Author Archive
TreeHugger | Older, Smaller, Better: Why new ideas need old buildings
"Based upon statistical analysis of the built fabric of three major American cities, this research finds that established neighborhoods with a mix of older, smaller buildings perform better than districts with larger, newer structures when tested [...]
Reuters | U.S. Utilities Face German-style Solar Burn
Building with solar panels in Northern Germany (Tvabutzku1234, via Wikimedia Commons) "America’s utilities face a German-style solar burn. So far, solar power accounts for just 1 percent of U.S. electricity demand, against 10 percent in [...]
Project for Public Spaces | What Makes a Successful Place?
"Great public spaces are where celebrations are held, social and economic exchanges take place, friends run into each other, and cultures mix. They are the “front porches” of our public institutions – libraries, field houses, neighborhood [...]
SFGate | Sierra’s bears wide-awake during warm winter
"The black bears of the high Sierra are normally curled up in caves in January, enjoying long winter naps. But with winter conditions hardly wintry this year, some bears are finding little reason to hibernate and are instead traipsing around like [...]
Atlantic Cities | Do Electric Scooters Belong in Bike Lanes?
"After about a year and a half of deliberation, the city's Transportation Services division has emerged with a definition of a 'bicycle.'" Read the entire article at Atlantic Cities: Do Electric Scooters Belong in Bike Lanes?
SF Examiner | Ballot proposal would change development process for SF waterfront
The Warriors’ planned waterfront arena could be subject to voter approval under a measure proposed for the June ballot. "A ballot measure proposed for the June election would require voter approval if developments exceed existing waterfront [...]
The Urbanophile | What Is a City For?
"If we expect cities to be part of the answer to the problem of climate change, the financial unsustainability of sprawl, or anything else, then it has to be a place where children can be raised to thrive in the world." Read the entire piece at [...]
Grist | Genetic engineering vs. natural breeding: What’s the difference?
"What bothers me about genetically engineered crops, I told her, is that the technology seems to disrupt the co-evolutionary relationship between farmer and plant. I like the idea of farmers saving seeds and coaxing plants toward a greater harmony [...]
Switchboard | Five ways to think about greener, healthier cities
Seattle (photo c2014 FK Benfield) "...we all know city places that inspire romance – places that kindle love, if you will. There are the biggies, such as Paris, Rome, and San Francisco. There are historic districts in many cities with narrow, [...]
