A city block can feel dramatically hotter than a nearby park, even when both locations share the same weather forecast. Dark roofs, asphalt roads, concrete buildings, limited vegetation, vehicle traffic, and air-conditioning systems absorb or generate heat throughout the day. After sunset, these surfaces slowly release stored energy, preventing neighborhoods from cooling down. I see […]

Heavy rain can turn an ordinary city block into a network of flooded sidewalks, overflowing storm drains, and polluted street runoff. Through thoughtful rain garden planning for urban neighborhoods, communities can capture water close to where it falls instead of allowing it to rush across pavement and overload municipal infrastructure. Rain gardens, bioretention cells, and […]

American cities are getting hotter, but the heat is not distributed evenly. Wide asphalt roads, concrete sidewalks, parking lots, and closely spaced buildings absorb solar energy during the day and release it long after sunset. Neighborhoods with limited tree canopy often experience the greatest exposure, especially along school routes, commercial corridors, bus stops, and heavily […]

Extreme heat in the Southwest, coastal flooding along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, destructive wildfires in the West, and heavier rainfall across the Midwest are changing how American communities plan for growth. I believe cities can no longer treat these events as isolated emergencies.  They must prepare their neighborhoods, infrastructure, public services, and local economies […]

The design of an American city affects almost every source of its carbon footprint. Zoning determines how far residents travel. Street design influences whether they drive, walk, bike, or take public transit. Building codes shape energy consumption, while waste systems determine how much methane enters the atmosphere. Research assessed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate […]

Imagine a city where every rainfall becomes an opportunity instead of a threat. Rather than watching storm drains overflow and streets flood after every downpour, communities can transform rooftops, sidewalks, parks, and public spaces into living systems that naturally capture and clean rainwater. That’s the promise of green infrastructure planning for stormwater management.  I see […]

Flooding in American cities is no longer limited to riverfront neighborhoods or coastal communities. Intense rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems, flood roads, disrupt transit, damage businesses, and trap residents far from a mapped floodplain.  As pavement expands and older infrastructure struggles to handle changing rainfall patterns, I believe cities must stop treating stormwater as something […]

Across the United States, vacant factories, aging schools, empty department stores, abandoned train stations, historic churches, and obsolete offices occupy valuable urban land. I do not see these structures simply as relics of the past. I see them as ready-made foundations for housing, businesses, parks, cultural venues, and community services. Through adaptive reuse of historic […]