Smart Growth

For most fishermen, Lake Vermilion is considered a muskie or walleye lake where serious fishing boats, tackle and bait are in play for the “big catch”. More >>

I recently had a chance to tour Markim Hall, a new building on Macalester College’s campus that earned platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program. More >>

The Google Maps website now provides directions for bicyclists, helping them avoid steep hills and identify streets with bike lanes. More >>

Fresh Energy and their media team tackled the issue of Complete Streets in their newly released video. More >>

How’s this for a concept: a “do-it-yourself guide to placemaking.” I like the notion that you and I can do this ourselves – make great places in the communities where we live. More >>

Years of research and compilation of materials have resulted in the rich online resource, LandOf.org. More >>

I had the good fortune to hear Jim Charlier speak at an Urban Land Institute (ULI) event on Feb. More >>

In recent weeks, Minnesota’s streets have been hazardous to all. Most residential streets in St. More >>

Conservation design expert and engaging public speaker, Randall Arendt, returns to the Twin Cities tomorrow to talk to people interested in making changes to the development patterns in their communities. 1000 Friends of Minnesota has invited him back after his talk in June 2009 met with great interest from local elected officials from many Twin Cities cities. More >>

Is it possible that we are all born with a density comfort zone, just as we are told by a certain bed manufacturer that we all have a “sleep number”? Would that explain why some of us choose to live in urban neighborhoods, some in suburbs, some out in the country? I couldn’t help but wonder this on a recent family vacation to New York City. Wandering around some of the densest blocks of Manhattan, I became acutely aware of how many strangers I bumped up against daily – in elevators, on the sidewalk, in the subway. More >>