Poor Neighborhoods Make the Best Investments
This is not a social justice argument. I’m not writing this post to shame you into taking some altruistic action for the greater good. What I’m going to present here […] The post Poor Neighborhoods...
View ArticleGarth Rockcastle: A Golden Opportunity to Regenerate Frederick (free on Feb....
Recently, Professor Garth Rockcastle was in Frederick to speak with a small group of folks about some ideas and principles that could be helpful in advancing innovation and redevelopment initiatives...
View ArticleGot brook trout? Then you’ve also got a healthy stream
“A wild trout in its native habitat is a compact example of the Earth working well.” — Christopher Camuto The brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is a small, brilliantly colored freshwater […] The post...
View ArticleDo you know where your water comes from?
In early December, about 150 gallons of lubricating oil was spilled into the Potomac River. The source was the NRG Energy power plant in Dickerson, according to the Environmental Protection […] The...
View ArticleCheck out “The Frederick Extra” for real reporting and informed opinion!
The Frederick Extra at thefrederickextra.com, and on Facebook as The Frederick Extra, is an online news site launched on Oct. 13, 2016. I decided to take the plunge because I […] The post Check out...
View ArticleThe Fate of Schley Farm and East Frederick
Just like there is good and bad cholesterol, there is good and bad development. Among other things, good development depends on where it occurs, its relationship to the environment, and […] The post...
View ArticleWalkability: It’s not about buildings or streets. It’s about the experience.
We are excited to see the high level of understanding in the Surgeon General’s Step It Up call to action last week, to promote walking and walkable communities. The Surgeon […] The post Walkability:...
View ArticleUrging the County Delegation to Strengthen the State Public Ethics Law
In the January 13 edition of the Frederick News Post, it was reported that members of the Frederick County Delegation resisted changes to improve the Maryland State Public Ethics Law. […] The post...
View ArticleEnvision staff and board members take the Polar Bear Plunge to fight climate...
Well…we did it! Three Envision Frederick County board members and I joined about 160 other folks for the 12th Annual “Keep Winter Cold” Polar Bear Plunge…into the Potomac River…to support […] The post...
View ArticleCourt of Special Appeals Overturns Blentlinger DRRA!
That’s right folks, the Court of Special Appeals finally ruled in favor of the hard-fighting citizens of Frederick County against the ill-advised land use and development decisions by the Blaine […]...
View ArticleWant to Improve Your City? Start Taking Pictures!
In Chuck Wolfe’s absorbing new book, Seeing the Better City, he encourages readers to think with our eyes and communicate with visual imagery in order to improve our cities. With […] The post Want to...
View ArticleCity seeks to fill vacancy on Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Interested individuals, who live in the City of Frederick, have until February 24th to apply for the current vacancy on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Mayor Randy McClement 101 […] The...
View ArticleTen reasons to build community through urban design
There are two models for development of cities and towns. One, the neighborhood model, founded on thousands of years of trial and error, brings us closer together. We build cities […] The post Ten...
View ArticleFederated Charities offering low-cost space to small and emerging non-profits...
I’m pretty lucky and have been asked to be a part of the development of new organizations and non-profit initiatives at different points in the last 25 years (good thing […] The post Federated...
View ArticleBrent Toderian: Don’t “Balance” Modes — Prioritize Walking, Biking, and Transit
I’m capable of saying some pretty harsh things — I’m very un-Canadian that way,” says urban planning consultant and former Vancouver chief planner Brent Toderian. “But most of the time, […] The post...
View ArticleGood News, Bad News, and an opportunity for ACTION on Fracking in Annapolis!
The campaign to ban fracking in Maryland has been heating up for months, and now that we’re into the legislative session, the fight is more urgent than ever. We’ve had […] The post Good News, Bad News,...
View ArticleState Senator Ron Young: “I support a total ban on fracking in Maryland”
A recent letter to the editor of the Frederick News Post questioned why I co-sponsored two different fracking bills. I would like to explain. I support a total ban (SB740) […] The post State Senator...
View ArticleBuilding better suburbs through retrofit
Urbanism is not just about cities. The Charter of the New Urbanism calls for “the reconfiguration of sprawling suburbs into communities of real neighborhoods and diverse districts.” That...
View ArticleA mid-month County Council update from Jessica Fitzwater
EDITOR’S NOTE: Frederick County Council member Jessica Fitzwater regularly publishes an excellent newsletter, with good information about upcoming council agenda items, events and more. We thought we’d...
View ArticleFracking debate nears crossroads in Maryland
Lawmakers eye prohibition, or leaving it to voters to decide locality by locality. Maryland’s “fracking” debate begins in earnest this week in Annapolis. With a two-year moratorium on hydraulic...
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