rural countrysides. Fascinating! [read more]
Writing About Cities: Courtroom Rules or Virtual Frontier?
On any given day, a high percentage of the day's urbanist press is devoted to articles about places that the authors have never visited. Imagery comes from the public domain, from desktop travel by Google Earth and Google Street View. Arguably, this easy accessibility expands the reach of both reader and writer. [read more]
5 of the Best Social Sustainability Blog Posts of 2011
A sustainable city requires more than just a sustainable built environment. Social sustainability is critical, something This Big City often focuses on. Here’s 5 of our best blog posts on social sustainability published in 2011: True Love & Congestion: The Social Effects of Congested Cities Referencing a 1966 Argentinian novel and... [read more]
Visual Adventures of the Urban Bicycle
Today, across the world, in multiple contexts, the allure of the bicycle knows no bounds.Commencing with the atmosphere of Florence, at night above, the images presented here provide multiple examples of the urban bicycle in practice, whether whimsical, functional or historical. In European cities, original, wooden velocipedes are... [read more]
Capturing the Instant City
A review of "Instant City", NPR journalist Steve Inskeep's new book about Karachi. [read more]
How City Gates Define Urban Space
The city gate of old: form follows functionIn a time of urbanization, "arrival cities" and metropolitan regions with multiple urban centers, should a city provide an entry differentiating itself from its barrios, suburbs and exurbs?If so, what form should this entry take, or should it have any form at all?The signature, historic, feature... [read more]
Inexorable Rise Of Urbanization Increases The Need For Sustainability
The crystal ball says the future is bright if politicians, scientists and businesses work together. In an ideal world, politicians take a problem and change it into an opportunity. Businesses provide the capital and processes. Scientists deepen our understanding of society and develop the technology required. In a rapidly urbanizing... [read more]
Sustainable Cities Collective
What's New on
Kaid Benfield is director of sustainable communities and smart growth at the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington, DC. More »
Chris Cheatham is a LEED Accredited Professional and green building authority who frequently speaks to groups and associations. More »
Jared Green is Web Content and Strategy Manager at the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) More »
Rodrigo Herrera Vegas is a writer for for one of Argentina's main newspapers, La Nación, and a radio show host. More »
Warren Karlenzig Warren Karlenzig is the founder and president of Common Current. More »
Geoff Wilkinson is the Vice Chair of the Building Standards Faculty of the Chartered Institute of Building.i More »
Chuck Wolfe Chuck Wolfe is a lawyer, professor, and photographer who blogs at MyUrbanist. More »
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- TheCityFix - produced by EMBARQ
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Transformation Through Technology: Delivering Better Public Services
When: Thu, 2012-05-24 08:00
Webinar: ISO 20121 - Sustainability & Event Management
When: Thu, 2012-05-24 08:00
Sustainability and Affordable Housing: an Interactive Charrette
When: Sat, 2012-06-02 11:00
Tourism and Sustainable Futures: Beyond 2015
When: Fri, 2012-06-15 09:00
Public Sector Leadership: driving cultural change
When: Thu, 2012-06-21 14:36
Youth Policy Summit on Urban Sustainability at UC Denver
When: Sun, 2012-06-24 12:00
“Ever since it appeared in The Road. Braddock has been on my radar for some time. They have been working hard up there for a long time. Very good to see the community pushed into the spotlight. Looking forward to watching this series of articles!”
“I don't walk by choice. My vision forced me to give up my car years ago. I won't lie, I miss being able to drive. I hate the bus, though Santa Clara's VTA is one of the best systems in the country. But I am able to get around. And I walk to shop, sometimes as far as 3 miles away. Sometimes I take the bus back, sometimes I just walk back. This changes ...”