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.
Bloomberg Carbon Clock January 2021
The monthly values reflect the cyclical or seasonal changes in an inexorably upward secular trend. Check out the graph of long-term trends on the webpage cited below. FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail
Books, Cars, Coffee and Ice Cream: The Basics.
WHY GO DOWNTOWN? Bikes, books, coffee and cars are enough; but add in shops, restaurants, diners, an occasional sports bar, a bakery and shops with ice cream,chocolate, popcorn and fudge…enough. Farmers’ markets, grocery stores, museums,libraries, post offices and art galleries add to the enjoyment of being downtown. [embeddoc url=”https://www.charactertowns.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Books-cafes.pdf” width=”100%” download=”all” viewer=”google”] FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail
Boston Public Library Considers Adding Apartments To 4 Library Branches
From WGBH News… Ms Saraya Wintersmith’s article from 2019 follows; it describes a citywide idea for adding other compatible uses to existing libraries. As cited above, the City is making progress with this mixed-use approach. The usefulness of this idea for small cities and towns is to analyze their existing facilities – libraries, museums, community […]
A Broadband Plan for Small Cities and Towns
A Broadband Plan for Small Cities and Towns by Mr. Levin presents his ideas on the essential requirement for all cities to have a plan for providing broadband internet service to residents and businesses. Access to global systems connects every small city and town to the world’s financial institutions, commercial markets and entertainment activities. Entrepreneurs and […]
Business Planning for a Professional Planning Consultancy
Planners planning for themselves is an anomaly; however, planning is helpful for the success of a professional planning practice. A review of the literature provides some generic approaches to business planning for service firms. Lists of content, like the one boxed, are instructive and the topics identified need to be addressed in whatever fashion. [embeddoc […]
Campus Master Planning; Processes, Composition and Design Principles
Campus Master Planning relies on a holistic, integrated approach to connecting different but complementary land uses, buildings and activities to create a cohesive center for creativity; a multi-faceted place where the combined intellectual energy exceeds the achievements of the isolated genius. Educational institutions thrive on campuses from high school to college to university. Industrial, medical […]
Can Removing Highways Fix America’s Cities?
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Built in the 1950s to speed suburban commuters to and from downtown, Rochester’s Inner Loop destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses, replacing them with a broad, concrete trench that separated downtown from the rest of the city. Now, the city is looking to repair the damage. It started by filling in a […]
Capturing the next economy: Pittsburgh’s rise as a global innovation city
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Case Study: From a traffic stop to a new car seat, KCPD social services program showing success.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In December 2016, the Kansas City Police Department launched a pilot program to embed a social worker with a group of officers. Today, that program is a fixture of the department, with social workers housed in each of the city’s six division stations. In November 2018, one of those social workers, Tori Cawman, […]
CC Drilling for Oil in Gulf of Mexico
With deadline looming, environmental groups push Florida to oppose expanding Gulf drilling To win support from West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin for its climate-fighting Inflation Reduction Act earlier this year, the White House included a perk for the oil and gas industry: expanded new drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico. Now environmental groups in […]
Centennial International Exhibition of 1876.
The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official World’s Fair to be held in the United States, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Officially named the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products […]
Centering Neighborhood Priorities For Economic Inclusion: Early Outcomes From Five Cities
One year ago, Brookings and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) released a playbook for a new approach to advancing economic inclusion—one that centers disinvested neighborhoods as the locus for achieving inclusive regional economic recovery and growth. Inherently place-based and community-led in nature, this approach—“community-centered economic inclusion”—has been tested by the shock of the COVID-19 […]
Character Towns in Central Florida: A Ten-Town Review
Ten “character towns” in Central Florida were selected for continuing study. . This article presents the idea of the downtowns and main activity streets in “character towns”. Subsequent studies will examine other character town traits. The summary of attributes can be used to preserve and enhance existing character downtowns and to design new ones. [embeddoc […]
Character Main Streets
Character main streets are the essence of a small city or town. The city’s leaders, private, public and institutional, are positioned to develop main street as the social and economic center of the city. Downtown is where residents, business people and visitors come together for commerce, entertainment, education and social engagements, formal and informal. Relentless […]
Small City Main Street’s Potential.
Character towns have small city and town main streets that leverage vision-driven assets for societal benefits. Think of your children’s children in a small city on main street in 2050. Why will they be there? What will they do? Will they have fun? Extending today’s trends, they will not be there,partly because there is nothing […]
Character Means Caring.
Character is Compassionate. An important feature of a character town is its compassion; its interest in taking care of its people: vagrants, homeless, gangs, immigrants and families needing short-term assistance. Towns with character take the time to make sure all of its citizens have proper shelter, nutrition, health care and education. Towns with character devote […]
Character Towns: Downtown Assets: The “Character Towns” of Central Florida…Report #5 of the Analytical Series
Character town assets form the social and economic capital foundation for city life, its civility and sociability. The assets are city halls, museums, galleries, libraries, post offices and theaters. These assets provide the places where people come together to enjoy the benefits of the character small cities and towns. [embeddoc url=”https://www.charactertowns.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Article-Downtown-Assets-5.pdf” width=”100%” download=”all” viewer=”google”] FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail
Character Town Main Streets: The “Character Towns” of Central Florida…#3 of the Analytical Series
Character town main streets are the focal point for city life. Main street is where commercial business people, visitors and residents all come together to patronize the restaurants, shops and offices that form the social and economic foundation of the city. “https://www.charactertowns.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Article-Series-3-Character-Downtowns-8.29.16.pdf” width=”100%” download=”all” viewer=”google”] FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail
Character Town Neighborhoods: The “Character Towns” of Central Florida…#6 of the Analytical Series
Character Town Neighborhoods; The “Character Towns” of Central Florida…#6 of the Analytical Series presents goals and checklists for planning and developing great neighborhoods. The primary function of every city is to make residents safe and security in their homes and neighborhoods. Neighborhood planning and design is a primary function of every small city and town. […]
Character Town Organizations
The Primary Vehicles for Civic Sociability and Community Collaboration. Organizations Drive Civility and Sociability. The organizations in a town reflect how people relate to one another. Committees, boards, service clubs and charitable groups are forums for communication, comradery and collective actions designed to achieve community goals. The focus of the organizations also reflects the values […]