nca

‘ I’m glad that we have various options to how we want to live.’

I agree. It’s the lack of true options thats the problem. I’m not sure if mass. is seeing as much rampant, out of control, disorganized growth as places like Colorado right now. Its the wild west here.

Sprawl isnt so bad on a block by block scale, if you like that pattern, but the…[Read more]

Not a model for sustainability.

Sean, thatproject looks like a great precedent for small (semi)urban lots. How many stalls were included in the project? What is the context?

In general, I think there’s a balance between fully urban walkable retail and mixed uses and fully suburban tract development that utilizes good, conservative land usage, with progressive pattern…[Read more]

Trace and Jason-

Your last two comments reminded me of this:

‘Anyplace worth its salt has a ‘parking problem’. – James Castle

Good points.

I think a side issue to this is the fact that someone actually deems it necessary to park as many cars as often seen in new development even when there is a community within a walkable 1/4 mile or so. This speaks alot to the type and quality of design we’re doing on a larger scale (planning) when someone living a 2 minute walk away…[Read more]

Thanks Jason-

‘the parking is usually designed to a code (5sp per 1000SF is pretty standard or a per-seat number for restaurants).’

I just started getting real experience with this and this is precisely what I’m challenging, or at least calling into question. Our retail parking ratio here in colorado is around maybe 1:200, restaurant 1:150 (with…[Read more]

I think you’re right Wes.

Generally though, I think it boils down to money, like everything else. Still, last time I asked I think the going figure here in CO for surface parking averaged around $7,500/stall. Colorado people may help me with this.

Regardless, HUGE waste of resources.

I think the planning priciples of NU are generally good ideas as ONE answer to suburban sprawl”

What other answers are there that have moved beyond theory to having been proven in practice? Not saying there aren’t any; I’m just not aware of them.

I think NU is probably just good design like we all were supposed to have learned in school and…[Read more]

I couldnt agree more and I sypathize with your point regarding the contrast in typical suburban development and NU communities. I think it’s gotta be more evident in the west where there is a lack of trees and the rolling greenfields are replaced with rolling rooftops.

As an aside- I really like what David Kahn is doing here in Colorado with his…[Read more]

Thanks for getting in on the discussion Steve. I t would appear I have much to learn regarding urbanism, but I’m an eager student.

I don’t want to backtrack on what I stated, but I made a few comments, such as Duany ‘hating LA’s’ in order to attempt to ruffle some feathers so to speak, though I did read a statement by someone else ( I think on…[Read more]

So I heard..who knows..

couldnt agree more rico.

I agree Chad.

I think I’m still in the brash, arrogant, and cocky phase though.

The problem with a lot of infill and TOD is that it becomes entirely unaffordable for those who need it most-people who dont own cars or cant afford to drive an hour to work and get groceries, and etc..

Some of the rowhomes built alon commons park are going for upward of a million dollars and the metro apts near union station are close to $2k a month.

There’s a quote: Always design something according to it’s larger context…A door in a house, a house in a city plan, a city plan in an environmnnet..’ or something like that..

Now we’ve got a discussion going..

I like the term ‘rapid-cycling’ and use it almost everyday, though I cant remember where it actually comes from. I agree that Lin’s workshop and technique is about rapid cycling in graphic communication of design more so than the style.

I dont particularly care for the style and admittedly have never taken his…[Read more]

BUT,

some of the best places most fond in my memory didn’t have any path, but certainly a destination. The path was undefiuned and thats what made the journey so great..it was about discovery, whereas if all our parks are organized around (formal) paths I think you have a museum of landscape (plants trees, lawn, outdoor stuff, rather than a true…[Read more]

All that said, I would have to say that Mike LIn’s book was my bible for several years before I went to school. I learned to draw and all the principles of design and drawing from that book.

I’ve never met Mr. Lin so I can’t make any judgement of his character, but you have to give him credit for bringing the ‘Be Loose’ philosophy (which I still…[Read more]

I like to think that I grew up in an anomolous situation as a kid.

In Maine, I still walked two miles home from school when I missed the bus (detention). In high school, no one had cars until they were getting ready for college or had a full time job and then we still walked all over the city to get anywhere..miles of walking. When I skateboarded…[Read more]

‘ the plantings should NOT dictate the design…’

You mean, like…never? That’s a pretty big statement.

‘circulation is number one..’

IS it not sometimes appropriate to think about having places to go before you make ways to get there?