Public Square: A CNU Journal

11/21/2024

How roundabouts transformed Carmel: The fast-growing Indianapolis suburb had the gumption to reform its suburban street network—a rare achievement that should get more attention.

The fast-growing Indianapolis suburb had the gumption to reform its suburban street network—a rare achievement that should get more attention.

11/20/2024

Stacked duplex is cute and cost-effective:
A ‘missing middle’ design creatively maximizes space to provide an affordable workforce option in Beaufort and beyond.

A ‘missing middle’ design creatively maximizes space to provide an affordable workforce option in Beaufort and beyond.

11/19/2024

Multiunit courtyard housing fits the historic context:
A small site project offers density and new housing options for Hyannis, Massachusetts, with design that improves an old streetscape.

A small site project offers density and new housing options for Hyannis, Massachusetts, with design that improves an old streetscape.

11/15/2024

Lessons from a successful suburban center
The Village of Providence shows how you can create a strong place out of nowhere in two decades.

The Village of Providence shows how you can create a strong place out of nowhere in two decades.

11/14/2024

A transit-oriented development between three streetcar suburbs in Prince George’s County, a few miles from DC, demonstrates key elements of mixed-use, good public spaces, and connectivity.

11/13/2024

A development plan in Edmond, Oklahoma, has 10-foot-wide townhouses and a mix of small commercial and residential buildings to create intimate urban spaces on the edge of downtown. Making the most of a small, mixed-use site:

A development plan in Edmond, Oklahoma, has 10-foot-wide townhouses and a mix of small commercial and residential buildings to create intimate urban spaces on the edge of downtown.

11/07/2024

Stockyards reimagined: Adaptive reuse of horse and mule barns in Fort Worth makes for a unique mixed-use development.

Adaptive reuse of horse and mule barns in Fort Worth makes for a unique mixed-use development.

11/05/2024

Complete streets: What went wrong? Law professor Michael Lewyn has written a comprehensive and readable analysis of the complete streets movement, why it has failed to transform America’s streets, and what can be done.

Law professor Michael Lewyn has written a comprehensive and readable analysis of the complete streets movement, why it has failed to transform America’s streets, and what can be done.

11/04/2024

Focusing on transportation affordability: A new report highlights how planners can help households reduce cost of living through policies that boost low-cost modes of mobility.

A new report highlights how planners can help households reduce cost of living through policies that boost low-cost modes of mobility.

10/31/2024

Model cottages for hurricane relief: A village of affordable cottages has just been built in Asheville, and the timing is fortuitous. That region desperately needs emergency housing that could also last and contribute to long-term sustainability.

A village of affordable cottages has just been built in Asheville and the timing is fortuitous. That region desperately needs emergency housing that also could last, contributing to long-term sustainability.

10/31/2024

Responding to disaster with placemaking hubs: New urbanists are working in devastated areas in North Carolina, helping to set up the kernels of community rebuilding.

New urbanists are working in devastated areas in North Carolina, helping to set up the kernels of community rebuilding.

10/30/2024

From expressway to parkway: The plan for the Scajaquada Expressway would help bridge the divide in the central part of Buffalo, New York, bringing back the glories of an Ollmsted-designed greenway.

The plan for the Scajaquada Expressway would help bridge the divide in the central part of Buffalo, New York, bringing back the glories of an Ollmsted-designed greenway.

10/23/2024

Putting historic stables to new use: The Chapman Stables housing in DC shows how sites can evolve radically, while the street-facing facade remains.

The Chapman Stables housing in DC shows how sites can evolve radically, while the street-facing facade remains.

10/22/2024

Cycling Without Age and Walkable USA top 2024 Better Cities films. Viewers can watch Cycling Without Age and other prize-winning urban films online, October 22-30.

Viewers can watch the prize-winning urban films online, October 22-30.

10/22/2024

Creative townhome design in Birmingham:
Townhouses facing courtyards that are perpendicular to the street improve the quality of life for this building type.

Townhouses facing courtyards that are perpendicular to the street improve quality of life for this building type.

10/17/2024

Office space conversion could lead to a virtuous cycle for cities:
Christopher Leinberger and Rebecca Rockey explain the historic opportunity to rebalance the real estate in urban centers.

Christopher Leinberger and Rebecca Rockey explain the historic opportunity to rebalance the real estate in urban centers.

10/16/2024

Arlington missing middle law struck down

Missing middle housing types. Source: Livable Houston Missing middle Arlington missing middle law struck down ROBERT STEUTEVILLE    OCT. 16, 2024 While missing middle housing is often touted as an answer to rising housing prices, a Virginia court struck down a statute in Arlington, V...

10/15/2024

Kalamazoo represents our nationwide housing problem, but the City also has a four-part strategy to create more units that add to neighborhoods and affordability. A model and microcosm for housing solutions:

Kalamazoo represents our nationwide housing problem, but the City also has a four-part strategy to create more units that add to neighborhoods and affordability.