Smart Growth and Schools...

...here's a copy of the article I wrote for this month's Design Alabama magazine on the importance of schools utilizing smart growth principles.

Coming Soon...

...a photo essay on why EastChase should not be considered a "smart growth" project. Alot of readers have asked me about this project and, while I do shop there, it certainly doesn't qualify as smart growth--for a variety of reasons.

We'll use pictures and words to explain why later this week.

The Car-Free Journey Concludes...

The Journey is almost complete. That's what I thought as I headed out of the hotel in Philly from the Long Road Home. First though, the Car-Free Journey had to make it's way to the Amtrak Train Station. And, this time, it had to do it without the Official Suitcase catching a cab with friends Anna Lowder and Harvi Sahota.

In other words, it's just me, the Official Suitcase, and the Official Laptop...

Since walking that far with everything really isn't an option (especially considering the gathering rain clouds), I figure let's try the subway. After all, the one in D.C. that I just used so much was timely, clean, and generally a good experience...

...then I met the Philly subway. Quite stark.

Though at times, places like this didn't look too bad...

Dark, dank corridors were much more the norm. A lesson learned: in D.C., the Metro strictly prohibits food, drink, radios, and contains no prison-like bars (or at least that I could recall). Philly's subway, on the other hand, has them all.

And the wear and tear that results in painfully obvious.

Fortunately, the journey was short from 13th to 30th on the Blue Line. Soon, we arrived back at the Amtrak station...

...just in time for the 3.55pm Crescent back to Atlanta.

All aboard, Track 6 with Crescent Service to New Orleans and parts in between...

...a brief break at the Baltimore station...

...and, after a long night's ride, the Official Suitcase finally relaxes back at the Atlanta train station (thinking to itself that it sure is glad that CNU 2010 is in Atlanta).

Then, off in the distance, we finally see it again--the Unofficial Personal Motor Vehicle for the Car-Free Journey to CNU XV in Philly. Strangely, in many ways, it was a pleasant sight to see for, as I learned, a car is a great luxury to have. Go without it for 5 days and you'll realize why.

That said, this Car-Free Journey gave me an even better perspective as to why we need to design and build walkable, mixed-used communities that can--one day when demand comes (and it will, I guarantee it as the BP regular unleaded price continues it's deliberate march upwards)--be linked to mass transit.

That day. That inevitable one, will be the day where this type journey is more than just an interesting adventure.

So, in closing, thanks to John Acken, Harvi Sahota, Anna Lowder, and a cast of other supporters who made this journey interesting and possible.

And, most of all, thanks to my wonderful wife Betsy for letting me take these often strange adventures. I really appreciate you!

The End.

Scenes from the CNU...

The Loews Philadelphia Hotel--home base for this year's CNU. Overall, a very cool venue located in a historic building now made quite hip...

The "Sole Food Restaurant" at the Loew's--the place where many of the event's great conversations occurred including, quite possibly, "The Intersection of South Main & Hampstead: The New Urbanism's Next Generation of Developers" (okay, so I made up the title, but the idea is certainly percolating...)

The event's bookstore (note to event organizers: the bookstore was great; however, the book signings should be relocated in the future to the actual bookstore. just a thought.)

The PlaceMakers and SmartCode Complete booth (unfortunately, the SmartCode Navigator software is still in beta testing and not quite ready for prime-time yet. Soon, though. We promise)

Austin, Texas. The site of this year's SmartCode Workshop. As well as next year's CNU XVI.

And, yes, the Car-Free Journey to CNU Austin is already being planned...

Prelude to Scenes from the CNU...

Well everyone, the Car-Free CNU Philly Journey is now officially complete as I'm back here blogging from our house at The Waters. I'll have some images from the Car-Free journey home (as well as some thoughts/observations) hopefully later today or first thing on Monday.

For now though, I wanted to share some Scenes from the CNU. Unfortunately, I didn't get as many as I'd like as I kept running into colleagues (none of whom were injured) and chatting about the SmartCode, mass transit, and a handful of other interesting New Urban topics.

Certainly no complaints though as reconnecting with old friends is one of the biggest, little pleasures in life.

"The Streets of Philadelphia"

Below is this amatuer's photo essay of Philly's Center City.

The verdict?

Good. Bad. And Sometimes Quite Curiously Curious.

Also, later I'll update the blog on the magazine article that I'm writing for Event Solutions Magazine during this trip titled "The Top Five Unique Event Venues in Philadelphia". I spent most of Friday with the CVB team and discovered some excellent candidates for the Top Five...

And, by the way, at 12.30 today, I'll be signing this book. The early word is that neither Grisham nor Clancy need worry about their readership declining (that said, it was quite fun to write).

Rumors of the 1 millionith copy being sold are slightly premautre (though the publisher did just inform me that they've ordered a second printing)

Okay, now, on to The Streets of Philadelphia...

CNU XV HQ...

This is where most of the CNU event is happening. A very hip hotel, indeed.

Right now, as I listen to Witold's keynote on Thursday evening (yes, this is what I call CNU tri-tasking--listening, blogging, and chewing gum at the same time), let me take a moment to thank everyone who has been reading, encouraging, laughing, and--heck--even mocking this Car-Free to CNU Philly effort.

Someone asked today "Why are you doing this?"

Well, I wish I had a fancy answer. One that would inspire, uplift, and make a grand statement.

But, alas, that's alot to ask of a blog about riding trains to a conference. Still though, I did have two answers.

The first is a simple one: because it's fun.

The whole journey has itself been grand because, frankly, it feels weird to have not been inside a car for going on four days now. Fortunately, the side effects of going "cold turkey" on motor vehicles has--other than sore feet and burning calves--had very few side effects.

The second answer is somewhat more philosophical: because it's important.

Why?

