Despite minor speedbumps in the permitting process, an explicitly green home is now being built in Kendall, a suburb to the south of Miami. The owners expect it to be the greenest home in the region.
"Albert Harum-Alvarez, a software designer and consultant, grew up in Kendall and has spent years planning his home among the trees. Now under construction, it will catch the southeast breezes, use a geothermal pump for optional air conditioning, and employ a composting toilet system. Harum-Alvarez believes it's the greenest home in Miami-Dade County."
"Harum-Alvarez and his dancing teacher wife, Enid, wanted to save the site of the historically designated oldest house in Kendall, in which the family now is living. They also decided to build an energy-efficient Key-West style home that would face it across a walking and bike path that runs through the property but not have a larger footprint than the cottage's 1,100 square feet."
"Because he wanted to keep the property roadless, and because he is including some unusual features in the home, he has encountered some bumps along the permitting route. For example, the county insisted Harum-Alvarez built a standard septic system in case the composting toilets didn't work. Yet, Miami-Dade County will expedite permits for green buildings, which at least put him at the head of the line."
Thanks to Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk
FULL STORY: Model of efficiency: Kendall couple builds house with unusual features
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Montreal’s Gorilla Park Repurposes Defunct Railway Track
The park is part of a global movement to build public spaces that connect neighbors and work with local elements to serve as key parts of a city’s green infrastructure.
Safe Parking Programs Help People Access Housing
The safety and stability offered by Safe Parking sites have helped 40 percent of unhoused San Diego residents who accessed these programs get into permanent housing.
Study: Single-Staircase Buildings Pose No Additional Risks
Zoning codes have long prohibited single-stair residential buildings due to safety concerns, but changing that could lower the cost of construction and allow for more flexible housing designs.
Forest Service Rescinds Tree Planting Grants
The $75 million program fell victim to the federal government’s purge of ‘DEI’-related projects.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research