Clare Pfeiffer Ramsey interviews real estate guru Chris Leinberger on developing walkable urbanity in Detroit.
"A sign advertises lofts coming soon in 'downtown' Port Austin, a tiny farm and tourist town that sits on the tip of Michigan's thumb. That type of development doesn't surprise Christopher B. Leinberger, an urban land strategist, developer, teacher and researcher, who says walkable urbanity is catching on."
" 'It's in the air. It's in the water,' says Leinberger. 'It's the generation that was raised on Seinfeld, Friends and Sex in the City.' "
"A visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, and the head of the University of Michigan's new graduate real estate program, Leinberger is one of many experts who will discuss walkability at the upcoming University of Michigan/Urban Land Institute real estate forum held this year at Cobo Center in Detroit."
FULL STORY: We Want Walkability

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.

Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.

Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods
Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
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