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The results of the WALK-TEST for the Bearden Park District are available here.
NEW PRINTING OF LIGHT IMPRINT HANDBOOK NOW AVAILABLE
new version with a binding that lays flat while working
We launched the Light Imprint Initiative in 2007 to help folks achieve better design on green infrastructure new urbanism (one of CNU's 25 Great Ideas) and traditional neighborhood projects. Examples include infill pocket neighborhoods and address technical issues such as EMS 20' access requirements.
These pages are from the Light Imprint Handbook as one of the examples of how to use Light Imprint tools to create design solutions. In this example the 20' clear EMS roadway is incorporeal into a green street cascading Pocket Court.
In the LI Handbook there are over 60 more tools with many designs as well as a few neighborhood case studies. The photo is a pocket court green for Jacobs which as most know here, I have posted frequently as the #PocketCourtProject.
We just completed a re-printing of the Light Imprint Handbook which is now available with a binding that allows it to lay flat while working from it — which we have heard requests for years. The NEW edition with the flat binding can be acquired here: https://www.amazon.com/Light-Imprint-Handbook-…/…/1931871094
This is a good reference tool and other folks that have benefited over the years please share your support.
WALKABILITY SCORECARD LAUNCHED
For our June Forum we toured Waverley - promoted as a new walkable mixed-use project
http://www.civicbydesign.com/Civic_By_Design/ForumCalendar.html
http://www.waverlyclt.com/interactive-map/
As part of the forum we put together a "walkability scorecard" matrix we will be testing which is similar to "walk score" https://www.walkscore.com/ for places but in this case it's about what the walking experience when you are actually there as opposed to just the distance between two different uses which has been a criticism of "walkscore" since created. https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2012/08/walk-score-great-it-still-doesnt-capture-walk-appeal/2858/ Our hope is this will help influence future projects to continue to raise the bar.
VERMILLION VILLAGE APPROVED
Here is a project I have worked on for a very long time - the pioneering project Vermillion, Huntersville, NC started in 1996 on a DPZ charrette - and just now organically matured enough to accommodate a full size grocery store. Huntersville adopted a form-based code in parallel to approving this catalyst new urbanism project.
As you can see the key to this project addition is fitting in a full-size grocery store in a way that would create and extend a walkable village. So while the grocery store is a one-story pancake building with large parking areas, you can see that the superblock urbanism has liner buildings around the perimeter and is connected with walkable/bikable streets to Vermillion and the town core of Huntersville..
This creates a village main street along one edge and walkable strolling district of streets around the perimeter. This is a urban design technique with a conventional ginormous grocery store as anchor. Surrounding residents will not see the parking lot unless they want to drive to the grocery store.
LIGHT IMPRINT: GREAT IDEA RECOGNITION
So honored to see the Light Imprint initiative featured here:
https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2017/05/15/great-idea-light-imprint-walkable-green-infrastructure
Great idea: Light Imprint for walkable green infrastructure
A leaner, lighter approach to infrastucture is more cost-effective, sustainable, and livable—an idea worth considering for America in National Infrastructure Week.
Time for CIVIC DESIGN 101 ?
Where did all the rural sprawl come from?
This explains this historical evolutionary pattern in a set of graphic diagrams.
Still in the mood to vote?
CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR BALLOT
Wall Street Journal: New Small Towns: Housing Developments That Recreate Village Life A MANSION Section cover article and 2-page feature in the Wall Street Journal America’s With quaint shops, wraparound porches and pedestrian-friendly streets, these new communities appeal to homebuyers’ desires for a strong sense of place - excerpt: "Habersham, a 282-acre coastal community outside Beaufort, S.C., is set on a former plantation shaded by canopies of centuries-old live oaks; its layout was inspired by historic Low Country villages, where irregular roads evolved from animal paths, according to Tom Low, architect and director of town planning."
Public Square: Out-performing golf course communities: "The definition of the suburbs will change and they will take on new urban qualities. Everywhere you see infill opportunities in the suburbs. Shopping malls are being converted. Transit stops are being converted to TOD. City life is only for so many people. There are people who want a little more room—a little more green. I’m still talking about small lots, but nothing like living in a multistory building in the city. The millennials are downtown now because they don’t have kids. And it's fun, it's cool, but when the time comes for some of them to move to the suburbs, I hope these [new urban] kinds of developments will be the future." — Founder and Developer Robert Turner
Best in America Living: Demonstrating a viable "missing middle" density for community making - excerpt: "Most important, Missing Middle housing must provide a similar experience and curb appeal of single-family homes. Thus making them more marketable. In the best examples, they face onto a neighborhood scale, tree-lined street, the buildings are a similar scale to single-family homes, and owners enter their home directly from a front porch, stoop, or small courtyard, rather than down a long corridor to their unit."
A Civic By Design review of Charlotte's proposed new grand central station design.
