People Habitat : 25 Ways to Think About Greener, Healthier Cities

Prologue: Cities of the Imagination -- It's Not Really about Cities -- What Seems Green May Actually Be Brown -- But when Green Elements Align, the Results Can Be Impressive -- Revitalization Can Be Powerful -- In a Revitalizing District, Some Gentrification Might Be OK; but Not Too Much -- Cities Need Nature -- There Can Be So Much in a Name--or Not -- Sustainability Requires Attention to Legacy -- But the Past Is Not the Future -- Community Isn't What It Used to Be, Apparently -- Meet the Environmental Paradox of Smart Growth -- Design Matters, but It Can Be Messy -- There Must Be a There -- Human Habitat Should Nourish the Mind, Body, and Spirit -- Americans Don't Walk Much, and I Don't Blame Them -- Driving Should Be an Option -- Getting to School Shouldn't Be So Hard -- Walk, Drink, Walk Back -- Successful Suburbs Will Adapt to the Twenty-First Century -- Childhood Should Be about Exploring -- Grow Food, but Not Just Anywhere -- Cities Are Made for Faith, and Vice Versa -- Think Globally, Plan Locally -- Sustainability Is Where the Heart Is -- Sprawl Is Dying. Will Smart Growth Be Next? -- Epilogue: People Habitat and the Landscape.;"With over 80 percent of Americans now living in cities and suburbs, getting our communities right has never been more important, more complicated, or more fascinating. Longtime sustainability leader Kaid Benfield shares 25 enlightening and entertaining essays about the wondrous ecology of human settlement, and how to make it better for both people and the planet. People Habitat explores topics as diverse as "green" housing developments that are no such thing, the tricky matter of gentrifying inner cities, why people don't walk much anymore, and the relationship between cities and religion. Written with intellect, insight, and from-the-heart candor, each real-world story in People Habitat will make you see our communities in a new light"--Publisher's Description. Title Page Copyright Table of Contents Acknowledgments Prologue: Cities of the Imagination 1. It’s Not Really about Cities 2. What Seems Green May Actually Be Brown 3. But when Green Elements Align, the Results Can Be Impressive 4. Revitalization Can Be Powerful 5. In a Revitalizing District, Some Gentrification Might Be OK; but Not Too Much 6. Cities Need Nature 7. There Can Be So Much in a Name—or Not 8. Sustainability Requires Attention to Legacy 9. But the Past Is Not the Future 10. Community Isn’t What It Used to Be, Apparently 11. Meet the Environmental Paradox of Smart Growth 12. Design Matters, but It Can Be Messy 13. There Must Be a There 14. Human Habitat Should Nourish the Mind, Body, and Spirit 15. Americans Don’t Walk Much, and I Don’t Blame Them 16. Driving Should Be an Option 17. Getting to School Shouldn’t Be So Hard 18. Walk, Drink, Walk Back 19. Successful Suburbs Will Adapt to the Twenty-First Century 20. Childhood Should Be about Exploring 21. Grow Food, but Not Just Anywhere 22. Cities Are Made for Faith, and Vice Versa 23. Think Globally, Plan Locally 24. Sustainability Is Where the Heart Is 25. Sprawl Is Dying. Will Smart Growth Be Next? Epilogue: People Habitat and the Landscape Bibliography Index About the Author With Over 80 Percent Of Americans Now Living In Cities And Suburbs, Getting Communities Right Has Never Been More Important, More Complicated, Or More Fascinating. Long Time Sustainability Leader Kaid Benfield Shares 25 Enlightening And Entertaining Essays About The Wondrous Ecology Of Human Settlement, And How To Make It Better For Both People And The Planet. People Habitat Explores Topics As Diverse As Green Housing Developments That Are No Such Thing, The Tricky Matter Of Gentrifying Inner Cities, Why People Don't Walk Much Anymore, And The Relationship Between Cities And Religion. Essays By F. Kaid Benfield. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 263-269) And Index.