January 9, 2013

RAILS TO TRAILS COME TO QUEENS(WAY)

On Monday, the NYTimes reported that a proposal to turn the unused Rockaway Beach line of the LIRR into a linear park modeled after the High Line is gaining traction with new funding for a feasibility study to be conducted by the Trust For Public Land. 

The story of reusing old pices of infrastructure is not a new one (see: Bridgemarket, Highline, etc), and one that deserves to continue being told. The question remains, however, if the success of the High Line can be replicated in Queens — with neighborhoods that are significantly less dense by residential and commercial standards than its Manhattan counterpart. Part of the success of the High Line is also driven by the fact that it is a major tourist destination. Also, the development of the Whitney at the south end and the Hudson Yards project at the north end, give it two significant anchors that will help it become more a part of the pedestrian transportation infrastructure moving forward. What are the anchors in queens? Will the inclusion of bikes from the outset help its success? Would the asset be better used for an expansion of the commuter rail service to queens? 

So many questions! Stay Tuned! 

_____________________________________________________________________

@urbanitisblog (twitter)
urbanitisblog@gmail.com (email)

9:57am  |   URL: http://urbanitis.com/post/40095029127/rails-to-trails-come-to-queens-way-on-monday
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December 18, 2012
B2 Breaks Ground in Brooklyn Today! The first vertical trailer park in NYC has broken ground today. Designed by ShOP architecture for Forest City Ratner, the development is part of the twisy road that the Atlantic Yards/Barclay’s Center development has traveled down as it sputters to life. The Atlantic Cities covers it after the jump. See also our previous post. @urbanitisblog (twitter)

B2 Breaks Ground in Brooklyn Today!

The first vertical trailer park in NYC has broken ground today. Designed by ShOP architecture for Forest City Ratner, the development is part of the twisy road that the Atlantic Yards/Barclay’s Center development has traveled down as it sputters to life.

The Atlantic Cities covers it after the jump.


See also our previous post.

@urbanitisblog (twitter)

12:49pm  |   URL: http://urbanitis.com/post/38235616223/b2-breaks-ground-in-brooklyn-today-the-first
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(No. OF NOTES: 2)
  
December 17, 2012

Times They Are A-Changin’ 


This video shows all the geo-political border changes in Europe over the better part of the last millennium. It also comes with an ominous soundtrack from ‘Inception’. We were particularly interested to see how fragmented things really were in Germany (and many other parts of Europe) until relatively recently. 

#mapsarecool

@urbanitisblog (twitter)

11:53am  |   URL: http://urbanitis.com/post/38153182270/times-they-are-a-changin-this-video-shows-all
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FILED UNDER: maps europe video 
June 25, 2012
With No Vote, Taxpayers Stuck With Tab on Bonds

The NYTimes is reporting that “Surprised taxpayers are finding themselves obligated for parking garages, hockey arenas and other enterprises that can no longer pay their debts.”

SHOCKER! These people shold have read the fine print and listened when they were told these ridiculous tax payer funded investments would pay for themselves. Maybe they are happier they spent the money on parking garages and stadiums rather than new schools and public parks.

6:32pm  |   URL: http://urbanitis.com/post/25882553140/with-no-vote-taxpayers-stuck-with-tab-on-bonds
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June 5, 2012
The Rise of the Citizen Cyclist

Trending Now. Duh.

Atlantic Cities offers a coherent critique about why improvements in bicycle infrastructure in NYC should be accompanied by a de-radicalization (is that a word?… it is now, bitchez!) among cyclists and law enforcement officials.

see also our post from November 2010 affirming many of the points in this nice Atlantic Cities piece.

BIKE ON, BITCHEZ!

