Where We Want to Live : Reclaiming Infrastructure for a New Generation of Cities

**\*\*Winner,** **Phillip D. Reed Award for Outstanding Writing on the Southern Environment\*\*** \*\*A Planetizen Top **Planning Book for 2017\*\*** After decades of sprawl, many American city and suburban residents struggle with issues related to traffic (and its accompanying challenges for our health and productivity), divided neighborhoods, and a non-walkable life. Urban designer Ryan Gravel makes a case for how we can change this. Cities have the capacity to create a healthier, more satisfying way of life by remodeling and augmenting their infrastructure in ways that connect neighborhoods and communities. Gravel came up with a way to do just that in his hometown with the Atlanta Beltline project. It connects 40 diverse Atlanta neighborhoods to city schools, shopping districts, and public parks, and has already seen a huge payoff in real estate development and local business revenue. Similar projects are in the works around the country, from the Los Angeles River Revitalization and the Buffalo Bayou in Houston to the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis and the Underline in Miami. In __Where We Want to Live__, Gravel presents an exciting blueprint for revitalizing cities to make them places where we truly want to live. After Decades Of Sprawl, Many American City And Suburban Residents Struggle With Quality Of Life Issues Related To Traffic And Its Accompanying Pollution And Time Drain, Divided Neighborhoods, And A Non-walkable Life. Architect Ryan Gravel Argues That This Can Change. Cities Have The Infrastructure And Capability To Create A Healthier, More Satisfying Way Of Life By Remodeling And Augmenting Different Parts Of Cities To Connect Neighborhoods And Communities. Gravel Came Up With A Way To Do Just That In His Hometown With The Atlanta Beltline Project, A 22-mile Looped Path Built On Long-dormant Intersecting Rail Lines. It Connects 40 Diverse Atlanta Neighborhoods To City Schools, Shopping Districts, And Public Parks, And Has Already Seen A Huge Payoff In Real Estate Development And Local Business Revenue. Similar Projects Are In The Works Around The Country, From The Los Angeles River Revitalization And The Buffalo Bayou In Houston To The Midtown Greenway In Minneapolis And The Underline In Miami. In Where We Want To Live, Gravel Presents An Exciting Blueprint For Revitalizing Cities To Make Them Places Where We Truly Want To Live-- As Many Gains As Losses -- Infra-culture -- Cycles Of Change -- There's Nothing Wrong With Sprawl -- Tough Love -- An Idea With Ambition -- A Wide-open Place -- An Expandable Vision -- Breaking Ground On Hope -- Catalyst Infrastructure -- An Infrastructure For Health And Well-being -- An Infrastructure For Economic Prosperity -- An Infrastructure For Equity -- An Infrastructure For Civic Identity -- Up Ahead. Ryan Gravel. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 225-230) And Index.

**Winner, Phillip D. Reed Award for Outstanding Writing on the Southern Environment**

**A Planetizen Top Planning Book for 2017**

After decades of sprawl, many American city and suburban residents struggle with issues related to traffic (and its accompanying challenges for our health and productivity), divided neighborhoods, and a non-walkable life. Urban designer Ryan Gravel makes a case for how we can change this. Cities have the capacity to create a healthier, more satisfying way of life by remodeling and augmenting their infrastructure in ways that connect neighborhoods and communities. Gravel came up with a way to do just that in his hometown with the Atlanta Beltline project. It connects 40 diverse Atlanta neighborhoods to city schools, shopping districts, and public parks, and has already seen a huge payoff in real estate development and local business revenue.

Similar projects are in the works around the country, from the Los Angeles River Revitalization and the Buffalo Bayou in Houston to the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis and the Underline in Miami. In Where We Want to Live, Gravel presents an exciting blueprint for revitalizing cities to make them places where we truly want to live.

"After decades of sprawl, many American city and suburban residents struggle with quality of life issues related to traffic and its accompanying pollution and time drain, divided neighborhoods, and a non-walkable life. Architect Ryan Gravel argues that this can change. Cities have the infrastructure and capability to create a healthier, more satisfying way of life by remodeling and augmenting different parts of cities to connect neighborhoods and communities. Gravel came up with a way to do just that in his hometown with the Atlanta Beltline project, a 22-mile looped path built on long-dormant intersecting rail lines. It connects 40 diverse Atlanta neighborhoods to city schools, shopping districts, and public parks, and has already seen a huge payoff in real estate development and local business revenue. Similar projects are in the works around the country, from the Los Angeles River Revitalization and the Buffalo Bayou in Houston to the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis and the Underline in Miami. In Where We Want to Live, Gravel presents an exciting blueprint for revitalizing cities to make them places where we truly want to live"-- Provided by publisher "After decades of sprawl, many American city and suburban residents struggle with quality of life issues related to traffic and its accompanying pollution and time drain, divided neighborhoods, and a non-walkable life. Architect Ryan Gravel argues that this can change. Cities have the infrastructure and capability to create a healthier, more satisfying way of life by remodeling and augmenting different parts of cities to connect neighborhoods and communities. Gravel came up with a way to do just that in his hometown with the Atlanta Beltline project, a 22-mile looped path built on long-dormant intersecting rail lines. It connects 40 diverse Atlanta neighborhoods to city schools, shopping districts, and public parks, and has already seen a huge payoff in real estate development and local business revenue. Similar projects are in the works around the country, from the Los Angeles River Revitalization and the Buffalo Bayou in Houston to the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis and the Underline in Miami. In Where We Want to Live, Gravel presents an exciting blueprint for revitalizing cities to make them places where we truly want to live"--Résumé de l'éditeur