The ultimate third place is not only a wonderful place besides home and work in which to hang out and meet neighbors, but also one in which you have a vested, financial interest. So allow me to introduce the Smokehouse Brewpub , a restaurant and microbrew pub planned for the old Oak Furniture space at 28th Avenue and 38th Street in Minneapolis. The Smokehouse is not unlike other restaurants popping up around this and other cities that make and serve their own beer. What makes it unusual is the ownership is allowing people who put cash down now to get…

Why do so few kids walk to school? I pondered this after returning home from biking my kid to school and reading this article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press about why kids don’t walk to school. As the article points out, there are myriad reasons why we don’t walk to school. In my opinion, and the article acutely indicates this, it all begins with urban design. A school built in today’s standard issue suburban setting is exceedingly difficult (and not fun) to access on foot or by bicycle. Let me start with why we can walk or bike to…

I disagree, of course, but this excellent article in The Economist lays out the physical and institutional challenges bikers in America face. Despite progress in many cities, including Portland and my own Minneapolis, bicycling is still not given the respect it deserves. And it is more dangerous than it should be. Like Seattle, as The Economist explains, there are too many bicyclist deaths in Minneapolis. Much of this comes down to speed – a car traveling 40 MPH that hits a bicyclist is far more likely to kill him/her than a car traveling 20 or less. It really comes down…

The City of Minneapolis has been getting flak for laying off firefighters while hiring for a new position – a citywide pedestrian and bicycle coordinator. Whatever comes of this mini-controversy, the first task for this new hire should be to ensure that all traffic lights citywide automatically give a walk signal when the light turns green. Cars don’t have to push a button for the light to turn green – walkers and bikers shouldn’t have to, either! This isn’t too much to ask. A recent post of mine lauded the baby steps the city was taking to make the crossing…

Justin Townes Earle has done what nobody has accomplished prior (at least to my knowledge) – write an urban train song. On his excellent new album, “Harlem River Blues,” Justin Townes Earle writes about running the 6 train in New York City, which runs from the Brooklyn Bridge to Pelham Bay Park in Manhattan. At first I didn’t notice – the song starts out discussing it being cold in the tunnels, so I figured it was about mining. And the pedal steel makes it sound country/folk, not urban in any way, much less New York. Historically, our great train songs…

My latest article in Urban Land magazine online was just posted. In it, I explore whether those with an ear to the ground are actually seeing a shift in preference towards the city. It appears so, at least in many markets. Interestingly, a related article appeared in today’s Finance and Commerce in Minneapolis. Do you agree or disagree? Please feel free to send me comments or do so online at the ULI website.