by meg | Apr 8, 2018 | Arts & Music, Local Culture
In 2006, the City of Fort Collins, through the Art in Public Spaces program, commissioned artwork to be painted on transformer cabinets. Not only would the artwork beautify the city, but it would also be a means of combatting graffiti. Artists would be paid for their...
by meg | Mar 28, 2018 | Built Environment, Economic Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, Infrastructure, Planning & Design, Transportation
I recently returned from a trip to Uganda and Kenya where I was impressed with how frequently roundabouts were used as opposed to traffic signals. It struck me that in an up-and-coming third world country, where resources aren’t alway readily available but...
by meg | Feb 9, 2018 | Built Environment, Transportation, Transportation Effects Development
Last week I had the pleasure of attending Saving Places, a three day conference that looks at historic preservation as a means of enlivening communities, strengthening economies, and giving story to the lives and cultures of past and present residents. Transportation...
by meg | Jan 21, 2018 | Infrastructure, Safety, Transportation
This article was originally published on July 11, 2013 on my North of Prospect website. Since that time a Poudre student was struck by a car when a motorist fell asleep at the wheel. The student was walking on the shoulder of Laporte Avenue on his way to Poudre High...
by meg | Jan 19, 2018 | Past and Future, Transit
Old streetcar tracks were uncovered today buried under a section of Walnut street. The City is in the process of replacing water pipes that are over 100 years old and it was while digging up the street for that project that the old tracks were found. Though the wood...
by meg | Jan 14, 2018 | Planning & Design, Regulation & Education
It’s easy to take Fort Collins for granted. When I ride to the store, I don’t have to worry about where I’ll park my bike. There’s almost always a bike rack nearby. When I take a walk, there are usually decent sidewalks the whole way. Trees...
by meg | Dec 14, 2017 | Built Environment, Growth & Density, Planning & Design
A new mixed-use apartment building called the Union on Elizabeth was just approved by the Planning and Zoning board. It will be situated within the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) overlay zone and will include a total of 402 bedrooms. The project is notable for a...
by meg | Nov 18, 2017 | Built Environment, Environmental Sustainability, Growth & Density, Planning & Design, Sustainability, Waste Storage
At the rate we’re going, the Larimer County Landfill will be maxed out by 2024 according to the Director’s Report published last month. The growth and redevelopment of our built environment is contributing to the amount of waste deposited into the landfill...
by meg | Nov 14, 2017 | Built Environment, Planning & Design, Sense of Place
Materials, patterns, textures, and colors shape our lasting impressions of a place as profoundly as does its overall formal organization and composition. — Sarah Williams Goldhagen I had the privilege of eating lunch at Ginger and Baker last week, followed by a...
by meg | Nov 8, 2017 | Car Culture, Planning & Design, Transportation
America’s car culture is a form of national idolatry. The United States has prostrated itself to the automobile. Even if you don’t believe there is a God, I invite you to bear with me as I use this spiritual analogy to make a point about what our vehicle...