Those of us involved in building things - planners, city governments, developers and architects and designers - need to advocate to fundamentally change they physical framework of daily commerce, and we need the support of the citizens to do so.
Read MoreWhy should this excite New Orleanians? All we have is a big ol' historic super-grid with an immense array and variety of lot sizes plugged into a series of big ol' amenity centers pumping value into areas blanketed with some of the most amenable urban zoning in the country. Your Sharpie will run out of ink checking all the boxes.
Read MoreWe based parking requirements on absolute peak demand - so that even on Black Friday, everyone, by law, gets a parking space. Developers were forced to buy more land, and provide worst-case scenario parking, for free, in order to build. With more than ample parking everywhere, more people choose to drive for trips. Traffic engineers note the roads are getting congested, and design larger, wider roads to provide capacity.
Read MoreDesign intent can be tough to convey; it is comprised of any number of ideas and goals, and all of the implications of achieving them successfully. It can be tough for owners to express what your intent is if you’re not fluent in the language of building - and why should they be? I can’t speak the language of medicine, or astronomy, and no one is expecting me to.
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