Main Street as the Ultimate “Third Place”.
Third Places in the 20th Century. Ray Oldenburg, see sidebar, effectively describes gathering spots that serve as third places; places where people relax and commune; the “in-between” places, not work and not home. His idea extends from small town cafés to the “Cheers” bar in bigger cities. Entry is freely accessible to customers, visitors and a […]
Thinking in Systems, A Primer by Donella H. Meadows
Stepping into Thinking in Systems turns out to be a big step; a step entering the world of Donella Meadows. Dr. Meadows has created a way of thinking about the world in terms of a single system of systems that have limits. Her work on The Limits of Growth team in the early 1970s for the Club of Rome […]
Eyes on the Street: The Life of Jane Jacobs by Robert Kanigel
JANE JACOBS’S STREET SMARTS. What the urbanist and writer got so right about cities—and what she got wrong.By Adam Gopnik “Jacobs, in 1969: an ordinary mom who set out to protect the neighborhood. I got to talk to Jane Jacobs once, toward the end of her life, an interview that is mentioned, in its properly Lilliputian proportion, in Robert […]
Be Innovative; Create a Tech-Driven Small City Main Street.
Small City Innovation Advantages. Small cities and towns have a tremendous advantage over larger communities when it comes to innovation in the design and operation of municipal systems to create an interesting, pleasant and prosperous community. Size is the key. A small city can be comprehended, it can be observed in its totality and it […]
The Responsible Hospitality Institute [RHI]
The Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1983 and is the leading source for events, resources and consultation services on nightlife. RHI’s vision is to assist communities in the planning and management of hospitality zones to create safe, vibrant and economically prosperous places to socialize.RHI’s expertise has provided direct technical assistance […]
A Nation of Weavers from The New York Times by David Brooks, Opinion Columnist
Excerpt: “My something extra was starting something nine months ago at the Aspen Institute called Weave: The Social Fabric Project. The first core idea was that social isolation is the problem underlying a lot of our other problems. The second idea was that this problem is being solved by people around the country, at the local level, […]
Special Report Smart Cities: A Toolkit for Leaders, Knowledge@Wharton with Tata Consultancy
The definition of a “smart city” is changing. While it refers to a community that adoptstechnological tools to become more efficient, the term also increasingly encompasses ideas of sustainability, compassion and equity for all stakeholders. As cities embrace initiatives to become more connected, data-driven and resilient, mayors and other leaders often must prioritize various needs […]
Be Social; Plan for a Social Main Street
A Vision: Main Street as the Small City’s Social Center. Main street has done a lot for America; and more will be asked of it in the coming decades. The main value of downtown, and specifically main street, by mid-century will expand from its civic and commercial purposes to become the primarily social center of […]
Small City Amphitheaters: Edu-tainment al fresco
The Greeks. Amphitheaters have been with us for a long time; perhaps since the beginning of human existence. Formal amphitheaters go back at least to the Greeks around 600 B.C. These ancient amphitheaters, like modern ones, held up to 15,000 people. Contemporary capacities seem to fall into two ranges: 5,000 or 20,000 people with a […]
Planning School Grounds for Outdoor Learning by Cheryl Wagner and Douglas Gordon, Hon. AIA
Almost every K–12 school has at least some outdoor space that faculty could use (or already do) to breathe life into concepts learned in the classroom. Even within tight urban settings, many schools have had success using rooftops to install safe and secure play and garden areas. Research shows that students better absorb and retain […]