The Jonathan Eshenour Memorial Trail is a twenty-two mile trail that travels through the heart of Hershey, PA, providing access to parks, neighborhoods, and commercial establishments. The trail was named after a local resident who lost his life in a bicycling accident in 1997. Along the pathway residents of Hershey memorialize their loved ones through [...]
Is sustainability measurable? The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) certainly thinks so, and they are working hard to provide professionals working within the development community a framework to bring sustainability to the neighborhood level. The USGBC has been using its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System since 1998 to provide [...]
It is well known that urban planning has historically been a complicated affair. The process is often convoluted, requiring the coordination and cooperation of multiple public-private actors and stakeholders to approve new projects. In light of these facts and current economic trends, is it sensible for cities to continue major investments into this area? Milan [...]
Want to grow your veggies and eat them, too? While, until recently, the idea of combining urbanity with gardening seemed like a strong contradiction, urban gardens have started popping up in central city spaces around the world. One of the pioneering urban gardening projects is Prinzessinengarten in Berlin, Germany. Since summer 2009, this central Berlin [...]
In 2012 Pennsylvania passed Act 13, an act which mandated that local governments must allow drilling in all zoning districts and cannot ban or restrict gas development. Act 13 limits local government control and allows only individuals who own land and mineral rights in counties to participate in drilling decisions that will affect their communities. [...]
In September, two coal-burning power plants on the Southwest side of Chicago closed down operations, leaving the nearby communities with the pressing question of how best to re-use the combined 132 acres. The Fisk and Crawford coal plants have been decommissioned by their owner Midwest Generation in response to increasing pressure from community groups and [...]
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 [...]
Do you have a problem? Mark it on the map and we’ll take care of it – if you vote for us. Prior to Germany’s Berlin Senate election in 2011, the Green Party presented an interactive online tool that people could use to suggest changes for the urban environment. More than 800 requests were sent [...]
The connected metro-regions of Minneapolis and St. Paul, in Minnesota, are at the forefront of brownfield remediation. The Twin Cities exhibit several exemplary projects that demonstrate the positive reception of toxic sites converted to public space. Urban planners, environmental lawyers, state agencies, and landscape architects each have major roles in this transformative process. Brownfield remediation [...]
June Mountain is located approximately 20 miles (31 kilometers) north of the town of Mammoth Lakes, California. Opened in 1961, the ski area provides the economic epicenter of June Lake, CA, a small, unincorporated community in Mono County. Unfortunately, on June 21, 2012, the day that the mountain was supposed to open for summer activities, [...]
Creating green areas in big cities is necessary for people to live better lives. Places for urban agriculture, away from park and recreation areas, in cities, contribute to economic and ecological sustainability, as well as creating green corridors where people can breathe and thrive. The first urban agriculture area was established by Ataturk who founded [...]
When Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the current government, Justice and Development Party (AKP), will undergo the biggest project of all times for Istanbul, aptly named “The Crazy Project” by Istanbulites, no one ever thought it would be an artificial sea-level waterway crossing through the entire European side of Istanbul, connecting the [...]
Spokane, Washington was given the land for its wastewater treatment plant and Riverside State Park by an affluent citizen in his will in the first half of the 20th century. He designated the land’s division and only allowed the City to keep the land if they used it for those sole two reasons. The only [...]
Everyone wants to recycle, but what would you do if it was mandatory? California Bill AB 341, directed by CalRecycle, will go into effect on July 1, 2012 and will require commercial recycling within California state limits. The Town of Mammoth Lakes is providing education and outreach in an effort to help the community adjust [...]
Lacking the time to study up on the latest New Urbanism manifesto? A visit to Raleigh City Farm, of Raleigh, North Carolina, may provide a substantially accurate visual summary. This eight-week-old, 1.3 acre “social enterprise” is picturesquely situated between Peace College and Historic Mordecai neighborhood, granting the urban farm a ten-minute walk from the heart of [...]
Needless to say, water is essential to sustain human life, and every human being has the right to have access to water. Therefore, in urban areas where great numbers of people are agglomerated, water is a critical issue. In Istanbul there are 8 watersheds, 5 being on the European side and 3 on the Asian [...]
In most cities, the downtown area serves as the central business district (CDB) and the nightlife hub. However, Tampa’s downtown area competes with other places for the honor of CBD and the happening place to be. After 6pm, downtown becomes a ghost town, with only the few people who are able to afford the few [...]
Water is an important resource and all too often it is taken for granted. We all expect water to be there when we need to do the dishes, take a shower, or rinse our food. While a renewable resource, only 3% of the world’s supply is fresh water and unfortunately, demand already surpasses supply. What [...]
Are you interested in sustainability, but not sure where to get the latest information, sample products, and meet like-minded people? The upcoming Ecobuild conference in London, United Kingdom could be just the event for you. Ecobuild is, put simply, the place to go to update your environmental expertise and put yourself ahead of the competition [...]
This May 2012, craftsmen from across the United States and Canada will descend on Port Townsend, Washington to discuss a building tradition developed in the 12th century, timber frame construction. The first question the uninitiated may ask is, “What is timber framing?” This construction method uses heavy wood joined together in intricate joints to create [...]
