ARTICLES
The Original Articles archives of CharacterTowns.org presents papers that discuss practical and conceptual ideas for designing, building and managing character towns and small cities that are interesting, pleasant and prosperous places for residents, businesses and visitors.
Neighborhood Infrastructure.
PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. The neighborhood’s physical infrastructure is the most visible and obvious. Whether in established or new neighborhoods, the standard systems are the same. Legally platted lots and streets. This seems an obvious given since most subdivisions have been reviewed and approved in the modern era, but many blighted and older neighborhoods do not have […]
Neighborhood Mobility
The Idea of Mobility for Neighborhoods and Neighbors. The concept of the home-based trip has many facets. There are many purposes for a trip ranging from work, school, shopping, recreation and entertainment. Trips occur at all times of the day though recognizing the peak hour is important. Trips are made with a variety of modes; […]
Neighborhood Mobility Audits
The Polk [FL] TPO has conducted a series of Neighborhood Mobility Audits for communities in traditionally underserved areas. Most of the 15 completed audits were conducted within the TPO’s Environmental Justice Planning Areas. These mobility audits evaluate resident access to jobs and essential services within these communities and the larger county. Since low-income households are […]
NEIGHBORHOOD MOBILITY MASTER PLANS
The City of Fort Lauderdale’s Neighborhood Mobility Plan includes many of the elements discussed by CharacterTowns.org. Neighborhood mobility, internally and externally, has been analyzed and planned for by the City. The community conversation seems to be very interactive, and hence, effective. Traffic flow and access to sidewalks and bike lanes is not just a concern […]
Neighborhood Open Space.
NEIGHBORHOOD OPEN SPACE. Character towns have neighborhoods that are “complete” with prominent lands devoted to parks and open spaces for the residents. When systematically organized, the collection of parks, school grounds, stormwater ponds, protected wetlands, lakes, streams, private lawns and gardens becomes a holistic, integrated system of lands and waters devoted to the neighborhood’s health […]
Neighborhood Planning
The core asset of every small city and town is its neighborhoods. As the city pursues its vision of being an interesting, pleasant and prosperous place for residents, preserving and creating great neighborhoods takes center stage. Great neighborhoods are the city’s primary product. The first step is to embrace the primacy of neighborhoods, to fully […]
Neighborhood Planning for Small Cities
“Qualify” Neighborhood Associations to Receive City Planning Grants NEIGHBORHOODS MATTER. Small cities and towns are usually dominated by their neighborhoods; and the neighborhoods tend to be close to downtown. Neighborhoods, broadly defined, include groupings of single family homes, multi-family dwellings be they individual apartment or condominium complexes or groups of multi-family communities in close proximity. […]
Neighborhood Programs to Improve Resident Jobs and Incomes.
THE ECONOMIC ROLE OF NEIGHBORHOODS. Typically, neighborhoods are not associated with the economic well-being of the residents. Whether the neighborhood is a single family community, an apartment complex or a condominium, the neighborhood association can improve resident employment and income opportunities. However, the times are changing. More people work from home. More people start and […]
Neighborhood Schools.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD’S ROLE IN EDUCATION. The fact that the schools belong to the county or independent school system does not mean the neighborhood should have a “hands off” policy. To the contrary, within an established educational framework, the neighborhood residents can best tailor the county schools to meet the holistic intellectual and enrichment needs of […]
Neighborhood Sidewalks Increase Property Values.
PURPOSE. CharacterTowns.org was curious about the relationship between neighborhood sidewalks and residential property values. As a result. a study was completed that compared the property value of homes on one side of the street with sidewalks to homes on the other side of the same street without sidewalks. The presence of many instances with similar […]
Neighborhood Sidewalks Increase Property Values, 2018
PURPOSE. CharacterTowns.org was curious about the relationship between neighborhood sidewalks and residential property values. To find the answer, a study was completed that compared the property value of homes on one side of the street with sidewalks to homes on the other side of the same street without sidewalks. The presence of many instances with […]
Neighborhood Sidewalks Increase Property Values, 2018
CharacterTowns.org was curious about the relationship between neighborhood sidewalks and residential property values. To find the answer, a study was completed that compared the property value of homes on one side of the street with sidewalks to homes on the other side of the same street without sidewalks. The presence of many instances with similar […]
Neighborhood Trees and Tree Canopies.
OBJECTIVE. Every neighborhood in America is concerned about increasing its tree canopy for its aesthetic, environmental and real estate value. Attention is being paid to the importance of trees. Trees offer many benefits at a very low cost. A target for tree canopy coverage in neighborhoods and cities is gaining in popularity and programming. FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail
Neighborhoods are Important City Economic Assets.
A core asset of every character town is its neighborhoods. As the city pursues its vision of being a pleasant and prosperous place, neighborhood creation, enhancement and preservation take center stage as a primary strategy of the city. NEIGHBORHOODS GENERATE REVENUES. Neighborhoods are a major consumer of the city’s land and a major generator of […]
Neighborhoods of Learning.
THE MISSION. Educating people is a broad-ranging goal of every city, every neighborhood and every household. Formal schooling for children with public or private elementary and secondary schools is expected. Life-long learning is becoming the norm as employment demands evolve and there is a continuous need for workers to stay current with new skills, technologies […]
New Castle, DE, A Quintessential Character Town.
New Castle is an historic, character town located south of Wilmington Delaware between Philadelphia and Baltimore. Founded in 1640, the town is “known for its “thriving historic downtown, outdoor open spaces and recreation including Battery Park, multiple playgrounds, trails, nature areas, tennis courts, sailing club, library and museums.” FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail
New Downtown Retail and Restaurant Site Design Factors
The New Active Zone of Shops and Restaurants. Whether you are worried about the new normal, returning to the old normal or figuring out the expected hybrid, the future of the downtown in every small city and town will depend on the continuity of successful retail and restaurant businesses; usually small and locally owned. Given […]
New Investments in Blighted Commercial Strips.
Turning Abandoned and Marginally Used Buildings into Successful Business Locations. Blighted Commercial Strips. The proverbial “federal” highway that leads into most every small city and town in America has traditionally become an “anything goes” zone that accommodates regional traffic, roadside retail, apartments, offices, “big boxes”, general commercial and industrial uses, personal storage and small warehouses, […]
New Richmond, Ohio; A Quintessential Character Town
CHARACTER. New Richmond is an interesting, pleasant and prosperous place. HISTORY. Founded on the banks of the Ohio River in September of 1814 by Revolutionary War hero Jacob Light, New Richmond is the home of President Grant’s birthplace. This section of the Ohio River was an active crossing for enslaved people. The village established a […]
New York Times Article: How We Broke the World by Thomas Friedman.
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