I made an amateur video commercial, about my #LittleFreeLibrary in South #Saanich 😀

#CommunityBuilding #CommunitySharing #CommunityConnecting #FreeBooks #FreeZines #FreeStickers #FreeForTheCommunity #Placemaking #VictoriaBC #VancouverIsland #CommunityLibrary #grassroots #EverythingIsFree

🇮🇹Bravo Italiano🇮🇹: Planning Lessons from “The Hill” in St. Louis

Given the universal admiration of the scenic hill towns of Italy, it’s prophetic that an idyllic Italian enclave in St. Louis would be known as “The Hill.” Below are some of the many planning lessons that can be learned from this fine urban community.

• For those who have demeaned, dismissed, and discarded the City of St. Louis over the decades, “The Hill” is a clear and shining example of why that opinion is inaccurate. The ‘Spirit of St. Louis’ is very much alive and well here.

• “The Hill” successfully embraces all five human senses, as any great place should, through the sight of colorfully rich and vibrant streetscapes; from the sound of gurgling waters flowing in the piazza fountain or the rhythmic bells of St. Ambrose Catholic Church ringing upon the hour; via the dreamy aroma of delicious Italian fare drifting through the air: by the sweet taste of gelato after supper; and through the simple touch of couples holding hands while strolling on a evening walk.

• The Piazza Imo is a lovely recent addition to the neighborhood that exudes the beauty and richness of Italy’s civic gathering places in the middle of America. The piazza is an idyllic park setting that transcends national borders and vast oceans.

• To have survived Interstate 44 clipping the neighborhood, nearby urban decay, overly aggressive urban renewal, and all sorts of other threats to the cohesiveness of the neighborhood and continue to thrive says much about the collective hearts of the Italian-American community that calls “The Hill” home.

• There may be more Italian restaurants per capita in “The Hill” than in 99.9 percent of the United States. “The Hill” is a ‘Cucina Italiana’ gastronome’s slice of Heaven.

• When your city has two local food cuisine specialties that were born in the same neighborhood, that says something. St. Louis-style Pizza and Toasted Ravioli are quintessential St. Louis foodie delights that everyone should experience.

• Though shotgun-style dwellings may predominate, the mix of housing choices available within “The Hill” provide a healthy variety of living options from which to choose.

• Placemaking efforts such as pocket parks, community gardens, neighborhood identification signage, and murals are just a few examples of the ways “The Hill” has employed successful planning techniques throughout the neighborhood.

• “The Hill” is a physical celebration of Italian-American heritage and the immigrants from their homeland emigrated here.

• This retired planner truly wishes there was an easy way to simply bottle the mojo found in “The Hill” and apply it elsewhere in St. Louis and all across the American urban landscape.

• Red, white, and green are three colors that vividly depict the ethnic and cultural pride of the Italian-American residents living in “The Hill.” It’s a perfect example of how all of us should be able to celebrate the diverse textures, fibers, and patterns that are interwoven into the American tapestry.

Hey #Hamburg,
zieh' dich warm an!
Wo andere aufhören, fängt KURS FAHRRADSTADT erst an. Nur noch wenige Tage und wir legen wieder los!

#Mobilitätswende
#visionzero
#lebenswerteStadt
#stadtfüralle
#reclaimthestreets
#placemaking

My #LittleFreeLibrary has been freshly restocked with some new books, more community & book lovers & environmentalist stickers, rad anarchist zines & a few other extra awesome freebies! My LFL is listed on Google maps under Dino Books Little Free Library. I run the only #anarchist LFL in the area 🤘

#CommunityBuilding #CommunitySharing #CommunityLibrary #FreeBooks #FreeZines #FreeStickers #ReadMoreBooks #bookstodon #ComeGetFreeBooks #Saanich #VictoriaBC #placemaking #VancouverIsland #ShareBooks #AnarchistLibrary #SolarPunk #library

Got to take part in painting a mural.

#AtlantaArt #CommunityArt #PublicArt #Mural #StreetArt #Placemaking #doravillega

The Disappearance of the Public Bench

https://placesjournal.org/article/the-disappearance-of-the-public-bench/

#HackerNews #publicspaces #urbanfurniture #architecture #communitydesign #placemaking

Local leaders are exploring how municipalities can foster social connection by implementing intentional onboarding systems for residents, like employers. It involves setting cultural expectations, supporting community builders, and designing public spaces to encourage interaction.

https://www.nlc.org/article/2026/04/17/what-if-cities-onboarded-residents-like-employers-onboard-employees/

#urbanism #urbanplanning #communitybuilding #socialconnection #placemaking