ULI Michigan’s Post

We're looking forward to the Tampa Bay Area State of the Market event on March 6! Don't miss Justin Mihalik, AIA, NCARB, National Market Lead for Early Childhood Education, at the Innovating Urban Landscapes: Lessons from Tampa's Transformative Projects' panel at 9 AM ET. Join him and fellow experts as they dive into the strategies and stories behind Tampa's urban evolution. #TampaBayArea #StateOfTheMarket #RealEstateTrends #MarketInsights

Welcome to the Mr Jack Johnson Show _Building a Better Chicago: Ideas for a Brighter Future_ Chicago, the Windy City, is a vibrant hub of culture, innovation, and community. However, like any city, it faces challenges that affect its residents, visitors, and environment. Here are some ideas to make Chicago an even better place: _Improved Public Transportation_: Enhance the 'L' train and bus systems for efficient, reliable, and affordable travel. _Community-Led Safety Initiatives_: Support neighborhood programs that prioritize prevention, understanding, and community policing. _Sustainable Lakefront_: Protect and revitalize the lakefront for recreation, conservation, and climate resilience. _Affordable Housing_: Increase affordable options to ensure everyone has a place to call home. _Inclusive Economic Growth_: Foster opportunities for local businesses, entrepreneurs, and underserved communities. _World-Class Education_: Develop innovative educational programs that prepare students for success. _Vibrant Arts and Culture_: Support local artists, festivals, and cultural events that showcase Chicago's diversity. _Green Spaces_: Expand parks, gardens, and green roofs to enhance quality of life and mitigate urban heat islands. Let's work together to build a better Chicago for all! Share your ideas and let's create a brighter future for the Windy City.

In New York City, four iron monkeys, once part of the decor at Riverside Park's Ten Mile River Playground, have been removed to a storage yard on Randall’s Island, a stone's throw from where Robert Moses, the influential yet contentious parks commissioner, once wielded his power. This action followed the resurgence of interest in a segment of Robert Caro’s 1974 biography "The Power Broker," which scrutinizes Moses' urban planning decisions, suggesting the monkeys were a racist affront to the predominantly Black neighborhood. The book accuses Moses of implementing urban planning strategies that discreetly marginalized African American and Puerto Rican communities, including the allegation that he designed low overpasses on the Southern State Parkway to restrict these communities' access via bus to suburban amenities and beaches like Jones Beach. The controversy surrounding the iron monkeys and Moses' broader legacy highlights a complex debate about urban planning's role in shaping racial and social landscapes. However, the article challenges the straightforward interpretation of the monkeys as a symbol of racism. It points out that similar decorations are found in a playground in a predominantly White neighborhood, suggesting a different intent behind their placement. Furthermore, the supposed shackles on the monkeys are speculated to represent the rings children play with in playgrounds, not chains. This interpretation is bolstered by the historical demographic composition of West Harlem during the 1930s, which contradicts the assertion that the playground was situated in a predominantly Black area. The discourse around Moses, including the design of parkway overpasses to potentially limit minority access to certain public spaces, illustrates the intricate ways in which infrastructure can embody and perpetuate social divisions. Yet, this account is met with nuanced perspectives that challenge the simplicity of labeling Moses' actions as solely motivated by racial prejudice. His contributions to New York's public spaces and infrastructure are undeniable, though his legacy remains marred by allegations of racial discrimination. The fate of the monkeys, amidst this reevaluation of Moses' impact on New York City, emphasizes the ongoing dialogue about historical memory, urban planning, and social justice. Their removal from Riverside Park reflects not just a moment of controversy but a broader reconsideration of the symbols we maintain in our public spaces and the histories they represent. #RobertMoses #UrbanPlanning #SocialJustice #NYCHistory #PublicSpaces #ThePowerBroker #Infrastructure #RacialEquity #LegacyReevaluation

