August 2005

Algiers Point: A Walkable Community of New Orleans

August 31, 2005

I realize that New Orleans may never be the same again, but that will not stop me from writing about what was there and what could be again. New Orleans is such a unique city in America. It blends a touch of “old Europe” with the modernization you will find in most American cities. The charm and character of its people is unmatched. If you visit, you will have an unforgettable experience. One of the communities located within New Orleans, Algiers Point, is a wonderful example of a truly walkable community. >>Continue Reading This Article>>

Read the full article →

Hope for the South Following Hurricane Katrina

August 29, 2005

Our hearts go out to the people of the South who have been suffering through such horrific events the last few years, and particularly Hurricane Katrina. We can only hope that the loss of life is minimal and that the South can recover from this terrible disaster.

Instead of focusing on the tragedies of what has happened, Walkable Neighborhoods would like to profile one of the most unique, beautiful, and walkable cities in the US and perhaps the world – New Orleans, Louisiana. I certainly do not want to minimize the importance of other cities and places that have been affected by this hurricane, however, I have not visited many other places in that region. But I have visited New Orleans three times. I want to share some of my experiences and photos of the city. While I do currently have some photos online of the most walkable places of New Orleans, there are a several more photos that I would like to add to the photo gallery this week. I would invite you to visit the gallery and check back for an article about the great city.

Also, if you have any experiences or photos that you would like to share about some of the places affected by Hurricane Katrina, please contact us. We would also encourage you to donate any resources you have available to the American Red Cross.

Read the full article →

The Anti-Sit Gallery

August 27, 2005
Read the full article →

Obesity Numbers Out – Maine’s Are Not Good

August 25, 2005

Maine’s updated obesity numbers are out, and everyone in Maine probably wishes they had better numbers to print. The same can be said for just about every state in the US. The Portland Press Herald reports the Maine has the highest obesity rates in New England. The State’s top health official, Dr. Dora Anne Mills, says those figures are no surprise because of Maine’s higher poverty rate. “It’s harder for people with lower income to access healthy foods and (live in) walkable communities,” said Mills according to the recent article.

Read the full article →

Reviving Downtown Reno, Nevada

August 24, 2005

I have visited Reno, Nevada before and I must say that it is not one of my favorite places. The area surrounding Reno is very beautiful, perhaps one of the most beautiful locations in the United States. It is located among the Sierra Nevada mountains and is very close to Lake Tahoe. But the beauty does not extend to downtown Reno, unless you like outdated casino architecture. But, several new projects give hope to the revitalization of downtown Reno. >>Continue Reading This Article>>

Read the full article →

Workshops and Services

August 22, 2005

neighborhoods.org assists communities, neighborhood and activist groups, regional and state governments, and many other groups and organizations in making their cities and towns pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly. neighborhoods.org also makes presentations at conferences, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and other promotional events. Walkability Workshops One of the most effective ways we can assist your community is [...]

Read the full article →

Planners are the Sprawl Creators

August 22, 2005

Not all planners are fully to blame for creating sprawl, after all, some of them are only doing their jobs – following the guidelines set by their archaic zoning code, general plan, and design guidelines (if there are any). Many planners realize what they are creating is sprawl, but because of political will, are unable to change the mindset of elected officials or citizens to get away from the “quickest, cheapest” developments. And some planners do stand up for sustainable development, and in the end, move on to more walkable places. >>Continue Reading This Article>>

Read the full article →

Mecca in the Cornfields? Champaign, IL Transforming into a Walkable City

August 22, 2005

Champaign, Illinois, a city located in Central Illinois and home to the University of Illinois, is undergoing major changes that have greatly improved walkability and the quality of life in the city. Read about how they are doing this through “dieting” and “fixing the streets.” >>Continue Reading This Article>>

Read the full article →

The Five-Bedroom, Six-Figure Rootless Life

August 22, 2005

This is a fantastic article from the New York Times on community choices made by upper middle class executive gypsies, refered to as relos. This gives some insight to those that have never lived in “super suburbia” (like myself) on the trials and tribulations faced by those that do. The article focuses on a typical relo family in Alpharetta, Georgia, an elitist suburb of Atlanta. While this article goes beyond the realm of typical walkability issues usually discussed here, the underlying hint seems to be that the quality of life is better in walkable neighborhoods. And the story has a positive ending! >>Continue Reading This Article>>

Read the full article →

Is Less Better? Removing the Signs, Lines, Stoplights from Streets

August 22, 2005

Revolutionary traffic engineering out of Europe (where else!) as reported by The Christian Science Monitor:

The idea of “shared space� is to denude a street of most of its conventional markings and features and create a different urban landscape in which motorists and pedestrians are put on an equal footing, so to speak. Drivers start to behave in a very different way amid the new uncertainty, moving slowly, making eye contact with pedestrians, and becoming aware of much more than whether the lights have gone red. Or so the theory goes. >>Continue Reading This Article>>

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries