Andrew Garulay, RLA

.. that is a definition that icludes everything and excludes nothing.

We have those rquirements in certain zoning areas on certain projects. They are not without problems. Most notably the invisible hole when they fill up in downpours that tend to find buicks and camrys in them (when they are not being pulled from the front window of CVS). They also are catch alls for debris.

I would not park there if I had to park in an 8′ stall.

But it is not a two minute walk for most people. If you bring the stores closer to people, it is sprawl. If you build shopping areas in limited places people will drive to get there and need parking once they arrive. The other option that is preached is for everyone to move to urban cores and all is solved. The monkey wrench is that most of us do…[Read more]

Some of the towns in my area will let you apply for parking reduction in the permitting process. They generally like to reduce it as long as it is actually unnecessary. There is also a movement toward shared parking in our biggest town (Barnstable [Hyannis] a metropolitan district). Almost all of the towns do not allow parking between the line of…[Read more]

Activiy – experience – requirement

Circulation is an activity that takes place in every park to one degree or another. It is our job to determine the appropriate experience for the user(s). Then we need to figure out the physical requirements to achieve that experience. I think that Lugman is in search of information on what some of those…[Read more]

Different parks should do different things. We have all seen benches that never get used and we have all seen makeshift seating where people want to congregate for one reason or another where benches were not put in. Parks should be responsive as well as creating a response.

Amazon.com has it.

“Anatomy of a Park” is the book that was used to teach these concepts when I was in school. Are you familiar with that? I think it had good information, although I do not design parks.

I just have to wonder if many employers are even taking the time to look for help. I have to think that they are receiving resumes everyday whether they are looking for help or not. Maybe all they need to do is sort through their collections of resumes for a few suitable candidates. I have to think that it shows them either more effort or more…[Read more]

Are you getting different information as to what a “bioretention pond” is here in MA?

I’ve wondered this myself. We used to simply call them retention ponds. I’ll ask at work, but I think it is a qualitative thing rather than a quantitative one. The term bioretention pond seems to crop up more in front of the regional regulatory authority here and rain garden seems to be the term of choice at the local level. However, the regional…[Read more]

Yes, and this is an opportunity to design the landing site for the mother ship. Don’t let an engineer beat you to it.

Geoff,
What you described as what we should do is exactly what we do. It does work 98% of the time. I’m not at all talking about stamping whatever the client wants – this is that “black and white” that I mentioned earlier.

There is post after post about asserting the best possible environmental and social consciousness and accepting nothing short…[Read more]

I see a big difference between client dictation and professional objectivity. Objectivity does not silence the practitioner from moving a project to follow his own values. It is not a black or white choice. It is continuing to provide service when the client is not moved very far in that direction rather than not making any effort to move…[Read more]

Some of the municipalities here on Cape Cod require bioswales and/or bioretention ponds on all commercial sites regardless of size. We are seeing and being able to participate in more environmental solutions due to regulation. Land is very valuable and limited here, so anyone doing anything (note that I am careful not to use the word – developer)…[Read more]

Having had one English class in my freshman year does not make me an English scholar, which makes correcting the corrector irresistible. It is also irresistible for you to trap me as a pay back. I appreciate that. I’ll respond so as to not deny you the opportunity.

I’m going to suggest that the actual subject of the sentences, all three of them,…[Read more]

… ARE a whole different arguement. …not that I don’t live in a glass house. I just could not resist.

The first thing will be to identify exactly what the viable opportunities are when they arise. Will it be redevelopment or new development? Will it be structured work or restorative, public or private, large scale/small scale, …. Then to identify what most closely suits my own capabilities and what I have to do to be competitive in getting that…[Read more]

The Army is another diverse “profession” . What do people at cocktail parties think when someone replies “I’m in the Army”?

Much like landscape architecture, the impression is going to depend on two things. One is the understanding that the observer has of the field and the other is going to depend on how the observed carries himself. Not…[Read more]