Merrimon Avenue Op-Ed
The City of Asheville has worked with the North Carolina DOT to make a 4-to-3 lane conversion of Merrimon Avenue, a road that connects North Asheville to Downtown and I-240. The current design is a textbook stroad: it attempts to provide both movement and access at the same time, but does neither well. And like… Continue Reading »
New Business
It’s hard to believe that we’re already in the fourth quarter of 2022, a year that in many respects has been our busiest and most productive in Urban3’s history. In addition to our groundbreaking collaboration with the Sorenson Impact Center and Government Finance Officers Association on Putting Assets to Work – where we’re helping cities… Continue Reading »
The Zoning Crisis: Lessons From Chicago, IL
A few years ago, Emily Talen noticed something odd about her neighborhood on the north side of Chicago – yards. “It was like suburbia was kind of invading,” she said. Dr. Talen is intimately familiar with the differences between traditionally urban and suburban forms of civic design. She’s a professor of urbanism at the University… Continue Reading »
These Local Governments are Putting Their Assets to Work
The Sorenson Impact Center, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and Urban3 Announce 6 U.S. Local Governments Selected for the Inaugural Putting Assets to Work Incubator New initiative established under the leadership of former Mayor and Congressman Ben McAdams in partnership with the Sorenson Impact Center, GFOA, and Urban3 The Sorenson Impact Center, the Government… Continue Reading »
Meet Urban3’s 2022 Interns
Urban3’s staff is growing, along with its portfolio of clients across the country. Tia Decker Tia, a graduate student at the University of Chicago College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs with a concentration in Urban Planning and Policy with a focus in spatial planning. Their most recent project is an ecological design studio, where… Continue Reading »
Ten Years in Review
We often say that our clients are people who work for cities: mayors, planning directors, downtown association directors, and developers. In truth, the people we work for are the countless families, business owners, taxpayers, senior citizens, children, and others whose destinies are linked to the long-term success — or failure — of the city where… Continue Reading »
The Bottom-Up Revolution is… Connecting Neighbors and Harnessing the Power of Fun
Our Chief Operating Officer, Cate Ryba, spoke recently with Rachel Quednau of Strong Towns on her podcast The Bottom Up Revolution. Cate and Rachel discuss the Urban3 and Strong Towns ongoing collaboration, and how Cate came to be an urban planner, a government staffer, City Councilor, and then leader within Urban3.
Better Graphs = Better Governance
At Urban3, two of the first things we always do with a new town, city, or county government client is: 1. Dive into their budget 2. Analyze the property value in the countyFirst, we take the budget apart and understand where the money comes from, where it goes, and how it compares to macroeconomic trends… Continue Reading »
Urban3 Continues to Grow by Adding Two New Analysts
As Urban3 continues to grow its client portfolio around the country, the firm has continued to add to its roster of analysts to assist cities in better understand their finances and land-use decisions. The firm, which celebrates its tenth year of existence this fall, recently added Gennie Gonzalez and Leah Handwerger as analysts. Gennie Gonzalez Gennie… Continue Reading »
Urban3 Expands
Urban3’s staff is growing, along with its portfolio of clients across the country. Adam Carr Adam Carr, a native of Central North Florida, has joined the firm as an analyst. Adam received his undergraduate degree in environmental studies and geography from the University of North Carolina and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning… Continue Reading »