CityBlog

February 7, 2013

Key to Climate Preparedness: Building Social Capital & Strong Towns

Is climate preparedness and resilience mostly if not entirely a question of costly investments in physical infrastructure? Safe to assume if we keep in mind bits of pithy wisdom like Churchill’s: “We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us.” Efficiently... Deron Lovaas

January 30, 2013

Greening America's capital cities

The federal Environmental Protection Agency sponsors an innovative planning program designed to help bring more green infrastructure and green building practices to our country’s state capitals, making them simultaneously more environmentally resilient and more beautiful. Implemented with EPA’s cohorts in the... Kaid Benfield

January 18, 2013

Take Public Transit to L.A.'s Baldwin Hills Parklands This Weekend

Angelenos, are you looking for something new and interesting to do over the long weekend? Well, I, for one, am very excited about a brand new shuttle service that is bound to increase public access to one of south... Damon Nagami

January 16, 2013

The disturbing and sometimes tragic challenge of walking in America

In much of America, walking – that most basic and human method of movement, and the one most important to our health – is all but impossible. Maybe not literally impossible, but inconvenient at best, and tragically dangerous way... Kaid Benfield

January 14, 2013

An affordable housing enclave that fits in, strengthens a neighborhood, and protects the environment

A group of civic and architectural partners in Little Rock has developed a great concept for improving a declining neighborhood, incrementally increasing density, and applying advanced measures for stormwater control at the same time. All this in a single-family,... Kaid Benfield

January 10, 2013

Could Buenos Aires be a model for thinking about US cities? (by Lee Epstein)

Today’s article is guest-authored by my friend and frequent collaborator, Lee Epstein, an attorney and land use planner working for sustainability in the mid-Atlantic region of the US. He last appeared here in November, in an article we wrote... Kaid Benfield

January 7, 2013

The power of "creative placemaking"

A little-known but very interesting government agency, the National Endowment for the Arts, is quietly leveraging small amounts of financial assistance to make a big difference in helping communities across the country become stronger and more alive. Whether in Portland, Maine, Pendleton,... Kaid Benfield

January 4, 2013

How retrofitting a California suburb for walkability is spurring economic development

A terrific street redesign is assisting economic development in a southern California community that has suffered from changing economic conditions but is nevertheless seeing significant population growth. This is a story of municipal foresight, excellent recent planning, and green ambition. Lancaster... Kaid Benfield

January 2, 2013

Five green community stories to watch in 2013

In my final article of 2012, I looked back at the year in review, to honor important recent work worth celebrating. For my first one of 2013, let’s look ahead. Here are some stories I’ll be paying attention to... Kaid Benfield

December 31, 2012

The best of 2012 in green community solutions: a personal, eclectic list

As we look back on the year that was, let’s honor some of the outstanding issues and accomplishments for community sustainability that came to light during the year. In many cases, naming a particular item one of the best... Kaid Benfield

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