The Port’s Post

This is the story of every town… our identity is associated with the downtown - not subdivisions and new commercial district off the interstate. A thriving and beautiful downtown is a thriving city. This is why ideas from Strong Towns, Revitalize, or Die., and Main Street America are so important. It’s also why facade grants and rehabilitated downtown buildings are so critical to the life of a city.

🏟️ Innovative Town Planning in Action: Luton Town FC's New Stadium Proposal 🏟️ Luton Town FC's recent submission of plans for a new stadium is a significant milestone in Urban and Town Planning. This project not only represents a Major Development for the football club but also highlights key considerations in modern town planning and community integration. Key aspects of the proposal include: 🌍 Strategic Urban Development: The new stadium is designed to be more than just a sports venue. It's set to become a central part of the urban landscape, with a focus on creating a vibrant, mixed-use area that benefits local businesses and residents. 🏛️ Community-Centric Design: The stadium will feature spaces for community events and local activities, reinforcing the connection between the club and the town. 🌿 Sustainable Planning: Emphasising eco-friendly practices, the design includes energy-efficient systems and sustainable materials. 🚶♂️ Enhanced Accessibility: Plans include improved transportation links and pedestrian access, addressing the need for better connectivity in growing urban areas. This project underscores the importance of thoughtful Town Planning in creating multifunctional spaces that serve both Economic and Social purposes. It will be fascinating to see how this development unfolds and its impact on the Borough's urban landscape! #TownPlanning #UrbanDevelopment #SustainableDesign #LutonTownFC #StadiumDevelopment

One of my fascinations within the built and social environments is the idea of meantime uses. Even before formally practicing real estate in the urban core, it's always been hard to resist walking by a vacant commercial space and not envision what could be built out to breathe life into a block. The Project for Lean Urbanism provided some framework for meantime uses, calling them "quick, temporary, and inexpensive strategies to activate underutilized properties when a weak market doesn't justify more substantial investment." What meantime uses have you seen in your neighborhood? Are there any nuts and bolts I missed when implementing meantime uses? https://lnkd.in/gM8siety

Good morning! 🌅 As we journey down the road to building a new future in property, we’re reminded that every brick laid is a step towards innovation and growth. 🏗️ Today, let’s celebrate the progress we’ve made and the potential that lies ahead. Here’s to creating spaces that inspire, foster communities, and redefine the skyline. #BuildingAFuture #propertydevelopmentuk #InnovationInConstruction #Innovationindesign #designledproperty #kraftdproperty #ukpropertyinvestment #architectureuk

Since designing one of the first Phius-certified homes in the South, our journey in #passivehousedesign has been transformative. As mentioned in Metropolis Magazine, these tactics can be applied in a variety of settings beyond single-family homes. Leveraging what we've learned over the years, we now infuse many of the same #passivehouse principles and modeling to better inform the way we design #affordablehousing projects like Rasmus-Temenos in #Houston to make an even greater impact on residents' quality of life. Check out the article below to learn how projects like #TheresaPassiveHouse are fueling a Passive House renaissance. #ForgexCraft #ATX #HealthyHomes #PHIUS #ArchDesign #SustainableLiving #GreenHome

Houston used to always just tear down buildings and start over. Not as much anymore. | Houston Public Media "🏙️ Houston's landscape is constantly evolving, but have you noticed a change in the way we approach development? 🤔 In the past, it seemed like tearing down and starting over was the norm, but now there's a shift towards preservation and adaptive reuse. ♻️ From historic buildings being repurposed into modern spaces to revitalizing neighborhoods, the city is embracing a more sustainable approach. 👏 Let's celebrate this progress and continue to support the preservation of our city's rich history and unique character. 🌇 #HoustonDevelopment #PreservationOverDemolition #SustainableCity #AdaptiveReuse #CommunityGrowth"

I just watched a very heartfelt and insightful documentary called “The Place Man.” It is an intimate look at the transformative history of the Project for Public Spaces (PPS). In just 19 minutes, the film beautifully unfolds the legacy of founder Fred Kent, whose journey began with the groundbreaking "Street Life Project" in the early 1970s, under the guidance of William H. Whyte. This project became the bedrock of Kent's 50-year career in placemaking, ultimately leading to the establishment of PPS in 1975. As developers, we are builders and craftsmen of our society, and I am sure this documentary will strike a chord with us and people with a passion for the subject. The key idea displayed here is of creating spaces that resonate with the human spirit. Kent’s simple yet profound statement, "If you want to seed a place with activity, you start with ice cream," encapsulates the power of joy in bringing communities together. The poetic description of placemaking as "improvisational street performance" adds an emotional layer to the pragmatic world of urban planning. Kent's belief that placemaking is a fundamental concept of people helping to make their communities and lives better is a reflection of its intrinsic humanity. The call for a "global transformation" highlights the urgency for cities and suburbs to be reborn, not just for our communities but for the very planet we call home. Placemaking, as Kent suggests, is not merely an art, it's a planet-saving endeavor. How has your experience with public spaces influenced your sense of community? #Placemaking #CommunityBuilding #UrbanDevelopment #PublicSpaces #FredKent #StreetLifeProject #WilliamHWhyte #UrbanPlanning #SustainableCities

Redevelopment of a housing society involves revitalizing older buildings and infrastructure to meet modern standards and requirements. This process typically includes the demolition of outdated structures and the construction of new, more efficient, and aesthetically pleasing buildings. The benefits of redevelopment include improved living conditions, enhanced safety features, better utilization of space, and the addition of modern amenities such as gyms, community halls, and green spaces. It aims to create a more sustainable, secure, and comfortable environment for residents while increasing the overall value of the property. #Redevelopment #HousingSociety #CommunityLiving #FutureReady #SustainableLiving

It’s not new but very interesting topic and so important and relevant in recent years. Since population in cities is growing rapidly and some countries do not have standards to implement community and social infrastructure this documents is so relevant and needed! Published by UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) ‘MY Neighbourhood’ provides an extensive ‘check list’ of urban design principles that are applicable in diverse cultural and geographical contexts at the neighbourhood scale. This checklist ensures an integrated approach to neighbourhood design by integrating principles across five key city objectives, across sectors (transport, housing, public space, utilities etc), and across design dimensions (neighbourhood, street, open public space, and building unit). https://lnkd.in/dseqYUNz

If you haven't seen Architectural Record's most recent edition "Housing At All Costs," it is worth a look (or a subscription). The Editor's Letter asks why affordable housing costs so much? Infill sites that are not feasible for other development, reuse of sites and/or buildings, environmental contamination, sites with suitability issues, sustainability features users aren't willing to pay for, parking requirements, zoning restrictions, building codes, unusual materials, policy objectives of cities/states/funders...all things we try to accomplish in addition to delivering affordable housing. It is not the "affordable" part that makes it expensive. https://lnkd.in/gvCD7AGY