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Mr. TOD
The Tale of Mr. TOD Once upon a time, Mr. Tod arrived in New York. And the rest was not yet history. The tale is still, obviously, unfolding. Will Mr. Tod be able to create mobile, accessible, and affordable neighborhoods? Or will Mr. Tod only support luxury? Mr. Tod, of course, is Mr. Transit-Oriented Development. He’s more and more popular these…
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Powers, Identities, Ideologies
Where do you live? A capital city? A planned city? An industrial city? A ghost city? A green city? A colonial city? An authentic city? A global city? A shrinking city? A gentrifying city? A spiritual city? A divided city? An ancient city? Perhaps, a combination of these types? How about a city with powers,…
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An Urban Green District – Jackson Heights
When perusing the internet, I stumbled upon the Ecovillage Ithaca a while ago. As a planner and as a New Yorker who has yet to suffer through another putrid summer in the city, I was mesmerized. Of course I could see myself sitting on the porch of my high-energy efficiency house, after a long day’s…
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Water in the City
WRITTEN BY ALINE FADER In case anyone missed it, San Francisco banned water bottles smaller than 21 ounces from City-owned property in the spring, which is pretty amazing. New York City, in spite of the previous Mayor’s attacks on more sugary drinks, has not gone so far, but has been using more of a carrot…
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(In)formality (In)justice
As many New Yorkers know, the rent is too damn high. The neighborhoods of New York have always been dynamic and ever-changing, and today, this continues to be true, but perhaps, on a level unforeseen in recent memory. Many are being priced out of our neighborhoods that they’ve lived in, sometimes for generations. So I asked Jimmy…
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Transformation Hubs
Most Americans did not own cars in the early 20th century. There were no trucks, there were no planes. Instead of taking the highway or heading to the airport, people went to the train station. Indeed, railroad transportation was essentially the only convenient way to get around. Intercity passenger railroads were profitable. Commuter lines were…
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Very Important Maps
WRITTEN BY ALINE FADER I have been a terrible blogger of late. Consider this an apology. And a celebration of maps.
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(Re)New Your City, New York City: European Best Practices for NYC
After waiting for three trains to enter and to leave Fulton Street before I could fit inside (there were delays), I had one more example to use when explaining why we need better public transportation. But what does better transportation mean? It depends on our geography, our culture, our economy, our politics, and our history.…
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Newburgh and New ‘Burbs
The Hudson River shines only a five minute walk away, and the mountains and forests surrounding the river are surreal. From the bustling and wide boulevards – some of the widest in the State – farmland can be seen in the distance. Old, colonial buildings dot the landscape, which served as the Headquarters of the…
Disclaimer: All content, including blog posts and tours, reflects my personal views and experiences. Nothing here should be interpreted as representing the views of any current or former employer.