Everyone addressed the issue based on their own experience and expertise, providing a diverse range of perspectives. Still, there was certainly a common theme repeated over and over again: It became quite clear that a connection exists between the type and density of development, municipal functions and quality of life. One aspect of this relates […]
Blair Humphreys
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A place for people
James Howard Kunstler, the author and urban critic famous for his diatribes against America’s “sprawling” cities, suggested the way people use cities is changing. According to Kunstler, “The 20th century was about getting around. The 21st century will be about staying in a place worth staying in.” With an abundance of roads and surface parking, […]
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Every foot matters
Despite the progress made as a result of MAPS and the tremendous improvements currently under way through Project 180, we still seem to lose sight of a few fundamental principles of good urbanism, especially the fact that every foot really matters. Every foot of distance matters to pedestrians. People traveling on foot typically are unwilling […]
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Streetcar for the car-free
It is hard to believe, but that feeling of confinement and limited freedom so many of us experienced for a few days after the storm hit, is the everyday experience for tens of thousands of people living right here in our community. You’ll find clues that point to this fact throughout the city, particularly in […]
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Hindering connectivity
One of the fundamental roles of cities is to connect. Cities connect people to people, places to places, and goods to markets. Look around. The majority of our public infrastructure was built for this singular purpose. Streets and sidewalks, phone lines and antennas, highways and railroads — all of these things aim to connect us. […]
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MAPS 3.1
How would you spend $25 million to improve Oklahoma City’s quality of life? I have been asking that for more than a month, and I’ve been impressed with the diversity of ideas and thoughtful suggestions proposed by citizens willing spend a little time and imagination to dream up ways to enhance OKC. Usually, […]
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The city and the future
In May 2010, the Oklahoma City Planning Department kicked-off “planOKC,” a comprehensive planning process that will provide a new long-term vision for Oklahoma City’s growth and development. This is only our city’s fourth comprehensive plan in its more than 120-year history, and thus offers a unique opportunity to collectively envision the city we wish to […]
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Walk this way
Oklahoma City needs a great street. Just one great street would do for now. A street with shopping and sidewalk cafes; a street to work on, to live on, or simply to visit for the afternoon; a street to stroll or simply sit and watch others stroll by; a street where life and community happens, […]