Quite simply, we need to show that we can get places without the crutch of a car. That's not to say that we all need to give them up. Only that we should try and experience life without them every now and then.

It's refreshing to do so. And, thought-provoking.

So, there you have it. The reasons why I'm going Car-Free to CNU Philly.

In closing, let me note the blogging schedule for the next couple of days:

Friday: a photo essay called The Streets of Philadelphia

Saturday: another photo essay called Scenes from the CNU

Sunday: The Long "Car-Free" Road Home

Okay, that's it for now. I'll be back with more on Friday...

[p.s. gratuitous shot of Dawson Kendell Emerson & Cullen Thomas Emerson--daddy says Hi!]

Final Mileage Numbers for the D.C. Car-Free Tour...

From John Acken:

Results are in:

Total Walking:
Tuesday: 9.19 miles, Wednesday 3.2 miles – total on foot both days 12.39 miles

Total Public Transportation:
Tuesday: 28.67 miles; Wednesday 10.61 miles – total public transportation 39.28

Specific Mileage Counts:

Day One:

Bus to Old Town
0.89 miles
Old Town Walking
1.68

Metro to Crystal City
4.25
Crystal City Walking
1.09

Metro to Clarendon
5
Clarendon Walking
0.97

Metro to 7th street
4.32
7th Street Walking
0.56

Metro to Cleveland Park
3.6
Cleveland Park Walking
2.3

Metro to 7th street
1.29
7th Street Walking
1.58

Metro to Old Town
8.43
Old Town Walking
1.01
Bus to Old Town
0.89

Total walking 1st Day
9.19

[ed. note--yep, this is why my legs are extremely sore today]

Total Public Transportation 1st Day
28.67

Day Two:

Old Town Walking
3.2

Bus to Metro
0.89

Metro to Union Station
9.72

Total walking 2nd Day
3.2
Total Public Transportation 2nd day
10.61

The Car-Free CNU Journey Arrives in...

...in the City of Brotherly Love.

After a great Old Town Alexandria tour on Tuesday morning, John Acken and I took the DASH bus to the King St. Yellow Line Metro. Dropping Acken off at the Crystal City stop (with a hearty thanks for an excellent 24 Hour Urban Tour), I took the Red Line Metro to...

...Washington D.C.'s beautiful Union Station.

After a quick lunch, it was "All Aboard!" Amtrak's Acela train to Philadelphia.

The Acela Express is a great way to travel...comfortably-wide seats, work tables, electrical outlets and 1.5 hours from D.C. to Philly...

The Official Laptop of the Car-Free to CNU Philly Journey's first Acela train trip...a big day for this Dell...

...and here we now are at Philadelphia's equally beautiful train station...

Where Harvi Sahota and I prepare for the big CNU event (along with Anna Lowder who is the photog for this one)...

...now I do have a confession to make. The Official Suitcase for the Car-Free to CNU Philly trip did take a cab to the hotel. It was tired and really isn't into this car-free thing as much as the Official Laptop and me...

...of course, this is probably why.

You see when I asked the cab driver "Where is the Marriott?" his curt reply was "Down there!"

Well, I guess that's why we have feet...to use them...so off I headed on the one mile walk from the train station to the Marriott.

And, you know what? It was worth it. Because urbanism is best viewed from street level by foot...

Alright, I'm off to present on Implementing Form-Based Codes: A Montgomery Case Study. I'll be back later with the sights of CNU XV in Philadelphia...

Urbanism in the D.C. area...

Okay, so on Tuesday afternoon, John Acken and I walked and "subwayed" an estimated 75+ miles throughout the D.C. area (the walking portion composed about 8 to 10 of the miles).

We were "In Search Of..." some of the most interesting urbanism that the D.C. area had to offer. Below is a photo essay. All photos were taken by me with a Nikon digital camera. You know, that real itty-bitty kind that you can put in your pocket. What a great camera!

Anyhow, as we get started, remember--as always--this blog is Car-Free on the way to CNU Philly...

Shall we begin...

Let's start at the Willard Hotel in the district...

Here's the outside seating for this wonderful urban-friendly hotel...

Then on to the Woodley Park area (near the National Zoo). Here you'll find some excellent (and often overlooked) urbanism. For example, this well-designed street...

...is serviced by this equally well-designed alley (hoops anyone?)

Wonderful townhomes (many of which were 24 ft. wide)

More great townhomes on the same street...

One of the best tree-canopied streets in all of the D.C. area. You'll find this one near the embassies between Woodley Park and DuPont Circle...

For the Woodley Park area, here's one of my favorite buildings...

The neighborhood cinema between Cleveland Park and Woodley Park in the District...

Here's the new arena in the District near 7th street. The interesting thing is that it has retail on the street level (a spa, I think). Proof that even an NBA/NHL arena can fit decently in the surrounding urbanism...

Great urbanism in the 7th street area of the District...

What was old is quickly becoming new again...a common sight throughout this part of the District...

Heading out of the District, we took the Metro to Clarendon. Here's the Clarendon parking garage with a street level Orvis. Quite cool.

In Clarendon, the bad surburbanism is being slowly retrofitted to better urbanism. Here's an example of one of the demarcation lines...

Then, on to Crystal City. This building is safe from just about anything the North Koreans could fire its way...

The interesting thing is that--just on the other city of this crystal building in crystal city--good urbanism is taking hold at the street level...

A live work in Old Town Alexandria from the 1920s next to one from the 1800s...very cool juxtapositioning...

And, finally, here's another little live work building from Old Town Alexandria. Note the two entrances...one for the commercial (1800 King Street) and one for the residential (1800 and 1/2 King Street).

Okay, that should do it for now. I'm blogging from here. Later today, I'll return to catalogue the Car-Free to CNU Philly leg from D.C. to the City of Brotherly Love...