We took the Civic By Design program on the road with an invitation by Historic Denver and CARTA on the theme of: Is There a There There? We are collaborating on elevating the quality of design and development for both cities. Here is a draft report: Principles for An Enduring City
Listen here for WFAE CHARLOTTE TALKS with Tom Low on Ugly Buildings in Charlotte
As the second fastest growing city in the country, Charlotte’s population is exploding and developers are trying to keep up. Hence, all those apartments cropping up around town. But some architects feel those building are too similar, too bland and because there are so many of them, they are beginning to negatively impact the look of the city. Those architects are suggesting stronger design standards need to be adopted and we’ll hear their ideas.
Fighting Back Against
Ugly Buildings
Ten Acres That Transformed A City
https://www.cnu.org/ten-acres-transformed-city
Design Forum Asks: Which Neighborhood Would You Rather Walk In?
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/development/article39015081.html
How Should We Design Buildings to Protect Charlotte's Public Realm:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/development/article38325447.html
Agenda: What (Made) the Common Market’s Courtyard So Great?
http://www.charlotteagenda.com/23052/what-makes-common-markets-courtyard-so-great/
MIXOPOLY training workshops:
CASQA Monterey, California
Imagine training stormwater engineers to become creative placemakers! Here are some action shots of Making Neighborhoods with Green Infrastructure training in full swing. pic.twitter.com/6kDNCy0T6n
Is your group interested in creating neighborhoods with green infrastructure? Check out Light Imprint Mixopoly workshops at the CASQA annual conference.
Sterilizing Development is an issue in our historic neighborhoods. Is it possible to grow “the right way,” in a way that protects and even enhances what came before? Listen on WFAE for the Charlotte Talks episode.
Charlotte Sprawl Repair is a hot topic. Follow the link for a full report! Listen on WFAE for the Charlotte Talks episode.
Seven Steps to a Great Transit Stop: Observer Article
We now have available our popular presentation on the POLARIZED PUBLIC REALM available here.
FYI - this is nice story with great photos - Tom Low has been collaborating on this for a few years - nice to see it maturing and turning out well.
http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/oklahoma/most-peaceful-town-in-ok/
Here's a design after 8 days of charretting in Louisiana: The images are of one study area of the master-plan for the Evangeline Corridor Initiative:
Suburban Sprawl Zone - Passe' Mall and Big Box Commercial slated for an elevated highway hurricane evacuation route
Civic Art Master Plan showing the highway interchange redesigned as a gateway boulevard, circle, arch lined with new urban mixed-use as well as green infrastructure for stormwater management.
As a follow-up to our 7PC Forum in February here is feature on Charlotte Agenda: Let’s make Charlotte world-class: Digging deeper on the 7th Street, Pecan, & Caswell development in Elizabeth
What are some paths one can take when pursuing traditional architecture education? Here are several stories published by Traditional Building Magazine by a few architects including mine:
We were invited to take the Civic By Design program on the road with an invitation by Historic Denver and CARTA on the theme of: Bland Buildings Popping Up In Charlotte Are Not So Different From Those in Denver.
The Civic By Design Forum has been continuously featured in media and events throughout its 12 year history.
Here is our 2015 poster collage of event images and a numbered list describing each monthly event.
See if you can match the images with the specific event.
Click the poster or here for answers and additional information.
In The News:
Fighting Back Against Ugly Buildings: Charlotte Magazine
Article: Ten Acres That Transformed A City CNU.org
MIXOPOLY training workshops:
CASQA Monterey, California
Imagine training stormwater engineers to become creative placemakers! Here are some action shots of Making Neighborhoods with Green Infrastructure training in full swing. pic.twitter.com/6kDNCy0T6n
Sterilizing Development is an issue in our historic neighborhoods. Is it possible to grow “the right way,” in a way that protects and even enhances what came before? Listen on WFAE for the Charlotte Talks episode.
Charlotte Sprawl Repair is a hot topic. Follow the link for a full report! Listen on WFAE for the Charlotte Talks episode.
In 2014 the Civic By Design Forum received a grant from the Foundation of the Carolinas through its Front Porch Program. This grant facilitates Civic By Design Forums and builds on the Crossroads Charlotte Initiative.
As part of the 2010 Front Porch Grant, the Civic By Design Forum is building a Civic Garden Square for the Charlotte Community School for Girls. The Civic Garden Square will create an interactive space for the students. The partnership will also help to foster a future relationship with the school.
Civic By Design was featured in the Charlotte Observer for the Design Help 5¢ booth. The article highlighted the service of the booth, as well as encouraged people to attend and get helpful information from professionals. The idea of DESIGN HELP 5¢ is that anyone can ask a designer a question for just a nickel. All proceeds will be donated to the local charity Friendship Trays. The hope is the initial conversation may lead to real work for design participants during the great recession.
The Learning Cottage Initiative was featured in a News Special on WBTV. The clip describes the Initiative in a short segment.
