Effects of Urban Development on Communities

What if we designed cities for people, not just cars? Lancaster, CA, is proving it’s possible—in just 8 months, they transformed a five-lane road into The BLVD, a pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined street that has become a model for urban revitalization. What did the transformation look like? Before: A five-lane thoroughfare dominated by cars, with vacant storefronts and limited community engagement. After: A pedestrian-friendly boulevard with a central "rambla" inspired by Barcelona, fostering a thriving downtown with increased foot traffic and economic growth. What’s great is that this wasn’t just an environmental benefit, it was also economic. The $11.5 million initial investment attracted $130 million in private investment and is estimated to generate $273 million in economic output within 4 years. By encouraging people to park once and explore on foot, the redesign has boosted community engagement and safety. Lancaster’s approach reflects the New Urbanism movement, prioritizing walkable, people-centered downtowns over suburban sprawl. Having lived in the Bay Area for nearly 10 years, there’s so much I love about the area — the public transit, the weather, and the people. But I see so much room for improvement. Lancaster’s development is a testament to the future of what cities can look like if we invest in sustainable urban design. I’m a huge fan of mixed-use developments to boost local economies (and imagine living above a local grocery store—no more lugging bags for blocks!). By making sure all stakeholders are involved in the planning, we can integrate green spaces and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to create welcoming and useable public areas. Lancaster’s transformation proves that cities CAN be people-first, green, and economically booming. What would you change about your city? Drop your thoughts below! #UrbanRevival #CityDesign #SustainableCities #Placemaking #WalkableCities #UrbanPlanning #SmartGrowth

In community development, we obsess over tax base, job creation, property values. But none of those tell us whether a place is actually working for the people who live there. It’s like trying to gauge someone’s health by looking only at their weight. We need better indicators. We need to start measuring resident health. Our surroundings impact our well-being more than our genes. The layout of a neighborhood affects how much we move. What stores are nearby affects what we eat. The design of our streets impacts how safe we feel and how often we connect with others. Research backs this up: – People in walkable places are more active, less obese, and have better mental health. – Kids in car-dependent, rural areas are 30% more likely to be overweight. – Green space reduces antidepressant use, stress, and even cardiovascular issues. – Air pollution increases hospitalizations for depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Yet almost no one at the local level is asking, “Will this make our residents healthier?” They should be. Because if a place supports your well-being, you’ll want to stay. If it chips away at it, you’ll want to leave, and not everyone can. Let’s stop treating health as a byproduct and start making it the goal. Want a stronger town? Make it a healthier place to live.

How Public Spaces Can Be Prescribed Medicine for Urban Loneliness The Bentway in Toronto just released groundbreaking research that should reshape how we think about public space as public health infrastructure. Their "Rx for Social Connection" report, developed with Gehl Studio and University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health, offers compelling evidence that thoughtful design can combat the loneliness epidemic plaguing our cities. The context is sobering: Toronto was named Canada's loneliest city in 2024, with 43% of residents never seeing their neighbors and 37% feeling lonely at least three times weekly. The World Health Organization has declared loneliness a global health threat equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes daily. Key Research Findings: 71% of Bentway visitors reported improved physical health 62% experienced better mental health 64% felt more socially connected 67% of visitors engaged with others during their visit Interactive art installations generated 20% more social interactions What Makes It Work: The research identified four critical design elements: "sticky" spaces that encourage lingering, quality seating that promotes sociability, interactive public art at human scale, and participatory programming that transforms spectators into participants. The space's emphasis on soft materials, natural landscapes, and adequate lighting creates an environment where 97% of visitors feel safe—compared to 85% in other Toronto public spaces. The Bigger Picture: As cities densify and solo living increases, we must recognize parks, squares, and public spaces as vital health infrastructure. The Bentway demonstrates how transforming underutilized urban infrastructure (in this case, space under an expressway) can address both physical and social health challenges simultaneously. For architects, urban planners, and public health professionals, this research provides a blueprint for designing spaces that don't just serve functional needs but actively combat isolation and foster community resilience. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/gfA-DguQ How are you incorporating social connection into your design work? Let's discuss the intersection of public health and public space. #PublicHealth #UrbanDesign #SocialConnection #LonelinessAwareness #DesignForWellbeing

If you are a planner, an architect, or a politician that hasn't watched Ray Delahanty's latest video, 'Why Living Next to a Freeway Is Highly Questionable' - I highly recommend it! Ray's video focuses on the myriad ways developing density along highways is so heinous and detrimental from #publichealth and #qualityoflife standpoints: toxic environments, no respite from #airpollution and #noisepollution, and streets that have increased levels of traffic violence where walkability is poor. Ray even points out how Seattle's comprehensive plan even mandates this - using dense housing to buffer the low-density areas where wealthier residents live. There's a reason there is a whole chapter on my book, Building For People, dedicated to noise and air pollution. Public health is completely absent in our #urbanplanning and #housingpolicies. The way we have oriented density for our most vulnerable residents immediately around our most toxic streets is a heinous legacy, and a form of spatial segregation that we should be working to address. Unfortunately, this problem is much larger than just internal combustion vehicles - and, like most urban issues, not solved with electric vehicles, either. Ray highlights a line from the 2020 study - Near-Road Traffic-Related Air Pollution: Re-suspended PM2.5 From Highways and Arterials - that states, 'These are areas where human exposure can be more important than areas near highways, as people tend to live, work, and congregate near many arterials.' Unfortunately, these are the very types of toxic roads where Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's visionless comprehensive plan update limits dense #affordablehousing and #multifamilyhousing. Until we have political leaders who are willing to lead with public health and quality of life - we will continue to see malicious policies that segregate residents who can't afford expensive detached homes into poor quality housing in toxic environments. https://lnkd.in/gdYvXKKM #stadtplanung #architecture #housing #urbandevelopment #stroads #citiesforpeople