Transportation
The Future of Portland Transit Hangs in the Balance
The Oregonian podcast Beat Check recently shared an episode titled "A Perilous Moment for Portland Mass Transit" in
Blog
Essays and reflections on cities, design, and the built environment.
Housing
Portland Auditor Releases Progress Report for Residential Infill Project
In 2017, after about a decade in the affordable housing and community development industry, my career took a turn and
Urbanism
The Myth of the Walkable Corner Store
For decades, planners have envisioned small, pedestrian-friendly commercial hubs within residential neighborhoods. A local café, a small grocery store, or
Urbanism
Unraveling Urbanism: Housing, Advocacy, and the Battle for Better Cities
Land use planning has always faced scrutiny, but in recent years, the conversation has grown louder and more polarized. Social
Urbanism
Death and Life: Rereading Jane Jacobs and the Legacy of Good Intentions
I recently finished rereading Jane Jacobs’ The Death and Life of Great American Cities. It wasn’t my first encounter
Urbanism
Despite Our Best Intentions with Street Frontages
Automobiles are undeniably a significant part of American life. Consequently, accommodating them with roadways and parking lots has come to
Field Notes
The Dolomites
This is a retrospective and one of a series of journal entries recapping our trip to Italy in 2024. We continued our journey from Venice to the Cadore region where my great grandparents emigrated from, and eventually returned to live out the remainder of their lives.
Public Finance
The Coming War on Impact Fees
The Supreme Court ruled Friday that developers and home builders in California may challenge the fees commonly imposed by cities
Housing
Overpromised and Underdelivered: the False Pretenses of Missing Middle Housing Developers
ADUs, or Accessory Dwelling Units, are usually small housing units people build in their basements, backyards, or above their garages
Urbanism
What Planners Know vs. What Planners Do
Why talk about what urban planners know instead of what they actually do? Because more often than not, those two