Quality of Life
Melbourne, Australia After a Decade of Focus on Public Spaces
With apologies for my carbon footprint, I recently returned from a working tour of eight cities Down Under. The trip included an invitation to Melbourne to work with the staff of the city's successful new public space development, Federation Square, and to help lead a Placemaking training course that included many city staff, local developers and "place managers." In the process, I had the opportunity to learn a few things relevant to my hometown, New York City.
August 2, 2007
Famed Danish Urbanist Jan Gehl in Town to Consult on PlaNYC
The Urbanist Musketeers: Alex Garvin, Jan Gehl and Fred Kent in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sept. 30, 2006.
August 2, 2007
Mayor Speaks at Times Square Pricing Rally
Supporters of congestion pricing rallied yesterday in Times Square, urging state lawmakers to act by July 16 on Mayor Bloomberg's initiative or risk losing $500 million in federal funds. "The time is now," said the mayor, according to the New York Post. "We cannot walk away from this opportunity."
July 6, 2007
Take Back the Streets, for the Kids
An article in Sunday's New York Times discussed the decline of stickball and other games on city streets:
July 2, 2007
No Love for One-Way Proposal in Jackson Heights
Congestion in Jackson Heights: The DOT needs some new ideas
June 29, 2007
Jackson Heights: New Front in One-Way Battle
A view of 35th Ave. in Jackson Heights, part of the DOT's proposed one-way pair for the neighborhood
June 19, 2007
Call for Ped Safety Measures on Third and Fourth Avenues
A third-grader was hit on her way to school here two weeks ago.
June 11, 2007
Chicago Alley Initiative Shows How to Make Streets Greener
Chicago's Department of Transportation started the Green Alleys Program to use the city's many alleyways to conserve natural resources and improve the environment. Although New York City doesn't have too many alleys, the beautifully-designed, 47-page Green Alleys Program booklet (PDF) offers several techniques that could still be useful in making New York City streets perform better environmentally.
June 7, 2007
City Wants 20,000 New Parking Spaces in Hell’s Kitchen
It seems inconceivable given the overwhelmingly positive developments of the past few weeks, but the city wants to increase parking in Manhattan by some 20,000 spaces, and is defending itself in court for the right to do so.
June 1, 2007