July 27th, 2010 | by Peter | published in Housing, Land Use, Parking
This blog has so far focused a fair bit on what is wrong with the built form of Traverse City and noted areas of improvement, as opposed to areas that are already great. This is not to say that we don’t realize this city has great places, or that we don’t see progress being made. [...]
July 20th, 2010 | by khmay | published in Housing, Land Use, place commentary
Initially devised by retail strategists to efficiently and effectively scratch the consumer itch like no other place before it, the mall fulfilled our dreams and we fell in love. Operating as a single entity, its agenda was to provide the most lucrative and efficient space for all its tenants—essentially writing a zoning code with profit [...]
July 19th, 2010 | by khmay | published in Housing, infographics, inspirations, Land Use
The ideation of recreating a building’s fifth facade, or roof, can follow one of two routes: create a physical building addition for a new use such as residential or revamp the roof for the installation of a green roof, garden, or patio. In Le Corubsier’s Five Points (1929), a simple but all-encompassing analysis of [...]
July 19th, 2010 | by Peter | published in Land Use
It should be clear by now to all involved that the city as a truly urban and highly utilized form is the orientation of the future. With the convergence of environmental concerns and changing lifestyle preferences, more active and involved residential and commercial districts promise to out-perform disconnected suburban locations in the foreseeable future and [...]
July 6th, 2010 | by Peter | published in Land Use, Parking, place commentary
Parking is important, and will remain so in successful and peopled urban places for the foreseeable future. That being said, design and quantity play an important role in controlling the negative effects parking can have on its surroundings, including economic distortions to the cost of land, infrastructure, housing and transportation, and legitimate lifestyle concerns such [...]
July 1st, 2010 | by Peter | published in Land Use, place commentary
Farmers’ markets have proven to be popular in cities and towns and can successfully improve neighborhoods on many fronts. Markets strengthen community identity and rural agricultural economies by providing local farmers with higher margins and offering consumers unrivaled freshness, nutrition, and a unique access experience. Having a great farmers’ market is a major draw for [...]