From Mayor Dave Cieslewicz Next June Madison will host a prestigious conference of urban planners, architects, progressive developers and public officials called the Congress for New Urbanism. You can get a preview Thursday night by joining us for a free public lecture by CNU board member Doug Farr. Doug is the author of “Sustainable Urbanism: …
Monthly Archive: September 2010
Sep
30
Why Doesn’t the Public Get it About Walkability?
From Ken Benfield’s Blog To say the chart above is startling is an understatement. The date in the “before” map is not 1935, or even 1975 — you’re looking at the spread of obesity in the time since THE SIMPSONS have been on TV. That, my friends, is an epidemic. Research proves that sprawl is …
Sep
27
Hill Towns as Icons of Placemaking
From My Urbanist Human settlement is often driven by topography, viewpoints and strategic advantage. Independent towns and urban neighborhoods alike share an historic affinity for hills. Terrain-intensive cities like San Francisco and Seattle are no exception, and city planning considerations converge around “urban villages” such as Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Capitol Hill and Queen Anne …
Sep
27
Study shows urban sprawl threatens genetic diversity
By Mike Lee, San Diego News September 22, 2010 – U.S. Geological Survey This map of the area near Thousand Oaks shows the degree of genetic isolation being experienced by a small songbird called the wrentit (Chamaea fasciata). Biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service said that as urban development fragmented …
Sep
27
The $54 Question: Is Rail worth it?
Sept. 25, 2010 With anti-rail activists whipped into a frenzy over threats that passenger rail services pose to Wisconsin and the state’s finances, it’s time to step back and take a closer look. Are rail opponents onto something, or are they on something? Rail opponents rail against the cost of rail. They would like to …
Sep
22
Tommy’s a turncoat on rail
It was more than disappointing last week to see former Gov. Tommy Thompson do a complete 180 to bash the planned extension of Amtrak’s Hiawatha service to Madison. No governor, with the exception of the current incumbent, Jim Doyle, has been more outspoken on behalf of the need for passenger rail than Thompson was during …
Sep
22
Community Share of Wisconsin Awards on Oct 14
YOU’RE INVITED TO AWARDS EVENT 10/14 Tuesday, September 14, 2010 Details about our 2010 Awards Event: When: Thursday, October 14, 5-7 p.m. Where: Monona Terrace Who’s Receiving Awards: Caryl Terrell Erin O’Brien Barbara Munson – Caryl Terrell, nominated by the Sierra Club Foundation, John Muir Chapter – Erin O’Brien, nominated by Wisconsin Wetlands Association – Barbara …
