Category Archives: Great Neighborhoods
Jane Jacobs at 100: Ideas That Live On
I’m enjoying reading articles here, here and here about Jane Jacobs, who would have been 100 years old today. Born in 1916, she was a self-taught urbanist and citizen activist who championed walking-scaled, neighborhood-centered cities. Though she had no college … Continue reading
Posted in Design & Planning, Design Bones, Great Neighborhoods
Tagged community vitality, Jane Jacobs
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10 Ways to Create Community Where You Live
Building a community from scratch is daunting, but the good news is that vibrant communities can grow from existing neighborhoods over time through the actions of people who live there, often without much money being spent. Right here, right now: … Continue reading
Posted in Design & Planning, Great Neighborhoods, Living in Community
Tagged community, garden, neighbors, pocket neighborhood
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The Good Porch
Summertime: a perfect time for porches. I grew up in a classic shingled bungalow with a wrap around porch. My sister’s family lives there now. The front porch faces the street and the lake (as many in Minnesota do); the … Continue reading
Posted in A Child's World, Design & Planning, Great Neighborhoods, Living in Community
Tagged pocket neighborhood, Porch
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Not Just Cute Cottages
Pocket Neighborhoods have received quite a bit of press since Ross Chapin Architects and The Cottage Company began building their communities in the Pacific Northwest in the 1990s. These intimate neighborhoods feature groupings of detached cottages and small homes clustered … Continue reading
The Garden Party
At the beginning of the Pocket Neighborhood book there is a story about a garden party I attended last summer. It was hosted by a friend in her orchard overlooking a broad valley — 20 guests at a long table … Continue reading