PLANNING MAGAZINE RECOGNIZES PLUSURBIA DESIGN'S NATIONAL AWARD

WYNWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION DISTRICT
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING GOLD STANDARD

WORDS OF WISDOM AND PAIN FROM THE STREETS OF NEW ORLEANS

PHOTOGRAPHED ON ST. CLAUDE AVENUE, JUST NORTH OF THE BASCULE BRIDGE

I am a white male, born into every opportunity this land affords.

And I take zero offense at those who call the presidency a white supremacy nation.

I don't know how else to evaluate the vast majority of the GOP -- in the White House, Senate, Congress.

These people were born in to far more wealth and privilege than I ever was. 

And instead of using that natural advantage to level the playing field for those not born with 10 silver spoons, they have ganged up against anyone considered a minority by any definition.

I am sick to my stomach, disgusted.

I sit here with a roof over head, car in the drive, food in my belly, work that challenges me to be creative.

But I feel like this must be what it was like before the Nazis took over Germany, the Fascists Italy and KKK the South and beyond.

As a person who voted for Obama twice, and if anything my only small criticism was he didn't use his superior brain and quick wit more to push a progressive agenda farther, I am truly shocked of the backlash at a black man in the White House.

I knew we still had problems...but when he won two terms...I quite foolishly thought maybe we were turning the corner on equality and fair play.

I was dead wrong.

It wasn't a couple people hiding in the boonies, seething with hate.

It was upwards of half of this nation.

It is heartbreaking.

It is, without resistance, enough to break the spirit.

But that's what Trump and his brotherhood of bastards want.

So we must channel our fears into hope.

We must challenge this regime -- or things will get worse then when a person of color could "pay" for a sideways glance with the loss of life via lynching.

And that, cannot be our America.

It cannot be anyone's America.

ORLANDO CAT CAFÉ

CLERMONT, FLORIDA

By Heidi Johnson-Wright

This month, I had the joy of visiting the Orlando Cat Café.

It is a partnership between Axum Coffee and the Animal League.

Here, you can enjoy a delicious latte and macaroons while you visit and play with sweet kitties in search of forever homes.

The cost of $8 per hour per person helps cover the cost of spay/neuter, vaccinations and vet care so each kitty is healthy and ready for a new family.

They also sell cute jewelry and trinkets with proceeds going to the Animal League.

So if you’re passing through Orlando, check it out.

Who knows, you might take home a new fur angel!

http://www.orlandocatcafe.com

LIVE HEALTHY BIKE RIDE

We’re proud to announce that we’re partnering with Live Healthy Little Havana for a Bike Ride on 5/21 at Riverside Park.

http://plusurbia.com/live-healthy-bike-ride-on-521/

PLUSURBIA DESIGN’S PUERTO RICO TEAM

SUPPORTING REVITALIZATION EFFORTS

Plusurbia with residents of the Municipality of Cataño and Mayor Félix Delgado in Puerto Rico in their revitalization efforts.

http://plusurbia.com/puerto-rico-team-in-support-of-revitalization-efforts/

HISTORIC VILLAGE SUPPORTS SMART GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

VIA MODERN FORM-BASED CODE CREATED BY PLUSURBIA DESIGN

The historic Village of El Portal adopted a visual and user-friendly zoning document known as a form-based code. Created by Miami’s PlusUrbia Design, the code will preserve El Portal’s picturesque residential enclave while creating room for economic development on land annexed to the Village. The development site, east of the FEC railroad tracks near Biscayne Boulevard, is slated for properly-scaled mixed-use development that will create jobs, services and tax base.

The Village Council voted unanimously to approve the form-based code. PlusUrbia, which also serves as the Village’s consultant planning and zoning department, translated the vision created by the Village during its 2013 Charrette into a predictable code. The new code takes a holistic and contextual approach toward zoning in the village of 2,300.

Major investors are considering development plans for the 12-acre site on the eastern edge of the Village that is a former trailer park. PlusUrbia’s code will ensure that the major development does not encroach on the single family residential portion of the village. That leafy enclave has long been sought after for its tranquility and small town character.

PlusUrbia will improve the Village by creating standards that will make the NE 2nd Avenue corridor more walkable with incremental mixed-use redevelopment. The top priority is to encourage moderate growth while protecting the peaceful residential neighborhoods on either side of the corridor.

http://plusurbia.com/historic-village-supports-smart-growth-and-economic-development-via-modern-form-based-code-created-by-plusurbia-design/

MICHELLE OBAMA TALKS ABOUT GOALS, AVOIDS TRUMP

DURING KEYNOTE CONVERSATION AT AIA 2017 ORLANDO

Courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel:

Former First Lady Michelle Obama made no mention of the man who replaced her husband as president during her first post-White House speaking engagement Thursday in Orlando and appeared to rule out seeking office in the future.

“It’s all well and good until you start running, and then the knives come out,” she said. “Politics is tough, and it’s hard on a family … I wouldn’t ask my children to do this again because, when you run for higher office, it’s not just you, it’s your whole family.”

“Plus,” she added, “there’s just so much more we can do outside of the office, because we won’t have the burden of political baggage.”

Obama participated in a 45-minute Q&A during the American Institute of Architects’ annual conference at the Orange County Convention Center on Thursday. She spoke about adjusting to life after the White House and discussed her goals for the future and causes she hopes to support.

“One issue that I am excited about continuing to work on is … to help young girls get an education around the world,” she said, citing the Let Girls Learn initiative she launched as first lady. Obama also stressed the need to combat violence against women and improve their access to healthcare.

for full Jeff Weiner story on Michelle Obama, click here