With the recent news and onset of the Residential Demolition Program in Detroit, Michigan, or as termed by Jeff Byles, “demolition central,” the question and significance of historically significant demolition projects came to mind. In order to get to the bottom of this subject matter, one must pose an important question of whether the industry [...]
With the continuing onset of urbanization, urban poverty continues to grow and so does the importance of food security. The subsequent response to this emerging problem has been the emergence of community gardening and locally produced foods for many city-dwellers. In addition, with increased urbanization comes the issue of poor and unsanitary living conditions and [...]
Different models of public housing have been planned and constructed over the years, ranging from Le Corbusier’s inspired super-blocks to less dense low-rises. Often, the less dense form of housing has been designed with separate entries, limited communal or shared space, and an abundance of parking lots. As social housing has evolved, so has the [...]
What once was an economically thriving steel, automobile, and manufactured parts region of the twentieth century, the modern Midwest landscape depicts a contrasting existence of abandoned factories, boarded up buildings, and deteriorating main streets. As the Midwest moves forward, it is evident from numerous examples such as Detroit, Michigan, that many cities will have to [...]
Known as a predominantly industrial and blue-collar neighborhood, the Northeast Minneapolis District in Minneapolis, Minnesota has been experiencing a significant economic and physical transformation in the last few decades, and has become closely affiliated with sustainable living and its growing artist population. Historic warehouses and old factories have taken on a new purpose of artist [...]
The Twin Cities prides itself on its diversity. Unbeknownst to many, it is home to the largest Somali population in the U.S. In addition, it has the largest Hmong population outside Laos, the second-largest Vietnamese and Ethiopian populations, and one of the fastest-growing Latino/Hispanic populations in the country. The different cultures have helped shape the [...]
With the continuing onset and prevalence in obesity and diagnosed diabetes among adults, as well as children in the United States, active living is becoming an integral factor for all levels of urban planning – city, county, and statewide. What once used to be a mundane occurrence, physical activity has become completely disassociated from our [...]
“It is difficult to design a place that will not attract people. What is remarkable is how often this has been accomplished.” – William H. Whyte All too often, activities and design elements that facilitate public gatherings are disregarded, leaving many public and civic spaces under-utilized. Technically speaking, short-term or continuous public projects in public [...]
In recent years, the approach to redevelopment has taken on the repetitive approach of high-rise apartment complexes with first floor commercial space consisting of high-end retail and/or office space; further accompanied by vast amounts of parking. This type of development rarely takes into account the connectivity and accessibility to the surrounding area, or sustainability. Contradictory [...]
The arts have always been an important mechanism of integration and a valuable tool in community-based building, particularly in urban and diverse settings. Economically based studies indicate that the arts are a secure investment for urban centers and are habitually supported and championed by the community in times of both economic growth and fiscal difficulty. [...]
Minneapolis, Minnesota may best be known for its bitterly cold winters, so it may come as a surprise to some that the use of bicycles is one of the most prominent modes of transportation year round – even during those severely cold winters. The predominance of Minneapolis as the epicenter for biking culture has even [...]
With the recent popularity in critical writing and blogging on various topics of interest, more writers are finding the approach of virtual sharing to be a more effective way to reach a broad spectrum of audiences. More specifically, when writing or critiquing on the topic of architecture and cities – a prevalent topic, it is [...]
The Land of 10,000 Lakes – a term most often used to describe the state of Minnesota. It was, however, the almighty Mississippi River that encouraged the formation and development of Minnesota’s more prominent cities – Minneapolis being one of them. The River put Minneapolis on the map by becoming the “Flour Milling Capital of [...]
It is no secret that vacant lots pose difficult challenges by influencing crime and the vitality of residential and commercial areas, which furthermore decreases tax bases and property values for urban areas. It is important now more than ever to address the surplus of vacant lots and properties, which despite good intentions and modest success, [...]
Envision a scenario consisting of a strong urban core with dispersing traffic; mixed-income housing; new construction; streets, and building scale meant to reinforce a village-like atmosphere. With the help of zoning and regulations; subdivision ordinances; and transportation services, more and more cities nowadays are seeking to recreate. The Twin Cities are doing just that by [...]
A big Global Site Plans welcome to our newest blogger, Jasna Hadzic from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Born and raised in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but having spent most of her adult life in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A.; Jasna Hadzic has been greatly influenced by both cultures, most specifically in terms of architecture, planning, and design. The transition of living [...]
