There’s an argument to be made that these projects (well, at least Glenwood Park and Inman Park Village) at least show Atlanta how attractive livable, walkable, dense, mixed-use developments can be. But in the long run the city suffers by lacking these kinds of neighborhoods in easy proximity to rail transit.

And I appreciate the shout out to the potential for Poplar Street downtown. That’s my ‘hood and I think there’s a bright future for it if the economic promise of the streetcar comes through.

The great thing about the New Urbanism is that it is an ever evolving movement that strives to incorporate the best of what is known at that time into it’s knowledge base. As the public begins to figure out that walkability, income diversity, ease of mobility, easy access to daily needs and a quality public realm are important things, the more idealistic goals of the New Urbanism and TOD will begin to be realized. It takes time to change minds and often the shift is generational.

One more thing, the challenge of income homogeneity is a difficult one to tackle. Developers build for a profit and building ‘affordable’ housing alongside market rate housing, no matter how idealistic and egalitarian, usually doesn’t cut it. However, the New Urbanism has been responsible for some of the most successful new public housing developments (redevelopments) in the US in the last 15+ years. The infusion of the key principles of the New Urbanism into the DNA of the HOPE VI project was a major success.

I won the Atlanta MARTA video competition and am now competing nationally against the winners from L.A., Miami, and Minneapolis. The video with the most YouTube “Likes” tomorrow night wins the national prize.

I would love it if you could help spread the word and help me bring the prize home to Atlanta!

Here is the link for my same MARTA video for this round:

Thanks for your help!