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.
TravelCenters of America to Add Hydrogen Fueling Sites for Big Rigs
From the Wall Street Journal “Truck-stop operator TravelCenters of America Inc. is stepping up its alternative-energy game as tougher regulations […]
Trees and Tree Canopies
OBJECTIVE. Every community in America is concerned about increasing its tree canopy for its aesthetic, environmental and real estate value. […]
U.S. renewable electricity surpassed coal in 2022
Wind turbines stand in fields near Palm Springs, Calif, March 22, 2023. Electricity generated from renewables surpassed coal in the […]
Uber Turns to Autonomous Vehicle Startup Nuro for Eats Deliveries
Uber will use Nuro autonomous delivery vehicles to shuttle meals and other goods to its Eats customers as part of […]
Underserved communities could miss out on access to electric vehicles.
“To meet climate goals, many states and utilities are investing in electric vehicle chargers. But only a few are working […]
Urban Designer, Jan Gehl
Jan Gehl is a practicing Urban Design Consultant and Professor of Urban Design at the School of Architecture in Copenhagen, […]
Urban experimentation and institutional arrangements.
FROM CHARACTERTOWNS.ORG… This work may be a bit too academic for direct application to the issues facing small cities and […]
Urban Forest Master Plan
Excerpts from Published Works… The City of Tallahassee completed an Urban Forest Master Plan in 2018. The plan is a […]
Urban Infrastructure. A Holistic System of Smart, Green Facilities.
THE IDEA OF INFRASTRUCTURE. Character towns have strong, well-funded infrastructure systems. Potable water supply, wastewater disposal, solid waste collection and […]
Urban Open Space
Leverage the Open Space System to Unify the City and Save the Environment. THE IDEA OF AN “URBAN OPEN SPACE” […]
Urban Open Space: Leverage the Open Space System to Unify the City
THE IDEA OF “URBAN OPEN SPACE” SYSTEMS. Character towns have extensive areas and lands devoted to parks and open spaces. […]
URBAN PARKS: Programming Areas and Facilities.
The Vision of an urban park. Urban parks are places of significant size and location that offer respite to city […]
Urban Street Design Guide
Sidewalks play a vital role in city life. As conduits for pedestrian movement and access, they enhance connectivity and promote […]
Urban tissue and the character of towns
From Semantic Scholar This paper is concerned with the question of identifying and describing the general and historical character of […]
Urban tissue and the character of towns
CharacterTowns.org is always looking for definitive ways to describe and define community character and its inherent systems. “Urban Tissue” is […]
US firm agrees to sell 24 mini nuclear reactors to UK customers
CT.org has long supported the use of Small Modular [Nuclear] Reactors, SMRs, as supplements to primary energy systems based on […]
US Partnership on Mobility from Poverty
SUMMARY. Every family should be able to live in a neighborhood that supports well-being and boosts children’s chances to thrive […]
Vanishing yet vital: Western U.S. butterflies in decline
When the Edith’s checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha) reaches its next flower, a few of the tiny flecks of pollen stuck […]
Vibrant Downtowns; Dynamic and Multi-‐Faceted Centers for Social and Commercial Engagement
Vibrant downtowns define character towns. People seem to enjoy life in certain small town downtowns and special places with bigger […]
Vibrant Downtowns; Dynamic Multi-‐Faceted Centers for Social and Commercial Engagement
Vibrant Downtowns are essential features of character towns. They are the dynamic setting for social and economic discourse with physical […]