1:34pm  |   URL: http://urbanitis.com/post/24479186555/the-rise-of-the-citizen-cyclist
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May 14, 2012
THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TWEETED (AND CROSS-POSTED) The Center for An Urban Future has confirmed what many of all already knew: There are a lot of tech startups in the Flatiron District So lets hear it for NYC taking its place at the table of technology innovation. However, we’d love to see how that sort of activity is really influencing the economy. Also, we’d like to know how the economy is valuing that type of innovation. Take for example, the recent acquisition of Instagram (a company of 12 employees) by Facebook for 1 BILLION DOLLARS (reference: Dr. Evil). We’re happy that these people have allowed us to tweet a sepia toned picture of the last hamburger we had at shakeshack. Maybe some of that creative and tech-minded energy could be better put to use trying to solve the great problems of the day? We don’t need any more apps that cross-post and multi-tweet the latest coffee shop you walked into. Really, we don’t. Also, since we’re all about innovation here at Urbanitis, we are also going to take this opportunity to coin a new term: SoMe. Its just so hard to type Social Media all the time. Do you think we can get a cool Billion for coining the term SoMe? I mean isn’t SoMe what social Media is all about? CAN WE GET AN INTERNET MEME OVER HERE? urbanitisblog@gmail.com@urbanitisblog

THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TWEETED (AND CROSS-POSTED)

The Center for An Urban Future has confirmed what many of all already knew:

There are a lot of tech startups in the Flatiron District

So lets hear it for NYC taking its place at the table of technology innovation. However, we’d love to see how that sort of activity is really influencing the economy. Also, we’d like to know how the economy is valuing that type of innovation.

Take for example, the recent acquisition of Instagram (a company of 12 employees) by Facebook for 1 BILLION DOLLARS (reference: Dr. Evil). We’re happy that these people have allowed us to tweet a sepia toned picture of the last hamburger we had at shakeshack. Maybe some of that creative and tech-minded energy could be better put to use trying to solve the great problems of the day?

We don’t need any more apps that cross-post and multi-tweet the latest coffee shop you walked into. Really, we don’t.

Also, since we’re all about innovation here at Urbanitis, we are also going to take this opportunity to coin a new term: SoMe. Its just so hard to type Social Media all the time. Do you think we can get a cool Billion for coining the term SoMe? I mean isn’t SoMe what social Media is all about?

CAN WE GET AN INTERNET MEME OVER HERE?

urbanitisblog@gmail.com
@urbanitisblog

1:07pm  |   URL: http://urbanitis.com/post/23044268823/the-revolution-will-be-tweeted-and-cross-posted
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(No. OF NOTES: 24)
  
May 8, 2012
THE WORLD IS NOT FAIR! Look at this series of expressive photos of World’s Fair sites of the past as photographed today. We are specifically intersted in the detritus of the American locales such as Chicago and Philadelphia in relation to several of the other locaions. However, you Spaniards in Seville may be fighting us for last place. Things fall apart…

THE WORLD IS NOT FAIR!

Look at this series of expressive photos of World’s Fair sites of the past as photographed today. We are specifically intersted in the detritus of the American locales such as Chicago and Philadelphia in relation to several of the other locaions. However, you Spaniards in Seville may be fighting us for last place.

Things fall apart…

10:57am  |   URL: http://urbanitis.com/post/22653201717/the-world-is-not-fair-look-at-this-series-of
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April 17, 2012

LEARN SPANISH, ECONOMICS AND TRAFFIC THEORY ALL AT ONCE.

We love multitasking. So crack open a Corona and click play. Then discuss with your liberal friends.

xo

urbanitis.

urbanitisblog@gmail.com
@urbanitis

2:05pm  |   URL: http://urbanitis.com/post/21275541198/learn-spanish-economics-and-traffic-theory-all-at
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March 6, 2012

SPRAWL IN ACTION

Check out this video showing the growth of Las Vegas from 1972 through 2010. Note how no matter how srawl-ish it gets you can still make out ‘the strip’ and the airport pretty much from the beging.

2:32pm  |   URL: http://urbanitis.com/post/18856670679/sprawl-in-action-check-out-this-video-showing-the
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(No. OF NOTES: 1)
  
January 12, 2012

A new installation by Chris Burden has just opened at the LACMA called Metropolis II. The kinetic rhub goldberg like machine imagines an urban environment that is free from the will of drivers and (to some extent) the pysics of contemporary construction. Watch the video let us know what you think. We’ll be sure to check this out when we head west in April.

2:22pm  |   URL: http://urbanitis.com/post/15731813516/a-new-installation-by-chris-burden-has-just-opened
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