by John W. Olson | Jul 21, 2022 | Business, Landscape Architecture, Sustainability, Town Planning, Urban Planning and Design, Urbanism
Urban Landscapes, LLC is inching closer to being three years old. Given that this is my Sixth (gulp) company since 2010, I am careful with how everything transpires (read further about my path here). This includes the hiring processes, the type of work that we do and...
by John W. Olson | Nov 27, 2021 | Comprehensive Planning and Codes, Streetscapes, Town Planning, Urban Renewal
In 2015, I was approached by former Mayor (2017-2019) of Manitou Springs, Ken Jaray, on behalf of the Friends of Ruxton Canyon to study Ruxton Avenue. The task of the Friends Group was to gather data about how Ruxton Avenue corridor was used by pedestrians, cyclists...
by John W. Olson | Nov 3, 2021 | Comprehensive Planning and Codes, Landscape Architecture, Town Planning, Urban Planning and Design, Urbanism
Seaside, Florida is celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year. As such, it seemed appropriate to reflect back on the many years and generations of the new urbanism movement. Seaside was the pioneer project (at least the poster child) of new urbanism with the...
by John W. Olson | Oct 4, 2021 | Sustainability, Town Planning, Urban Planning and Design, Urbanism
It’s hard to believe that it has been a decade since our Labor Day visit to South Main. This Labor Day (2021), we did it again. My kids have certainly grown since the last visit and my son, Grant, was born between visits. Similarly the neighborhood has also...
by John W. Olson | Apr 17, 2021 | Town Planning, Urbanism
This past decade, I have found myself answering this basic question of how I ended up in the world of new urbanism. I certainly did not grow up in an urban environment, and when I mention that I am from Nebraska, people really get confused of how I could have such a...
by John W. Olson | May 16, 2020 | Comprehensive Planning and Codes, Town Planning, Urban Planning and Design, Urban Renewal, Urbanism
The suburbs are mistakenly having a moment as cities have become the patsy for the COVID-19 pandemic. Lazy, surface level views of the pandemic have duped cities as the enemy while some are even making major life changes as a result. Yes, cities represent areas of...
