Parking minimums are the strange, out-dated, and totally unscientific law that's probably languishing in your city's zoning code. They sound dull (and they are) but they're incredibly important because they have … [Read more...]
Good congestion, bad congestion
Our model for traffic congestion is flawed. We need to make the crucial distinction between good and bad congestion and plan our transportation systems accordingly. A few years ago, after taking a blood test, my … [Read more...]
A Free Market for Parking
I had an interesting conversation with someone last week about the free market as it relates to parking requirements. I was advocating for some additional review of applications in instances where, at least in my … [Read more...]
Revitalizing Brunswick: Smart Growth Maryland Assists with New Vision
Serving as a resource for individuals who are working to save places that matter to their community is critical to the mission of Preservation Maryland. Since fall of 2017, the organization has assisted City of Brunswick … [Read more...]
Jeff Speck’s Step-by-Step Guide to Making Better Urban Places
If you are involved in the world of city and neighborhood design, you probably know (or at least have heard of) the work of urban thinker, writer, lecturer, and city planner Jeff Speck. He has authored or coauthored a … [Read more...]
Gentle density: Making neighborhoods transit-ready
Accessory dwellings can triple the density on a single-family lot while preserving the character of neighborhoods. Fayetteville, Arkansas, is a rapidly growing city—the largest in Northwest Arkansas, … [Read more...]
Why Are Developers Only Building Luxury Housing?
"Developers in my city are only building luxury housing. They're not building anything that ordinary people can afford." If you’ve said this lately, or heard someone else say it, here are five possible reasons … [Read more...]
Environmentalists and development: a complex relationship in a hyperbolic election season
In election races in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, candidates are claiming they “support the environment” or “are for smart growth.” Some of those candidates also seem to be against most development, while others are more … [Read more...]