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.
The Neighborhood Safe.
NEIGHBORHOOD PRIMACY. The primary mission of every city, as has been mentioned many times by CharacterTowns.org, is to protect people and households in their homes and neighborhoods. Neighborhood safety is the paramount issue of every city. THE ROLE OF CITIES IN ASSURING SAFETY. Safety is a concern in many aspects of live. “Street crimes” are […]
The Neighborhood Safe.
THE ROLE OF CITIES IN ASSURING SAFETY. Government exists for a reason; the reason becomes clear in a disaster or emergency. The primary reason is to keep citizens safe in their homes, neighborhoods and elsewhere. Since planning is the art and science of anticipating events and taking actions to prevent or mitigate potential dangers, neighborhood […]
The Neighborhood Sociable.
PLANNING AND DESIGNING NEIGHBORHOODS TO CREATE SOCIAL CAPITAL. Complete neighborhoods, the ones with homes, apartments, parks, schools and shops, give us a sense of belonging, a sense of continuity, a sense of ownership, a sense of responsibility for the “the greater good.” A complete, livable neighborhood has a comfortable and equitable balance of the physical, […]
The Neighborhood Sustainability Premise.
NEIGHBORHOOD SUSTAINABILITY. Equity. Neighborhood sustainability is achieved when the economic, social and physical aspects of the neighborhood are in balance and societal equity is achieved. The “middle class” lifestyle best epitomizes the balance envisioned for a sustainable neighborhood. The wealthy exist in proper proportion and the less fortunate have the necessary support systems to make […]
The One Thing All Great Teachers Do
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The Physical Framework
The physical framework of a small city or town immediately establishes the character of the place. Ugly, ill-kept and poorly maintained streets, parks, schools, neighborhoods and downtowns eliminate the possibility that anyone living or visiting the town will regard the place as a place of good character. So, as much as initial investment in private […]
The Post Office
A “Relic” that Keeps on Giving Main Street Post Offices are Alive and Well. United States Post Offices draw people to their downtown locations. They provide an incredible service; for a small amount of money they carry a letter across the country. Post Offices have traditionally been the place where people collected their mail, but not so much today. With email, UPS and […]
The Power of Exhibitions and Fairs.
CELEBRATIONS. The Power of Exhibitions and Fairs is great as promoters of economic development. Cities of all sizes have festivals, book fairs, sporting events and founder’s day parades. The big city “once in a lifetime” events are the most obvious and most memorable: The Columbian Exhibition of 1893, also known as the Chicago World Fair; […]
The Power of Exhibitions and Fairs
to educate, promote economic development and enhance civic pride. SMALL CITIES AND TOWNS HAVE MUCH TO CELEBRATE. Every city and town has something to celebrate: an historic event, the birthday of a famous resident or a reoccurring natural phenomena. If there is not an indigenous celebratory event or person, grab from the regional, state or […]
The Power of Exhibitions and Fairs to educate, promote economic development and enhance civic pride.
CELEBRATIONS. Every city and town has something to celebrate: an historic event, the birthday of a famous resident or a re-occurring natural phenomena. If there is not an indigenous celebratory event or person, grab on from the regional, state or national scene. Find something to celebrate in a public way. State fairs serve this purpose, […]
The Power of Exhibitions and Fairs to educate, promote economic development and enhance civic pride.
CELEBRATIONS. Every city and town has something to celebrate: an historic event, the birthday of a famous resident or a reoccurring natural phenomenon. If there is not an indigenous celebratory event or person, grab one from the regional, state or national scene. Find something to celebrate in a public way. State fairs serve this purpose, […]
The Primacy of Neighborhoods.
NEIGHBORHOODS MATTER. The first responsibility of every city is to protect the homes and neighborhoods of its citizens. Neighborhood preservation, protection and enhancement are critical activities for every city to be a prosperous and pleasant place to live. The first step in city planning is to embrace the primacy of neighborhood; to fully commit to […]
THE PROJECT STARTS IN 2017… Boynton to start construction on Town Square in coming months
Boynton Beach residents should prepare to see some major construction south of Ocean Avenue as the city starts building Town Square in the coming months. The city is poised to begin building public portions of the project, such as the new police station, city hall and library, in March and April. If all goes according […]
The Public Library: The City’s Economic Incubator
HISTORICAL ROLE OF LIBRARIES. Libraries have always served as repositories for a wide range of knowledge. From the Greeks of Socrates and Egyptians with their Royal [Ancient] Library of Alexandria come two central ideas: knowledge is worth collecting and retaining; and knowledge is unbound as to subject or discipline. The concept of libraries has a […]
The Public Library: The City’s Economic Incubator.
HISTORICAL ROLE OF LIBRARIES. Libraries have always served as repositories for a wide range of knowledge. From the Greeks of Socrates and Egyptians with their Royal [Ancient] Library of Alexandria come two central ideas: knowledge is worth collecting and retaining; and knowledge is unbound as to subject or discipline. The concept of libraries has a […]
The Race for Oil
“Trump Administration Moves Closer To Allowing Oil Drilling In Arctic Refuge” The Trump administration is pushing ahead with plans to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The first leases to drill for oil and gas in the area could be sold by the end of 2020, Interior Department Secretary David Bernhardt said as […]
The Race to Code the Curb
Everyone—from ride-hailing cars to delivery trucks to bikes and scooters—wants a piece of the curb. How can smart cities map and manage this precious resource? The curb is hot. No longer just a home for parked cars and cigarette butts, this is where the action is in the 21st century city. It’s where electric scooters […]
The Renewable-Energy Revolution Will Need Renewable Storage
CT.orgfinds this idea fascinating; maybe not new to you, but to me it is revolutionary. Think about what Einstein told us…mass is energy, potential energy. The trick is to turn potential energy into kinetic energy that can work for us. To Maximize Renewable energy we’ll need a new technology: renewable storage. FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail
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 […]
The San Antonio Riverwalk
The downtown loop of the famed San Antonio Riverwalk, or Paseo del Rio, is a 2 1/2 mile stretch of beautifully landscaped waterfront that features many of San Antonio’s most spectacular hotels, restaurants, night clubs, bars, shopping centers and businesses. It is one of the most dynamic tourist attractions in the entire state of Texas, […]