Posted Tue, Apr 10, 7:49 a.m.

Mark, good Step One acknowledgment piece. As you know, many are thinking retrofit and implementation of a better way, capturing some of the lessons learned which you identify. Some are taking retail strategies forward. There's much written on this, and e.g. I came across this yesterday: http://placeshakers.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/designing-regional-urban-retail-centers-lessons-from-the-mall-and-beyond/

Posted Tue, Sep 20, 9:21 p.m.

Matt, see also: http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/commoncurrent/29356 and http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/dirt/28994/vancouver-gets-parklets as well as many other entries on Sustainable Cities Collective, a "best practices" site.

Posted Mon, Sep 19, 8:34 a.m.

Mark, good thoughts. The second recommendation noted in the following regulatory reform summary authored here in july (concentrate street level commercial uses in "P" zones) speaks in a different way to some of the issues you raise: http://crosscut.com/2011/07/18/seattle-city-hall/21103/Writing-code-for-more-sustainable-neighborhoods/

Posted Sun, Sep 11, 11:47 p.m.

The article repeats findings from a UNESCO study and is not a Rick Steves-like tourist piece. Thanks.

Posted Fri, Apr 15, 8:09 a.m.

Really nice piece, Feliks.

Posted Tue, Feb 16, 6:24 p.m.

Nice article, Skip. It might be prudent to follow up with an analysis of HUD, Transportation and EPA initiatives and explore why preservation has at first glance remained a "silo" outside of the very conscious attempts towards Sustainable Communities.

Posted Thu, Sep 24, 7:34 a.m.

Similar points emerge from a recently released new report about elimination of barriers to transit oriented development in Washington. See esp. p. 54 at http://www.qualitygrowthalliance.org/PDF/Urban_Centers_and%20TOD.Analysis_of_Barriers_and_Solutions.UW_September_2009.pdf

Posted Mon, Jul 20, 8:22 a.m.

Good contrast to this weekend. The Mayor claimed disproportionate credit, as did train riding "VIPs" who had nothing to do with bringing the rails to fruition.

Posted Tue, Jun 23, 7:55 a.m.

Thanks, David, for this subtle summary of the world we have lost--that, ironically, we are now trying to recreate with new urbanism, sustainabilty and the rest. Much to read on this era to which today's planners only get a smidge of exposure in school. The dance of controlling the impact ...

Posted Wed, Jun 17, 10:34 a.m.

This is one of the better pieces of the many folks writing and blogging on these issues here, in seattlepi.com or for promotional reasons in the business or trade press. However we must be very careful to consider the cultural context of the models we create and avoid mindless adaptation ...

Posted Tue, May 5, 8:53 a.m.

It is interesting...many friends who have worked in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are American professionals like the rest of us who have been lucky enough to connect with the idea sponges seeking the "best thinking". The irony of such trade missions is that we travel to see and hear ourselves ...

Posted Mon, Apr 20, 8:42 a.m.

Congratulations to Peter, and a most interesting piece to add to the Doug McDonald article last week (daunting challenges)and today's notation of green building awards in the commercial sector (baby steps in the right direction). As we emerge from the Great Recession, there is no shortage of critical thinking--and let's ...