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.
Streets frame the town; the “main drag” establishes its character
Vision. Cities are defined in part by their roadways. Most small cities and towns have a framework of four to […]
Study suggests trees are crucial to the future of our cities
EXCERPTS… “The shade of a single tree can provide welcome relief from the hot summer sun. But when that single […]
Summary of Universal Professional Planner Skills.
Every profession has an approach for preparing its in-coming professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary for success. The process […]
SUPERIOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Towns are Teachers
The Vision of the “City’s Schools”. Schools define a town. Smart kids are the hallmark of a character town. Grass […]
Survey – Encore Careers
Lisa Dilts, founder of Compspring, in conjunction with Diane Trees, Ed.D., Associate Vice President and Director, Metropolitan Center for Regional Studies at the University of […]
Sustainability Considerations for Neighborhoods.
RECOGNIZE CONTEMPORARY CONDITIONS. Twenty-first century American society is starting from a dynamic base of societal norms. Human rights, geopolitics, technology […]
Sustainable Urbanism
The confluence of sustainabilty and urbanism offers a rich framework for planning, designing, building and managing small cities and towns. […]
Sustainable Urbanism…Social
CharacterTowns.org is devoted to the ideas and ideals of sustainable urbanism and especially the social sphere of the system. Robert […]
Sustainable Urbanism…Sociology and the Social Sphere of Sustainability.
CharacterTowns.org is devoted to the ideas and ideals of sustainable urbanism and especially the social sphere of the sustainability system. […]
Sustaining Affordable Housing and Neighborhoods.
THE PROMISE OF A DECENT, SAFE AND SANITARY HOME. Housing the Nation’s people in a decent, safe and sanitary home […]
Sustaining Affordable Housing and Neighborhoods.
THE PROMISE OF A DECENT, SAFE AND SANITARY HOME. Housing the Nation’s people in a decent, safe and sanitary home […]
Sustaining Character Neighborhoods.
VISION: NEIGHBORHOOD SUSTAINABILITY. A sustainable neighborhood has its physical, economic and social spheres of activity in balance. The neighborhood’s natural […]
Sustaining Safe Neighborhoods.
THE RANGE OF SAFETY ISSUES. Small cities and towns have experience employing their police, fire and rescue teams to protect […]
Sustaining the Economic Value of Neighborhoods.
INTRODUCTION. Property values are one proxy for the overall quality of a neighborhood. Residents enjoy property value appreciation, excepting of […]
Sustaining the Neighborhood Sociable.
NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIABILITY AND CIVILITY. Intent and purpose are the key factors in establishing the lifestyle of a neighborhood. People must […]
Systematize Everything
Downtown is a System of Systems. Main street businesses and districts have marketing systems, infrastructure systems, regulatory systems and organizational […]
Systems Thinking; The City is a System of Systems.
Systems Thinking is a learned skill. Systems thinking and creative thinking are the yin and yang of thoughtfulness; apparently conflicting […]
Systems Thinking.
THE CITY IS A SYSTEM OF SYSTEMS PURPOSE: This is not a tutorial on “systems analysis”; it is notification that […]
Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad
If you want to see an extensive and well-presented to-do list, check out President Biden’s Executive Order from January 27, […]
Tactical, High-Impact Improvements for Small Town Main Street
from Opticos Design “Not all planning projects are costly or take years to complete and/or implement. Small, tactical moves can […]