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.
Pedestrian Crossings; be all in.
Pedestrian safety is rising in the conscience of everyone. More people are walking in and biking in urban areas and […]
Performance Management; The System for Learning and Innovation Organizations
Performance Management measures activities of the town government with the intent of improving performance; the best systems are not punitive, […]
Personal Rapid Transit
REMEMBER MORGANTOWN AND THE WVU PRT SYSTEM. The Phase I system began operations in 1975, with a final cost […]
Pittsburgh’s climate-friendly plan for condemned homes
To build a house, you need materials such as bricks, tiles, and shingles. But making those materials uses a lot […]
Placemaking
Places make projects more valuable. In one sense, it’s the old – location, location, location. But then, one has to […]
Placemaking Using “Special” Districts, e.g., Fort Worth.
Theory of Private-Public Placemaking. Individual development projects prosper when located in an area with a mix of other developments that […]
Planning Affordable Housing and Neighborhood.
THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME-EXPENSE SQUEEZE. The affordability of housing in America at the start of the 21st century is an issue […]
Planning as a Useful Activity: Planning is Preparing to Solve Known Problems, Being Ready for Unanticipated Events and Taking Advantage of Opportunities.
A “PLUG” FOR PLANNING. Amazingly, not everyone believes planning is a useful activity. There are the old “communism” cries that […]
Planning Census-designated Places.
Planning Unincorporated City-like Places like Cities. Many counties in the United States have areas of urban or suburban development with […]
Planning School Grounds for Outdoor Learning
NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES. Neighborhoods schools offer the opportunity to explore new approaches for teaching students, especially young students. The PTA, […]
Pocket Neighborhoods
CT.org is exploring ways to provide affordable housing with minimum compromises on the quality of the structure and the quality […]
Poundbury Reconsidered and Prince Charles’ Ten Urban Design Principles.
How things change: just as the Prince’s ideas on organic food and the environment have gone mainstream (homeopathy less so), […]
PRE-PONCE FLORIDA, Big Ice, Crashing Plates and Dangerous Crossings.
CONTEXT FOR CURRENT CONDITIONS. The Earth has been around for a while. The current catastrophes of climate change, environmental degradation […]
Preface for a Comprehensive Energy System
Conservation of Energy. Society’s first obligation is to not squander resources, especially the “free” resources provided by nature; and to […]
Preface for a Comprehensive Energy System Plan
Conservation of Energy. Society’s first obigation is to not squander resources, especially the “free” resources provided by nature; and to […]
Principles of Neighborhood Socialization and Civility.
CHARACTER NEIGHBORHOODS CARE ABOUT EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SAFETY. Society is based on the presumption that we will all abide by […]
Principles of Neighborhood Socialization and Civility.
CHARACTER NEIGHBORHOODS CARE ABOUT EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SAFETY. Society is based on the presumption that we will all abide by […]
Person to know about…Doug Farr
CT.org…Mr. Farr’s synthesis of sustainability and urbanism gives every city and town a path for remaining or becoming a successful […]
Project Management
Project management is a learned skill. The Project Manager can be a consultant or a staff member in a private […]
Project Management, A Learned Skill
Project Management, A Learned Skill provides a flow chart for a typical project with steps along the way to guide […]