Comments on: Comparing Interfaces: Real Urbanism versus Immitation Urbanism

By: Quora

Quora — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:36:47 +0000

My wife and I are a couple with young kids thinking about moving to Houston. Should we? What are the pros and cons? What is Houston like for “expats”?…

Christine Peng’s answer is amazing, but I also wanted to add a few points that I haven’t seen mentioned. I lived in Houston (Galleria/Westchase area) for three years, arriving from Wisconsin-via-Pittsburgh and eventually leaving for northern Californ…

By: Frank Starkey

Frank Starkey — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 03:41:15 +0000

Excellent visual descriptions and captions. You have an excellent way of conveying these concepts in clear but concise visual and verbal descriptions. Way to go!

By: Falkenberg’s Wal-Mart strawman – Off the Kuff

Falkenberg’s Wal-Mart strawman – Off the Kuff — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:55:34 +0000

[...] stance on the Washington Heights development, and that I do not in any way speak for them.) As Andrew Burleson has shown, putting suburban-style big box development next to walkable urban development negatively [...]

By: Playing by the Rules

Playing by the Rules — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:27:11 +0000

[...] properties around it. Certain design decisions are very positive for surrounding property owners (Post Midtown). Certain design decisions – especially those that inject ’standardized’ suburban [...]

By: Houston's Pedestrian Culture - Texas (TX) - Page 3 - City-Data Forum

Houston's Pedestrian Culture - Texas (TX) - Page 3 - City-Data Forum — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:54:16 +0000

[...] Originally Posted by irishlover Why do people always try to wish a place into something it isn't and won't ever be? Houston is Houston partly because of a lack of pedestrian culture the OP mentioned in other cities and partly because of a hundred other reasons that make our city unique. Get over yourself already. Yes Yes, woe are the people that would love to see Houston's urbanity improve. Non Natives and even Natives want a more walkable city. This is a perfect discussion and link about related to this thread. It centers around the development in Midtown in Houston. Comparing Interfaces: Real Urbanism versus Immitation Urbanism [...]

By: Rodolfo Martinez

Rodolfo Martinez — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 07:19:47 +0000

Should have read your article before leasing at Camden, the area looks unsafe at night, hopefully I am in the third floor and it is more dificult for burglary, however, yesterday 2 apartments were broken into… thinking about relocating now

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:04:23 +0000

Thanks for the comment, CC. I definitely agree with you about terminology, the biggest issue I’ve had is how to convey certain ideas a snippet that people outside the industry will “get” without having to think too hard about terminology. I really wrestled with how to title this article. I’ll keep your suggestions in mind for future posts on the subject!

By: CC

CC — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:42:58 +0000

Andrew
You present some good commentary on the fundamentals of quality landscape and building design in an urban environment, but I would reconsider so closely associating proper site planning with “urbanism.” Urbanism is a broad term that encompasses the full spectrum and goal of urban design – including your topic of walkability and pedestrianism. I suggest that you provide your own definition of urbanism so bloggers understand that urbanism requires good site design, but the definition of urbanism is not entirely relative to the design of sidewalks. Certainly, it is one component, but not the solitary definition. This would expand your topic and give readers more of the big picture.
Its also a good idea to qualify “good” vs. “bad” urbanism. “Bad urbanism” is somewhat of a paradox, like “bad achievement.” If urbanism is the goal of urban design, then you either have it or you don’t (or you have it sometimes or partially). This is why your definition of urbanism may enlighten your point and your readers.
Good article…and good luck!

By: Peter Brown’s traffic plan – Off the Kuff

Peter Brown’s traffic plan – Off the Kuff — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:38:05 +0000

[...] of the year when the notion of walking anywhere isn’t too appealing to most folks, though as Andrew Burleson has shown, the quality of the pedestrian experience can make a huge difference in that. Most of the year here [...]

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:40:26 +0000

Leilah:

You’re partly right, I certainly don’t think a super minimal form based code solves everything, but the primary details it would include are related to where and how you put your building and your parking on the site. So, for instance, no more podiums, no more sea of parking in front.

By focusing on eliminating the worst offenders, we may still get some Camden Midtowns, but we won’t get any more CVS. That’s a win.

Combine this with a recommended design guide (which the city already has for it’s urban corridors plan) containing more detailed architectural standards and some incentives for developers to comply with it, and you have a phenomenal transformation from where we are today without trying to force something heavy down people’s throats (which won’t work).

Over time, if we let districts (such as Midtown or the Heights) that want to create unique environments voluntarily personalize the architectural standards and make them mandatory within their boundaries (by approval of a majority of property owners), then you can have really fine-grained quality urbanism emerge while preserving the variety and freedom that make Houston so vital and entrepreneurial.

While that may not be a ‘utopian’ solution, I think it’s much more workable to focus just on the most critical issues and give people the opportunity to buy in to the full enchilada voluntarily.