By Chris Nordstrom, PLA, ASLA A 1996 study by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) developed a set of standards communities could use to evaluate the effectiveness of their recreation systems. While these guidelines continue to be widely cited as a standard for park planning, the NRPA itself recognized the danger of using a […]
Here are the 10 most-viewed stories from our 2018 blog
The Carlisle/Wortman blog has shared planning information and ideas since 2010. The top stories from 2018 include some new content plus our greatest hits.
Four-day charrette sets the stage for Ypsilanti Township’s master plan
Ypsilanti Township’s master plan looks toward 2040 while not losing sight of its past.
2018 holiday celebration shows how much we’ve grown
Back when, we’d meet at the home of Dick and Barb Carlisle on a Saturday in December for cocktails then go to dinner at an Ann Arbor restaurant. As we grew, and expanded Code Enforcement Services, Dick and Barb opened their home to us for the entire event. With 60 guests, the 2018 Carlisle/Wortman & […]
Four CWA runners conquer Turkey Trot
Four Carlisle/Wortman staffers braved 27-degree weather to run in the 5K Original Ann Arbor Turkey Trot at Hudson Mills Metropark in Dexter.
Post office adaptive reuse earns honors for Plymouth DDA
Congratulations to our client, the City of Plymouth and its downtown development authority. The conversion of a historic downtown post office into a boutique grocery store has earned them the 2018 Michigan Downtown Association award for Best Economic Development Project over $1 million.
Charrettes can help you transform your community
By Lauren Carlson Over the past 10 years I’ve seen so much great innovation in the public engagement processes that planners use to help communities build consensus on their futures. One of my favorite tools, because of the unique process and individualized outcome, is the charrette as created by the National Charrette Institute (NCI), now […]
Two CWA clients honored by planners at MAP/MML conference
The Michigan Association of Planning (MAP) and Michigan Municipal League (MML) joined their annual conferences September 19-21. Carlisle/Wortman Associates sponsored the Friday keynote luncheon, provided speakers for three sessions and saw two clients honored in MAP’s annual Planning Excellence Awards. Dick Carlisle was a panelist in the general session “Townhall Live! Bridging the Gap Between […]
Traffic congestion isn’t a problem. Road widening isn’t a solution.
If you only take one idea away from this post, make it this: Subscribe to the Strong Towns newsletter. It inspired this post on our blog last fall about how planners can accommodate older residents. Today it prompts us to write about traffic congestion. This essay gives two reasons why the American approach to congestion […]
Up next: Micro-units and dorms for grown-ups?
“Rental rates are out of reach for Michigan residents,” said a June 13 Community and Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) news release reporting the results of a new report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). The report says that the market rate for a two-bedroom apartment in Michigan is $876 a month […]