Category Archives: Neighborhood

On Urban Parks

Posted on March 17, 2011 by urbanhistori

The park near my house used to have the reputation as one of the best places to get drugs, a cheap prostitute, or knifed.  The funny thing is that the facilities immediately adjacent to the park didn’t match that image … Continue reading →

Posted in Design, Neighborhood, Parks, Safety | Leave a comment

Signs of the Times

Posted on January 13, 2011 by urbanhistori

This article in my twitter feed this morning hit a particular chord with me.  Every day on my way to the park I pass through what is a pretty standard intersection in my neighborhood.  On one corner there is a Hispanic … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Design, Industry, Neighborhood | Leave a comment

The Property Value Illusion

Posted on December 3, 2010 by urbanhistori

“For our own property values,” he said, “we need the illusion.” This was the comment made by a homeowner in the Disney Master Planned suburb of Celebration in response to the murder and standoff/suicide this week.  The illusion he’s referring … Continue reading →

Posted in Commodification, Economic Mobility, Homeownership, Neighborhood | Leave a comment

The “Almost Perfect” Park

Posted on December 3, 2010 by urbanhistori

Sacramento is known for quite a few different things – contentious politics, intense summer heat, obnoxious cowbells – but seldom does anyone mention its parks.  Maybe that is because they aren’t located in the City’s heart, like so many of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cities, Design, Neighborhood, Parks, Safety | Leave a comment

Bring on the Bulldozers

Posted on November 30, 2010 by urbanhistori

Two years ago I moved into one of the poorest and most crime ridden neighborhoods in the greater metro area.  I did this on purpose – partially because I was able to pick up a structurally sound but otherwise seriously … Continue reading →

Posted in Abandonment, Cities, Foreclosure, Neighborhood, Urban Neglect | Leave a comment