Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Form-based codes

I've been doing a lot of reading about urban planning for grad school. And one of the latest things I've come across is form-based codes. I'd heard about them before, but didn't explore them ... too much. Pues, I think getting back to caring about the form of buildings and their impacts on the public realm would do the US a lot of good. Here is a visual:



Original location: http://www.formbasedcodes.org/files/Image-Comparing-Zoning-Guidelines-and-FBC.pdf

For more info, visit the Form-Based Codes Institute website.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

I'd like to change the title of my blog ...

I've been back from El Salvador for a while and I'm now going to Portland State University for a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning. I can see why it's so highly praised in the professional community.

I've realized a lot in the Peace Corps. I've learned that you can do amazing things that you don't want to do. When I first arrived, I felt as a tourist. I felt odd in a place without basic furnishings (potable water, non-leaking roof, glass windows, shower, clean out house, privacy, language I knew). Now, I'd feel right at home. And I met some great people whom I'll know my entire life.

There were times during training, when I wanted to quit. I remember my APCD Carlos saying, "Peace Corps isn't for everyone. If you don't want to be here, now is the time to leave." I felt like I was lying by not speaking up.

I made some amazing friends in the Peace Corps and have strong ties to El Salvador that will last my entire lifetime. I met Isabel during my service and we now have Alejandro. My son. He has dual citizenship. When I think about his life, I feel to a responsibility to ensure he knows both of his cultures. I've become a lot more awaken to racisimin the United States. This makes me think about living in another country - likely El Salvador, at least part time, but perhaps another Latin country.



I feel grateful to have the opportunity to be where I am right now. I am very excited about urban planning(!) and am stoked about what I'm learning. I think I'm going to start a blog about planning issues (that explains the title). How do I start a new blog? I want to write about my idea for a book. I am curious about different cities in the world and what makes them great, but on a comparative perspective. Kind of like Jared Diamond. I'd be interesting to compare two different cities, at a point in time. What makes Paris great? Amsterdam? Brussels?!?!? Brussels, not so much. They have the peeing boy and the UN and the best airport I've been in in my life, but I don't think it's a GREAT city. Why not? Is there another city that could have been Paris? or Buenos Aires? or Billings, MT? A tale of two cities, sort of deal. Did one succeed and the other fail?

Bueno.