What makes a place unique or interesting? One might argue that local culture is the primary reason why people enjoy living in or visiting the neighborhoods they do, which suggests that uncovering what defines or exposes that culture is a valuable exercise. Hints of this can be found all over the built environment in cities. … Continue reading Signs of Local Culture in the Built Environment
Urbanism
Wonky writings about urban planning
Memo: Regional Transport 6
What can we learn from transportation planning in the Global South? That investments need to support both mobility and place-making. This is part of a series of "reading memos" that offer a brief summary of interesting academic content along with my personal reflections. This one covers Chapter 9 (The Global South) of Cervero, Guerra, and … Continue reading Memo: Regional Transport 6
Memo: Regional Transport 5
Part of a series of "reading memos" that offer a brief summary of interesting academic content along with my personal reflections. This one covers Chapter 6 & 10 (Regional Transportation & Urban Transportation Finance) of Giuliano & Hanson's The Geography of Urban Transportation. Regional Transportation Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in the United States were established … Continue reading Memo: Regional Transport 5
Road to a Master’s Thesis: Final Research Proposal
After extensive discussions with my faculty advisor and colleagues, this reflects my commitment to a research project as part of the requirements of a Masters in Urban Planning degree. Your feedback, thoughts, and potential assistance (if you work in tech!) would be greatly appreciated. Post-Pandemic Travel Patterns of Remote-Eligible Workers Audience Transportation planners looking to … Continue reading Road to a Master’s Thesis: Final Research Proposal
Memo: Regional Transport 4
Part of a series of "reading memos" that offer a brief summary of interesting academic content along with my personal reflections. This one covers Chapter 9 (Land Use Impacts of Transportation Investments) of Giuliano & Hanson's The Geography of Urban Transportation. Summary Transportation and land use have interdependent dynamics: transportation investments influence accessibility (the ease … Continue reading Memo: Regional Transport 4
A Tale of Two Streets
An analysis of the urban design qualities of two streets, based on the works of Allan B. Jacobs, Jan Gehl, Edmund Bacon, and Kevin Lynch. Collins Street, Melbourne Collins Street is a major commercial thoroughfare in the heart of Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD). This street incorporates all of Allan Jacobs’ “requirements for great streets” … Continue reading A Tale of Two Streets
Memo: Regional Transport 3
Part of a series of "reading memos" that offer a brief summary of interesting academic content along with my personal reflections. This one covers Chapter 8 (Mass Transit) of Giuliano & Hanson's The Geography of Urban Transportation. Should transit be re-privatized? Operating transit is almost never profitable Given the long history of financial struggles faced … Continue reading Memo: Regional Transport 3
Memo: Regional Transport 2
Part of a series of "reading memos" that offer a brief summary of interesting academic content along with my personal reflections. This one covers Chapter 5 of Giuliano & Hanson's The Geography of Urban Transportation. Summary Market Theory suggests it may be possible to treat transportation as a type of market subject to laws of … Continue reading Memo: Regional Transport 2
Memo: Regional Transport 1
Part of a series of "reading memos" that offer a brief summary of interesting academic content along with my personal reflections. This one covers Chapters 1 and 3 of Giuliano & Hanson's The Geography of Urban Transportation. Introducing Urban Transportation The author begins by distinguishing between accessibility (the ease of reaching activities/opportunities) and mobility (the … Continue reading Memo: Regional Transport 1
The Color of Law
This is a review of The Color of Law, fairly established as required reading in most American urban planning graduate programs these days. Overview In the United States, a common viewpoint is that racial discrimination only comes in the form of individual prejudice or bias, as opposed to being something more systemic or pervasive across … Continue reading The Color of Law
Brisk Mobility 