by John W. Olson | Aug 18, 2013 | Streetscapes, Town Planning, Urban Planning and Design, Urbanism
In the past year, my Collaborative Design Group colleague, Mark Tremmel, and I have given multiple presentations on Gold Hill Mesa. In this time, we have started what has turned into somewhat of a routine as a part of the presentation. The bit starts in the middle of...
by John W. Olson | Jul 4, 2013 | Comprehensive Planning and Codes, Urban Planning and Design, Urban Renewal, Urbanism
The question for cities is often: What is the silver bullet for the revitalization of a Downtown? There are always answers, but often, they are misguided and wrong. There is not one single universal answer. As a matter of fact, the idea of a silver bullet is pure...
by John W. Olson | Jun 23, 2013 | Urban Interventions, Urbanism
Curbside Cuisine in Downtown Colorado Springs is a result of a goal to increase vitality in Downtown Colorado Springs, through Colorado Springs Urban Intervention. In the process of implementing Better Block Pikes Peak in September of 2012, several of the dedicated...
by John W. Olson | Mar 15, 2013 | Book Review, Urban Planning and Design, Urbanism
I have finally opened the book that I have been thinking of reading for months now – Walkable City by Jeff Speck. Immediately, I have started to write down quotes that need to be shared. From the Prologue: 1. The Planners were so wrong for so many years that now...
by John W. Olson | Mar 1, 2013 | Comprehensive Planning and Codes, Events, Urban Planning and Design, Urbanism
I had the pleasure to attend one of the best presentations I have been to in the past couple years this past Wednesday in Denver. CNU Colorado hosted CNU’s CEO, John Norquist and Jeff Tumlin of Nelson-Nygaard. They, along with Denver’s former Planning...
by John W. Olson | Feb 16, 2013 | Comprehensive Planning and Codes, Town Planning, Urban Planning and Design, Urbanism
An interesting question that I believe requires exploration in towns and cities is in the priority of level of service. Level of Service (LOS) is a term used to describe the quantity of congestion and velocities for any given street. Letter grades are given for each...