News Roundup
Pop Up Restaurant, Pop Up Art Market, Pop Up Neighborhood?
Every city has them: struggling neighborhoods whose main boulevards and avenues have more “Closed for Business” signs than open doors. How can one combat this sort of storied and unfortunate blight? The answer is, possibly, that ONE cannot, but that together, MANY can. Such is the idea behind Oakland-based experiment Popuphood, where a group of like-minded or complementary businesses simultaneously move into a few blocks of space (rent-free for six months) to increase a boom in talk, traffic, awareness, and fresh faces to areas that need them most.
Source: Co.Exist: World Changing Ideas and Innovation | Archived Copy
Filed under: Culture | Healthy Communities | Real Estate | Sustainable Development
Jan 25 2012
Louisiana Coastal Restoration: The Future is Now
On January 12, 2012 Louisiana state officials released a $50 billion, 50-year master plan to rebuild land lost due to erosion and protect coastal communities from future storm surges. The 50-year strategy is outlined in the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s plan update. Ambitious in scope, the plan takes into account funds that “the state is reasonably sure it will receive.” Although a monumental undertaking, restoring lost coastal wetlands and marshes is integral to maintaining a healthy coastline and community.
Source: The Times-Picayune | Archived Copy
Filed under: BP Oil Disaster | Culture | Environment | Healthy Communities | Sustainable Development | Urban Ecology
Jan 17 2012
New Streetcar Line Only to Run Along N. Rampart to Elysian Fields… For Now
Plans to bring the iconic New Orleans streetcar to neighborhoods surrounding the St. Claude Corridor have been scaled back due to lack of finances. The previously proposed line was initially slated to reach Press Street, with the hope that it would someday extend to Poland Avenue. As it stands, the streetcar to be installed presently will connect with the existing Canal Street line, run along N. Rampart Street to St. Claude Avenue, and terminate at Elysian Fields Avenue. RTA and city officials are hopeful that the project will receive additional funding from various state and national grants, which will be used to extend the line further along the St. Claude Corridor. The extension of streetcar lines throughout the city will benefit local businesses and communities as their visibility and accessibility increase.
Source: The Times-Picayune | Archived Copy
Filed under: Transportation
Nov 10 2011
One Path to Better Jobs: More Density in Cities
Density isn’t a magic elixir. Density simply facilitates interaction. Interactions translate into wealth when a population is educated and local institutions support private enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Source: The New York Times | Archived Copy
Filed under: Community Economics | Housing | Real Estate | Urban Design
Sep 5 2011
The Inside Track on New York City’s High Line
Today, the High Line is one of Manhattan’s most popular public spaces: a mile-long, modern, high-concept park built on the old railroad track. In the 10 months after it opened in 2009, it drew 2 million visitors and — in a rare ratio for a public space in New York — about half were tourists. Half were native New Yorkers.
Source: NPR | Archived Copy
Filed under: Community Input | Good Governance | Healthy Communities | Sustainable Development | Urban Design | Urban Ecology
Sep 3 2011
Whole Foods Requests Don’t Suit Tastes of New Orleans Planning Commission
More than a dozen neighbors spoke in opposition to the requests, citing noise from deliveries and other store activities, alleged damage to streets and buildings from the large trucks, a shortage of neighborhood parking and other problems.
Source: The Times-Picayune | Archived Copy
Filed under: Community Economics | Community Input | Healthy Communities | Infrastructure | Real Estate | Sustainable Development | Urban Design
Aug 25 2011
LSU, Tulane receive federal grant money to study oil spill health effects
Louisiana State University and Tulane University are among four Gulf Coast universities to share a $25.2 million, five-year federal grant to study various health effects from the 2010 oil spill and subsequent cleanup, with a focus on women and children.
Source: The Times Picayune | Archived Copy
Filed under: BP Oil Disaster
Jul 7 2011
Greater New Orleans Region to Develop Sustainable Integrated Water Management Strategy
“It is critical that the Greater New Orleans region has a comprehensive water management plan that can mitigate risk while enhancing economic opportunities and improving the quality of life for our citizens,” said Senator Mary Landrieu. “We are fortunate to have a dream team in place to do this important work. Waggonner & Ball has extensive expertise in water management gleaned from projects that span the globe, and GNO, Inc. is uniquely positioned to manage the process efficiently.”
Source: GNO, Inc. | Archived Copy
Filed under: Environment | Infrastructure | Rebuilding New Orleans | Sustainable Development | Urban Ecology
Mar 22 2011
The End of the Road: Saying Goodbye to Freeways
Now, taking down freeways has gone mainstream. Cities as diverse as New Haven, New Orleans and Seattle are either doing it or talking about it. The chief motivation seems to be money. “Listen to the story here.”:Download file
Source: National Public Radio | Archived Copy
Filed under: Energy | Environment | Healthy Communities | Infrastructure | Rebuilding New Orleans | Sustainable Development | Transportation | Urban Design
Mar 21 2011