A recent analysis of census data shows that the number of young families in large urban metros is in a free fall, with the under-age-5 population falling by 15% in Cook County since 2020, according to the Economic Innovation Group.
There Is No Need to Wait for a Traffic Safety Moonshot
The term “moonshot” refers to that great American accomplishment of being the first country to land a human on the moon.
The term “moonshot” refers to that great American accomplishment of being the first country to land a human on the moon.
A Focus on Helmets Clouds Our Vision of What Makes Kids Safe
I wanted to highlight this new route here as an example of what works (and what doesn’t) with street design in our town.
I wanted to highlight this new route here as an example of what works (and what doesn’t) with street design in our town.
6 Tips for Creating Friendly Storefronts That Draw People In
We refer to the following as our "6 Windows into Friendly Storefronts," a guide that is taken from our Friendly Storefronts toolkit in our Placemaking Library.
We refer to the following as our “6 Windows into Friendly Storefronts,” a guide that is taken from our Friendly Storefronts toolkit in our Placemaking Library.
The 30-Year Mortgage Was Bad. The 40-Year Mortgage Will Be Even Worse.
Holding the monthly payment steady and lowering interest rates merely allows all market competitors to pay more for the same house.
Holding the monthly payment steady and lowering interest rates merely allows all market competitors to pay more for the same house.
About That ’30 Americans Buying Coffee’ Meme
In my career as a travel journalist, I spent plenty of time exploring popular destinations and attractions. But many of my best moments have come from slowing down to the pace of the place I’m visiting and taking it all in.
In my career as a travel journalist, I spent plenty of time exploring popular destinations and attractions. But many of my best moments have come from slowing down to the pace of the place I’m visiting and taking it all in.
19 Things You Can Do With a Roofless Building or an Empty Lot
The standard answer for small-town governments has been to make a pocket park: They add a little green space, a bench or two, and that’s about it.
The standard answer for small-town governments has been to make a pocket park: They add a little green space, a bench or two, and that’s about it.
The City as a Classroom
As any parent knows, the first year is a mixed bag: It’s exciting to watch a little baby grow up, but it’s also a bit sad to watch the baby fade away and the toddler take its place.
As any parent knows, the first year is a mixed bag: It’s exciting to watch a little baby grow up, but it’s also a bit sad to watch the baby fade away and the toddler take its place.
The Reign of the Yellow School Bus Is Over
Children are left in limbo for upwards of 30 minutes as they wait for their guardians to pull up, parents are stuck fuming in traffic, and teachers are made to deal with the emotional fallout.
Children are left in limbo for upwards of 30 minutes as they wait for their guardians to pull up, parents are stuck fuming in traffic, and teachers are made to deal with the emotional fallout.
Cities Should Handle Car Crashes Like They Handle Frat Houses
Time and time again, I hear people saying that streets would be safer if only the police increased enforcement.
Time and time again, I hear people saying that streets would be safer if only the police increased enforcement.
Small Homes on Small Lots: How to Beat the Housing Crisis
While relatively limited in scope, these features were almost immediately incorporated into urban development plans, creating microcommunities, more viable opportunities for citizen-built housing and, remarkably, the reconstruction of a starter-home market that had effectively collapsed.
While relatively limited in scope, these features were almost immediately incorporated into urban development plans, creating microcommunities, more viable opportunities for citizen-built housing and, remarkably, the reconstruction of a starter-home market that had effectively collapsed.
We Can’t Leave Street Safety to Traffic Engineers
When someone dies in a car crash, it is very human to want to assign blame, to bring some order to the randomness of the tragedy.
When someone dies in a car crash, it is very human to want to assign blame, to bring some order to the randomness of the tragedy.
How to Make a Street Safer Before the Kids Go back to School
For the past three years, my son attended a school in the heart of our neighborhood's little downtown. This school is a piece of local history, having been built in 1929 as one of the first public schools in the community.
For the past three years, my son attended a school in the heart of our neighborhood’s little downtown. This school is a piece of local history, having been built in 1929 as one of the first public schools in the community.
Can Your Car Be a Third Place?
At the unveiling of its own show car, Bosch predicted that, soon enough, cars will be regarded as the “third living space.”
At the unveiling of its own show car, Bosch predicted that, soon enough, cars will be regarded as the “third living space.”
Hurricane Debby Reveals Hazards of the Suburban Development Pattern
While the map helpfully illustrates which areas may be vulnerable to river flooding, it reveals so much more.
While the map helpfully illustrates which areas may be vulnerable to river flooding, it reveals so much more.
No One Left Behind: Nondrivers Are Facing the Housing Crisis Too
The weak beam of my bike headlight was no match for the darkness of the unlit highway. I could usually see the white stripe delineating the shoulder from the rest of the road, but my eyes couldn’t distinguish the dark silhouettes of road kill from the dark of the asphalt.
The weak beam of my bike headlight was no match for the darkness of the unlit highway. I could usually see the white stripe delineating the shoulder from the rest of the road, but my eyes couldn’t distinguish the dark silhouettes of road kill from the dark of the asphalt.