Downtown Leesburg, Virginia, goes car free for one weekend.

Walkability, Top StoryAddison Del MastroJuly 19, 2022walkability, Small Towns, small towns, Virginia, car-lite, public space, Addison Del Mastro

Inside Eden Center: What a Strip Mall Can Be

We’ve explored the outside of Fairfax County’s Eden Center before, but what does the inside of this surprisingly fine-grained strip mall look like?

#ChaoticButSmart, Public Space, Top StoryAddison Del MastroJune 27, 2022fine-grained, urbanism, strip malls, Virginia, immigrants, community, Community, shared space, business, small business, local business, Chaotic but Smart, Addison Del Mastro

Northern Virginia Highway Plans Would Fuel a Massive Increase in Driving

North Virginia will make multi-billion dollar decisions this year on the region’s transportation future—decisions that are only going to induce more driving.

#NoNewRoads, Transportation, Upzoned, Top StoryBill PughApril 25, 2022car dependency, car culture, transportation, transportation spending, Washington DC, induced demand, highways, highway spending, freeways, freeway widening, #NoNewRoads, Virginia

Don't Mistake Development for a City

Despite their layouts, these islands of apparent urbanism out in the countryside are a sign that we’re doing something very, very wrong.

Big Box Stores, Top StoryAddison Del MastroApril 12, 2022urbanism, Development, development, suburbs, big box stores, business, Washington DC, Virginia, STROADS, Addison Del Mastro

Ignoring Induced Demand is Engineering Malpractice

In 2022, denying how highway expansions induce people to drive more should be considered professional malpractice.

#NoNewRoads, Engineering Profession, Marohn, Transportation, Top StoryCharles MarohnApril 4, 2022transportation, transportation spending, highways, freeways, Virginia, engineers, engineering ethics, engineering profession, traffic engineering, traffic projections, induced demand, #NoNewRoads

A Tale of Two Walks: Part 2

Our walk together continues on Fairfax Boulevard, where we encounter a much different (i.e., less friendly) pedestrian experience.

Roads and Streets, Urban Design, Walkability, Top StoryAddison Del MastroJuly 7, 2021walkability, Addison Del Mastro, pedestrians, car culture, Virginia

A Tale of Two Walks: Part 1

Let’s take a walk together down two different streets, and observe what car-oriented places are like from the viewpoint of a pedestrian.

Roads and Streets, Urban Design, Walkability, Top StoryAddison Del MastroJuly 6, 2021walkability, fine-grained, Addison Del Mastro, pedestrians, car culture, Virginia

"Urbanism" Isn't Synonymous with "Big City"

These photos of Staunton, Virginia, serve as a reminder that the benefits of “urbanism” aren’t limited to big cities.

Big Box Stores, Urban Design, Top StoryAddison Del MastroMay 11, 2021Small Towns, Addison Del Mastro, Virginia, Staunton, big box stores

Grace Olmstead: It Still Takes a Village

We need each other. Whether we live in a small town, dense city, or sprawling suburb, we can’t do life alone…or at least not well. How do we resist fragmentation and find the wholeness and community we need to really thrive?

Rural, Podcast, Neighborhoods, Marohn, Top StoryStrong TownsOctober 28, 2019Podcast, podcast, Gracy Olmstead, Ida, Virginia, Community

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