Kirk Westphal presents a 20-minute YouTube video on what makes downtown Ann Arbor, MI so successful. There are good insights for those who’d like to extend the feel of downtown Northampton northward up King Street. See also: Videos: Zoning for King Street, 9/29/10; Sussman, Horton, Budgar Videos: Zoning for King Street, 9/21/10 Joel Russell Comments on King Street […]
Infill
Videos: Zoning for King Street, 9/29/10; Sussman, Horton, Budgar
Here is a complete blip.tv video of Zoning for King Street, a public forum hosted at the Jackson Street School on 9/29/10 by Northampton’s Zoning Revisions Committee. This video is 1 hour 59 minutes long (there is a short gap of a few seconds towards the end due to camera changeover). This was the second of two […]
Hazards of Mixed Use: Residents Clash with Noisy Bars and Restaurants
The 9/24/10 New York Times reports on a knotty problem that can come with mixed-use zoning. Many residents want peace and quiet. Bars and restaurants want to use their outdoor spaces for patrons. Fight Gets Louder Between Bars and Neighbors as Heat Subsides …As New Yorkers turn off air-conditioners and fling open windows to the […]
Joel Russell Explains Resignation from Zoning Revisions Committee; Comments on King Street Rezoning
Joel Russell explains his recent resignation from the Zoning Revisions Committee. Download PDFs of his letter to the Planning Board and his comments on the Chamber of Commerce recommendations on the King Street zoning. September 22, 2010 To the Planning Board, Mayor, City Council, Office of Planning and Development, and Zoning Revisions Committee: I am attaching […]
Videos: Zoning for King Street, 9/21/10
Here is a complete blip.tv video of Zoning for King Street, a public forum hosted at the Bluebonnet Diner on 9/21/10 by Northampton’s Zoning Revisions Committee. This video is 2 hours 2 minutes long. The first hour is a presentation of proposed zoning changes (PDF, 2MB), including those suggested by the Chamber of Commerce (PDF, 1.3MB). The […]
September 23: Second Forum on Northampton Open Space, Recreation & Multi-Use Trail Plan
Northampton’s Office of Planning and Development announces today: The second public forum on the draft Northampton Open Space, Recreation, & Multi-Use Trail Plan: 2011-2017 will be held this coming Thursday, September 23rd, at 7:00 PM in the basement of the Unitarian Church next to City Hall. The first public forum was held on Tuesday [see video]. […]
Video: Wayne Feiden Presents Draft 2011-2017 Open Space, Recreation & Multi-Use Trail Plan
Wayne Feiden, Director of Northampton’s Office of Planning and Development, presented highlights from a draft of the 2011-2017 Open Space, Recreation & Multi-Use Trail Plan (PDF, 237 pages, 5MB) to the public at Northampton High School’s Little Theater last night. Here is a complete blip.tv video of the presentation and discussion (1 hour 20 minutes). The recording was […]
Brookhaven, NY: Infill Design Guidelines in Two Pages
Brookhaven, NY is working hard to make its infill design guidelines accessible to developers, regulators, and the public, writes New Urban Network. As a companion to Brookhaven’s 43-page Design Guidelines for Lake Ronkonkoma (PDF), people may also access a two-page summary (PDF). Like many towns on Long Island, [Brookhaven] has old main street districts that are […]
September 21 & 29: Public Forums on Zoning for King Street
Ward 3 City Councilor Angela Plassmann announces at her website today: The Chamber of Commerce has proposed a group of zoning changes to help revitalize King Street (PDF). Some of these changes would authorize more uses without a Special Permit, including hotels. Other changes would reduce the setbacks between commercial areas and residential neighborhoods. Your input is […]
Joel Kotkin: “Urban Legends: Why suburbs, not cities, are the answer”
This week in Foreign Policy, Joel Kotkin challenges the notion that bigger is always better when it comes to cities. Urban Legends The human world is fast becoming an urban world — and according to many, the faster that happens and the bigger the cities get, the better off we all will be. The old […]