How can we, as a community, revive Detroit through talent and economic development? We see it happening from the recent NFL Draft, bringing hundreds of thousands of people to the city. "Detroit matters not only for Southeast Michigan, but for the whole state of Michigan." – Melanie A. Markowicz, executive director, Greektown Neighborhood Partnership Watch the full panel from #SUDS2023 here: https://lnkd.in/gHy3x8ch; feat Markowicz, Christopher Moyer, senior director of communications, Visit Detroit and Jeanette Pierce, founder and president, City Institute, and Donna Davidson, president Eastside Community Network. - 📢 If you are involved in mobility, sustainability, or urban planning and development in the greater Detroit area, join our Purposeful Forums to engage in conversations like this. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gXTZ9aDf Once you become a member, you will be able to attend our upcoming forum on Wednesday, May 8th, 2024 from 9AM to 11AM to discuss sustainable urban design and the future of our cities. Follow our social pages to watch the forum highlights and stay updated with our latest initiatives. 💬 Let’s build the future together. City of Detroit #sustainableurbandesignsummit #purposefulforums #sustainablecities #urbandesign #communityengagement #forum #membership #sustainableleaders #mobility #development #sustainableurbandesign #purpose #sustainablebusiness #sustainability #event #leadership #urbancity #urbanplanning #circulareconomy #metrodetroit #detroit #detroitisit

TOMORROW! We’re back with the team from Toole Design Group, Catherine Girves and Tobi Otulana, who we heard from in our last episode on inclusive transportation, and Leah F. Evans, Homeport president and CEO. For this bonus ‘sode we’re discussing how we can support adding density with robust transportation options, including mass transit like light rail and bus rapid transit (BRT). We talk about tackling our public right of way policies and how we can adjust them to make room for modes like biking and walking. Can we add density without having transportation options already built in for the individuals and families who inevitably need to move from one place to another? Would things like BRT and light rail be viable without first establishing density?

Trust for Public Land’s 2024 ParkScore® index has been revealed! This year Chicago is at #10 and my former home of Washington, DC is #1 for a fourth consecutive year. Washington scored well on all park score rating factors, especially park access and park equity. Ninety-nine percent of DC residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, among the best scores in the nation (behind 100 percent for San Francisco and Boston). The ParkScore index uses advanced GIS and spatial analysis to evaluate park systems, with ratings based on five equally weighted factors: access, acreage, investment, amenities, and equity. This free, data-driven tool provides communities with the information they need to help close the park equity gap. This year, our research also found that cities that rank higher on the ParkScore index are healthier places to live. Residents of cities rated in the Top 25 are less likely to report poor mental health and are more likely to be physically active than residents of lower-ranking cities. This holds true even after factoring in race/ethnicity, income, age, and population density. In a year when Americans are seemingly more divided than ever, our research reveals that residents of cities with high ParkScore rankings are, on average, more socially connected and engaged with their neighbors than residents of cities with lower-ranking park systems. You can read our special new report, The Power of Parks to Strengthen Community, highlighting how local park leaders mix creative new ideas with tried-and-true strategies to build community connections. https://lnkd.in/gE2c6_nW Check out the full list to see how your favorite cities rank: https://lnkd.in/g2QcWQYA Go here to view our recent Park Bench Chat, wherein a panel of experts discuss the ParkScore results and talk about How Parks Are Vital to Strengthening Community https://lnkd.in/gz9HMeHV And go here to hear the latest episode of TPL’s podcast “People, Nature, and Big Ideas” to hear even more about ParkScore and a discussion of the impact of an elevated park in Washington, DC https://lnkd.in/gdeCmQ6B

Discover the power of public space as a solution! Reimagining the Civic Commons recently showcased how Lexington's public spaces, including the Gresham Smith-designed Town Branch Commons and Charles Young Park's SPLASH!, can play a pivotal role in addressing a city's social, economic and environmental challenges. Read the full article on Medium that details four key lessons from Lexington's approach to thoughtful and sustained investments in public spaces:

Practice innovations can lead to changes in standards, which then enable broader adoption.

Asphalt #art is a burgeoning #urbandesign practice that can help reduce vehicle speeds while enhancing #streetscapes and #placemaking. #streetsareforpeople #safety #traffic #speeding #art #urbanplanning

THIS WEDNESDAY! We’re back with the team from Toole Design Group, Catherine Girves and Tobi Otulana, who we heard from in our last episode on inclusive transportation, and Leah F. Evans, Homeport president and CEO. For this bonus ‘sode we’re discussing how we can support adding density with robust transportation options, including mass transit like light rail and bus rapid transit (BRT). We talk about tackling our public right of way policies and how we can adjust them to make room for modes like biking and walking. Can we add density without having transportation options already built in for the individuals and families who inevitably need to move from one place to another? Would things like BRT and light rail be viable without first establishing density?