The Myth of the Corner Store
Why zoning isn’t what’s holding back corner grocery stores or 15-minute neighborhoods.
Bryan
Unraveling Urbanism: Housing, Advocacy, and the Battle for Better Cities
Land use planning has always faced scrutiny, but in recent years, the conversation has grown louder and more polarized. Social media and digital activism have brought more voices into the debate, leading to important discussions but also fueling misunderstandings about what planners do and the forces that shape our cities.
Rereading Jane Jacobs: Reflections on “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”
I recently finished rereading Jane Jacobs’ The Death and Life of Great American Cities. It wasn’t my first encounter with the book. I first read it in graduate school over 15 years ago. At the time, it was eye-opening. I wasn’t particularly familiar with the planning profession then,
Despite Our Best Intentions with Street Frontages
Automobiles are undeniably a significant part of American life. Consequently, accommodating them with roadways and parking lots has come to dominate much of the American built environment, often prioritizing convenience over aesthetics. In an effort to promote desirable outcomes like walkability and the revival of traditional commercial corridors, planners have
The Coming War on Impact Fees
The Supreme Court ruled Friday that developers and home builders in California may challenge the fees commonly imposed by cities and counties to pay for new roads, schools, sewers and other public improvements. The justices said these “impact fees” may be unconstitutional if builders and developers are forced to pay
Michigan’s Governor on Housing Affordability: “Build baby, build!” Following Eight Decades of Unfettered Sprawl
“The rent is too damn high and we don’t have enough damn housing," the governor declared from a rostrum in the Capitol building, drawing a standing applause from some lawmakers. "So our response is simple: build, baby, build — let’s go!” I came across this article tonight
Five Surprising Similarities Between Detroit and Portland
Having worked in both Detroit and Portland for roughly half of my career each, I do a fair bit of comparing and contrasting. Although you’d be hard pressed to find two American cities as different as these two, here are five surprising similarities. 1. Similar Populations Despite having wildly
Missing Middle Housing Will Never Solve Our Affordability Woes on Its Own
ADUs, or Accessory Dwelling Units, are usually small housing units people build in their basements, backyards, or above their garages to accommodate family or to rent out for supplemental income. So-called “missing middle" housing (from here on referred to Middle Housing) are all those housing types that are Goldilocks-sized,
What Planners Believe vs. What Planners Do
Why talk about what urban planners believe instead of what they actually do? Because more often than not, those two things do not align. Most planners in the United States work within one of the country’s 89,000 local governments, each with its own set of rules, politics, and
An Introduction to Low Velocity
Hello, and happy new year! I'm Bryan and I’m an urban planner and affordable housing advocate living in Portland, Oregon. I hold a Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P.) degree from the University of Michigan and have worked in the planning and community development fields for