City Schools, A Partnership Between the City and the School Board
City Schools is an approach that reflects the concept of city governments having responsibility for the education of their children and adults. In many communities, this responsibility is given to the school board and deemed no longer the responsibility of the city. This is both wrong and short-sighted. The city is the best party to insist upon a productive, structured and sustainable partnership between the city, the independent school board and the business community. Cities can anticipate the demographic flows as its population grows and moves around the region. Cities can support independent school systems with infrastructure, programming, co-located facilities and an insistence on excellence. Educational excellence is essential for progressive economic development and the enhancement of social capital; cities cannot pass the buck to another agency.
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The Worst Streets In North America
The Worst Streets in North America provides examples of really bad streets along with the criteria used for the determination. The analysis provides an object lesson for small cities and owns trying to preserve, enhance or create character in their towns.
Criteria
- Right of way width
- Signage
- Large parking lots
- No greenery and sidewalks
- Intersections with traffic lights
Detroit, An American Autopsy.
Character towns, even small cities, can learn from Detroit. Detroit, An American Autopsy [2013] by Charlie LeDuff’s requires you to have an opinion about his city and its reason for continuing to be. Mr. LeDuff’s work reveals a heartbreaking story of his city. It was once the best place in America to live and raise a family. His work is wrenching, basic and fascinating. The revival of the city in recent years heartens one to believe that resurrection. It is possible even though many lives, businesses and dreams have been permanently dashed.
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High Performance Development Corridors
High Performance Development Corridors are the result of transforming the all too common blighted commercial strips into productive multi-use economic zones. May of these blighted commercial strips are the entry into town and create the first impression on visitors and a lasting impression on shoppers and commuters using these corridors. A commercial strip can become a high performance economic zone for the city with a little attention to aesthetics, access and overall site maintenance. A high performance development corridor can create jobs and family incomes for residents and taxes and fees for the city. These corridors are not too big to fix; they are too valuable to continue neglecting. The redevelopment tools and approaches traditionally applied to distressed downtowns can be successfully applied to corridors. The organization of stakeholders, visioning, physical planning and long-range comprehensive financial planning are the keys to success, just like they are downtown.
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The 10 High-Tech Cities You’ll Want to Call Home
10 high-tech cities you’ll want to call home presents the list of cities and the criteria used for selection. The criteria is useful when planning a character town.
RANKING CRITERIA
- Income growth
- Income distribution
- Employment
- Population growth forecast
- Community involvement
- Health care
- Natural amenities
- Crime rate
- Pollution
- Educational attainment
- Cultural assets
Who Says Elephants Can’t Fly? Inside IBM’s Historic Turnaround.
Smart machines and cities are one outcome from the rejuvenated IBM. Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance [2002] by Louis V. Gerstner Jr. explains the re-direction of IBM and the evolution of computers from systems that store and retrieve known information to systems that “think” by reviewing the data and reaching conclusions that answer questions with unknown answers. Smart cities using big data have their genesis at IBM. Smart Machines, also by IBMers, extends this idea to cognitive machines, sensors and their role in city planning and urban design.
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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 center and office campuses foster economic development, creativity and progress.
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How Paris Became Paris; The Invention of the Modern City.
City planning has been a practiced art for centuries. How Paris Became Paris [2014] by Joan DeJean presents a fascinating story of transformation; a story so detailed and engaging that the workings of the invention process can be readily seen. The reigns of Henry IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV from 1589 to 1715 combined for a century and a quarter of consistent thought focused on creating a great city. Their work still shines and Ms. DeJean provides a beautifully written description of the times and the process.
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The Art of the Long View; Planning for the Future in an Uncertain World
The Art of the Long View is all about scenario planning. The Art of the Long View by Peter Schwartz is a book that benefits every futurist, including city planners and economic development directors faced with the problems of city growth or decline that is uncertain. The subtitle, “Planning for the Future in an Uncertain World” describes the value added by his description of scenario planning. Scenario planning offers a great tool for looking at the many different paths the city might take in the future with a monitoring and evaluation process that helps determine the most likely outcome based on a specific set of facts. This process is very helpful as one tool for forecasting the futurity of current events.
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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 settings that facilitate conversations and gathers; places such as cafe’s, restaurants, libraries, post offices, plazas and parks. People seem to enjoy life in certain small town downtowns and special places within bigger cities. Main street is the place where society, commerce and tourism meet and flourish. The features of the main street and the sidewalks, the mix of uses, the respect for historic and natural resources and the pedestrian connections of the public buildings, libraries, museums and theaters combine to create a setting that is attractive to existing and future residents, visitors and businesses. Apartments and walk-to neighborhoods add a spontaneity to the downtown customer experience. A hotel on or near main street is a threshold use that puts main street in a stronger position to accommodate the business community and transition visitors from day-trippers to week-enders.
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The Birth of City Planning in the United States,1840 – 1917.
The Birth of City Planning [2003] by Jon A. Peterson is an interesting take on the American planning profession. He recounts its history from 1840 to 1917 and laments its transformation from city planning to urban planning. The subsuming of cities and counties by regional metropolitan areas that are highly urban is undeniable; however, as a practitioner, who is the urban client? Whether a public employee or consultant, the question remains – who is the decision-maker in the urban setting? The governance issue is well known, but the importance of jurisdictional planning, especially for cities, cannot be neglected. Cities are the ones that get things done; city planning is the vital skill.
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APA Great Places in America
APA’s Great Places in America offers a strong foundation for planning any small city or town. City planning can benefit greatly from the APA’s analysis of the factors that make great places. American Planning Association’s flagship program, Great Places in America, celebrates places of exemplary character, quality, and planning. The qualities used to selected great places is directly transferable to small city and town planners and economic development directors. By understanding the qualities valued in “great places” small cities and towns can decide whether or not to seek the development or enhancement of these qualities.
Places are selected annually and represent the gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement, and a vision for tomorrow.
APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live. They are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. They are places where people want to be — not only to visit, but to live and work every day. America’s truly great streets, neighborhoods and public spaces are defined by many criteria, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement.
Visit http://www.planning.org/greatplaces/
For the 2013 Great Places in America Slideshow
List of the Great Places in America by state
Criteria
APA’s Great Places:
- exemplary character, quality, and planning.
- a true sense of place,
- cultural and historical interest,
- community involvement, and
- a vision for tomorrow.
APA’s truly great streets, neighborhoods and public spaces:
- architectural features,
- accessibility,
- functionality and
- community involvement.