💡 Fresh stories: The Lifeblood of Revitalization & 12 more
February 21, 2024 Edition
Proudly curated by Konveio
In this week’s newsletter, you’ll uncover new insights on how we can improve our zoning so we can create better plans, how community involvement helps us more accurately represent the residents, and learn how one city is focusing on its economic development.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with recommendations, we’re always looking for your input!
Lauren Sibley
EngagingCities Editor
Featured Story
The Lifeblood of Revitalization
Engaging the community in the planning and decision-making process is a cornerstone for creating truly diverse and inclusive urban areas. When local residents are invited to contribute their views, experiences, and insights, it leads to more nuanced and considerate planning decisions. These aspects, when thoughtfully integrated into urban planning processes, work in concert to make cities not only more diverse but also more vibrant, cohesive, and representative of the people who call them home.
— Shared by Monika Palani
Amplifying Progress
EngagingCities shares stories by our network of community builders that collaboratively plan for a brighter, cleaner, and more equitable tomorrow.
Featured stories from the last two weeks:
🔥 Hot Takes
🎤 Improved Zoning
These conventional methods strictly regulate land use by segregating different activities into distinct zones and imposing rigid standards on various aspects like building height, density, and parking. Zoning is a changeable, human-made tool, and we need to rethink this "zoning DNA" to enable more flexible, creative housing options that make communities more livable, sustainable, and equitable. To achieve this we must adopt a more flexible type of zoning that prioritizes the physical form and character of buildings and public spaces over their specific uses.
— Shared by Mike Hathorne
🎤 The Future of Urban Streets - Finally Prioritizing Safety and Accessibility Over Speed.
— Shared by Solomon Haile
🎤 Walkable Communities - The Future of American Lifestyle Revealed in New National Survey.
— Shared by John Paulus
🎤 Unlocking the Secrets of Strong Neighborhoods - Co-Creating Spaces for Sustainable Growth.
— Shared by Kristin Leiber
📝 Insights
💡 The Importance of Community Involvement
Involving the community in creating equitable, sustainable infrastructure, is incredibly important, as America stands on the cusp of significant infrastructure development. We need to reimagine the approach to infrastructure in order to make urban landscapes more inclusive and sustainable. Urban planners and public sector workers have both a community and fiduciary responsibility to lead the way toward a more equitable and climate-resilient future.
— Shared by Joseph Strafaci
💡 Unlock the Power of Caring - Transforming our world with sustainable urban planning and development.
— Shared by Preeti Sodhi
💡 Cracked Sidewalks - The challenges for the elderly of navigating an imperfect urban world.
— Shared by Jonathan Howard
💡 Breaking the Balance - Unveiling the Unanswered Questions and Failures of City Planning and Zoning Laws.
— Shared by Walter Hosack
🥳 Success Stories
✅ Finding the Potential
Hopewell aims to attract businesses by compellingly narrating its diverse cultural and historical story and promoting its natural and infrastructural assets. They also emphasize adaptability in light of the pandemic's impact on consumer and employment trends. Looking to the future, Hopewell is keen on fostering growth in emerging sectors and leveraging the city's strong chemical manufacturing base.
— Shared by Heather Lyne
✅ From Ruins to Revival - NYC's Piers and Waterfronts Transformed into Captivating Public Spaces.
— Shared by Paul (PJ) Rieckhoff
✅ Denver's Bold Plan - Transforming Downtown Office Buildings into Smart Homes for the Future.
— Shared by Ken Wilkinson
✅ From Luxury to Necessity - St. Louis Takes Bold Steps to Address Homelessness Crisis.
— Shared by David Charles
🗓 Upcoming Events Mark your calendars
Webinar: 10/16 - 20 The Future of Sustainable Urban Development - Shared by Alby Bocanegra
💼 Featured Jobs Check them out
Project Manager with Brizaga, posted 9/5/23 Fort Lauderdale, FL
Public Relations and Marketing Manager with Fairfax City Economic Department, posted 8/31/23 Fairfax, VA
Junior Public Involvement Coordinator with David Evans and Associates, posted 9/3/23 Salt Lake City, UT
Placemaking Studio Manager with Sanderson Stewart, posted 9/3/23 Bozeman, MT
Design Planner with City of Lowell, posted 9/5/23 Lowell, MA
Consultant with Fourth Economy, posted 9/1/23 Pittsburgh, PA
Assistant City Manager with City of Virginia Beach, posted 9/5/23, Virginia Beach, VA
Associate Director, Programs & Operations with Truble&co. posted 9/10/23 Bay Area, US
Staff City Planner with City and County of Denver, posted 9/8/23 Denver, CO
Senior PR Specialist, Buildings with Stantec's Urban Places, posted 9/9/23 Toronto, Canada
Staff Designer with New York City Department of Urban Planning, posted 9/12/23 New York City, NY
Vision Zero Coordinator with City of Tacoma, posted 9/1/23 Tacoma, WA
Community Engagement Senior Project Manager with FHI Studio, posted 9/14/23 Hartford, CT
Community Outreach Coordinator with City of Boston, posted 9/19/23 Boston, MA
Do you have interesting resources, events, etc. to share?
Send us your tips to hello@engagingcities.com
