In Hamilton, Ontario, a demonstration of how tactical urbanism can actually work. Continue reading
Share on FacebookJune 10, 2013
by MoreRecycling
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Tag Archives: Urbanism
February 15, 2013
by Kaid Benfield
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How city lights change the way we experience places
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
My favorite time of day is dusk: as the sometimes harsh glare of daylight recedes, sunset followed by a gradual darkening brings a touch of mystery, of possi… Continue reading
January 11, 2013
by Kaid Benfield
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Has your favorite phrase jumped the shark? The vocabulary of community-building
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
People who know me understand that I get a little obsessed with language. I still use the subjunctive mood (something most people have never heard of); think… Continue reading
August 3, 2012
by Kaid Benfield
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Two minutes on updating the American Dream, with Peter Calthorpe
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
Innovative architect and urban thinker Peter Calthorpe has directly and indirectly been a huge influence on the field of sustainable communities, particularly with respect… Continue reading
June 12, 2012
by Kaid Benfield
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National arts partnership steps up big for community revitalization
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
An innovative and impressive partnership of philanthropic, financial, and government institutions announced today the awarding of $15.4 million in grants to suppor… Continue reading
May 25, 2012
by Kaid Benfield
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Managing traffic (or not) on the waterways of Venice
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
I’ve never been to Venice, but I want to go. Obviously one of the world’s most storied cities, it seems haunting and romantic, if also maybe… Continue reading
May 22, 2012
by Kaid Benfield
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A short walk reveals the simple delights of cities worth loving
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
Phil LaCombe and Lou Thomas, co-founders of the website and blog Small Streets, believe that the Danish capital of Copenhagen provides a special environment f… Continue reading
May 21, 2012
by Kaid Benfield
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Promoting people-oriented development around transit
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
Two years ago, I wrote a short article titled Transit-oriented development requires more than transit and development. My point was that, to maximize the pow… Continue reading
May 8, 2012
by Kaid Benfield
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Great city characteristics make us happier. Unless they don’t.
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
I’ve been looking at some research reports, and confirming that some of the qualities associated with great urbanism – good public transit; easy a… Continue reading
April 10, 2012
by Kaid Benfield
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Cartoon gives new meaning to ‘complete streets’!
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
When bike lanes aren’t enough, compliments of my friend Dhiru Thadani:
For more of Dhiru’s great work, check these out:
Sketches of urbanism and sustainability (S… Continue reading
Share on FacebookFebruary 20, 2012
by Kaid Benfield
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Transforming a derelict city building into vertical gardens for nearby residents
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
Aspiring interior designer Lucie Sadakova has come up with a striking concept to bring more green space and nourishment into a scruffy part of London. And, d… Continue reading
February 10, 2012
by Kaid Benfield
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A second winner at this year’s Super Bowl: the walkable downtown
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
I’ve had several occasions in the past three years or so to travel to Indianapolis, site of last Sunday’s Super Bowl. I am always struck, riding … Continue reading
February 2, 2012
by Kaid Benfield
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The environmental building blocks of urban happiness
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
As regular readers may remember, I am fascinated by the relationship of our cities, and the way they are configured, to our mental and emotional well-being. … Continue reading
January 17, 2012
by Kaid Benfield
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Living the low-car lifestyle
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
We know it’s just a matter of time before gasoline prices go up again, right? And another matter of time before they go up yet again. The era whe… Continue reading
December 8, 2011
by Kaid Benfield
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‘Weed bombing’ turns blight to bright in Miami
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
A group of friends in Miami have had enough of overgrown weeds on vacant lots and public property – particularly sidewalks – in their neighborhood, chronicall… Continue reading
Share on FacebookAugust 26, 2011
by Kaid Benfield
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"The most sustainable trip is the one you never had to take in the first place"
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC
The quote in today’s title comes from Alex Steffen, or more accurately from Steffen as presented in a terrific article on Treehugger by Lloyd Alter, summari… Continue reading
June 15, 2011
by Kaid Benfield
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NYC’s celebrated High Line park is crime-free, and the city’s urbanism is a reason why
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities & Smart Growth, Washington, DC
Many readers probably know the much-heralded High Line in lower Manhattan – a former elevated railroad bed turned linear park. It has been wildly popula… Continue reading
June 6, 2011
by Kaid Benfield
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Outstanding urbanism, transit, & state-of-the-art green infrastructure, beautifully mixed
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities & Smart Growth, Washington, DC
Leave it to a city famous for coffee and rain to produce possibly the best example of transit-oriented urbanism, natural public space, and green stormwater in… Continue reading
April 29, 2011
by Kaid Benfield
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How Melbourne sets an example for urban livability
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities & Smart Growth, Washington, DC This great video by Streetfilms packs about 20 great city ideas into ten minutes, just by taking the viewer around the sidewalks and streets of Melbourne, Australia. … Continue reading
Share on FacebookApril 28, 2011
by Kaid Benfield
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Parks for people, and people for parks
Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities & Smart Growth, Washington, DC
I am leaving today for the annual spring meeting of the Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, to which I was honored with an invitation … Continue reading