Archive for May, 2009
The Broader Connection between Public Transportation, Energy Conservation and Greenhouse Gas Reduction
“The Broader Connection between Public Transportation, Energy Conservation and Greenhouse Gas Reduction” is a powerful resource commissioned by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) that discusses the interdependence betwen mass transit and walkable land density patterns as well as their correlation with increased energy conservation, reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and lower green house emissions.
SeeClickFix Update
It has been more than 2 1/2 months since Urban City Architecture (the first website in Miami to use the tool) began to host SeeClickFix – the free web tool that allows communities to report quality of life or infrastructure issues. Following New Haven and Philadelphia, it was my hope that various local government and news agencies would begin [...]
Walkable Times Square
While I wrote yesterday about a case of automobile attrition, the real news comes out of New York City which has begun to implement an ambitious plan to convert parts of Broadway Avenue in a walkable pedestrian mall or promenade.
Automobile Attrition in Brickell
Due to the overwhelming domination of the car, I often speak about “attrition of the automobile” and its importance in creating walkable and livable communities. While the automobile has its place, it’s heavy handed use over time has created autocentric and unwalkable cities all over the United States. It is essential that cities reclaim some of [...]
Downtown Miami Construction Boom
Although there are still a few buildings under construction remaining in Downtown Miami, much of the nationally publicized building boom that has transformed the city has come to an end. The countless number of cranes have mostly come down — much of the road work that saw Biscayne Boulevard transformed has finished.
1 Year in Downtown Miami (Brickell)
Having recently read an article regarding national demographic changes that now favor downtown and having it now been a year since I moved from the autocentric “suburb” of Aventura (North Dade) to the Brickell area of Downtown Miami, I thought I would share with you some of my thoughts on the decision and what I have observed. The following is a [...]
Mary Brickell Village Publix
The Miami Today News is reporting that the new Publix at Mary Brickell Village is opening on June 4th. After watching anxiously for this store to open the new market is finally coming to the area.
Achieving Affordability Summary (Tomorrow’s Miami : Part 16)
Through the last few weeks I have discussed some of the issues related to affordability and the urban environment in Miami. Following the multi-post discussion on affordability in Miami , this is a summary of how future development should provide affordability. It is important to remember that affordability and sustainability go hand in hand.
Purging Unnecessary Costs (Tomorrow’s Miami : Part 15)
Affordable housing is a basic human right, but unfortunately, Miami has made a mockery of this concept. Residential buildings have become like resorts and the amenities that are supposed to enhance quality of life ironically do the opposite. They provide an unnecessary resort lifestyle to a resident that is expensive to sustain in the long-term.
Urban Doorways in San Francisco
Doorways are everywhere in and around the Mission District of San Francisco — every block is surrounded by a multitude of doorways! Just like the Bay Window, the doorway is a dominant visual and structural urban element of San Francisco’s row house and Victorian architecture. Not only is it a uniquely identifiable feature of the city – as the threshold between building [...]
Painting The Pavement
I was going to write a little blurb about this video from streetsfilms.org — nevertheless this one line straight out of the video sums it up.
One Bayfront Plaza Redesign
Terra Architecture has completed its redesign of the hopefully soon to be iconic One Bayfront Plaza. The previous proposal, which was devised of two towers, was redesigned to be composed of a 24 story pedestal and a single iconic 1,010 foot tower.
Sonesta Mikado Hotel
For new development in the City of Miami first it was a slew of announcements the last couple of weeks, then it was the new Life Science Park by the University of Miami. Now, developer Tibor Hollo and Florida East Coast Realty (FECR) are announcing that construction will begin on the new Mikado Hotel near the OMNI this [...]
Where do the Costs Come From (Tomorrow’s Miami : Part 14)
Although the warm environment helped forge the lifestyle Miami enjoys today, this alone does not explain the architectural typology or dominant typological “residential-resort” lifestyle enjoyed in Miami today. The truth is that there are many warm places around the world that do not share the same architectural typological solutions to residential living. An influential architectural case study [...]
