Health Patio

Anatevka move over. Concerns regarding the planet’s changing climate and the ills in the national housing market are serving to energize New Urbanism, says the Congress for the New Urbanism.

The movement’s holistic approach to building and rebuilding cities and towns – uniting the art of building, the creation of community, and the conservation of the natural world – is proving a rich source of solutions and long-term value in this time of significant change.

For the first time in Austin, Texas (hometown of our celebrated healthpatio denizen Eco Rock), the 16th Annual Congress for the New Urbanism was held from April 2-6, 2008. Katherine Gregor of the Austin Chronicle says the conference has a reputation for transforming thinking and land-use patterns in cities where it’s held. Cheers from HealthPatio for the 1,500+ planners, developers and others who gathered to promote the development of walkable neighborhoods and bring sprawl to a halt. (And jeers to the absent elected officials in city and county positions who neglected to sign up for even the introductory 101 session.)

But will it help keep Austin weird? I think so, considering the old urbanism of Robert Moses ala Long Island New York housing for muggles project.

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