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City of Chicago

Oppose the Pay-to-Park Plan!

County plan would charge $3.50 per hour to park in 76 parks and parkways.

Jan 20th, 2018 by Jim Goulee

Imagine bringing together a group of talented architects and designers with Milwaukee homeowners from “middle-market” neighborhoods to explore how the look of their basic homes can be transformed through quality design. That’s the idea behind the Milwaukee Makeover Project.

Jul 13th, 2010 by Michael Schubert

Urban Tour Guide

Chicago

Chicago is a summer city. I never understood the desire of some Chicagoans to have a country home or lake home for the summer. A Florida condo in the winter perhaps, but why leave Chicago on the weekends during the short time of the year the weather is nice? Of course, if you're in Milwaukee, you already get this.

Jun 14th, 2010 by Jeramey Jannene

The Plan of Chicago – Book Review

The Plan of Chicago is a quick and easy read that's perhaps best described as a launchpad. Carl Smith breaks down key aspects of Burnham's plan in his book and details how they came to be, who influenced them, and how they turned out. For someone who hasn't actually read the actual plan (not required or expected for reading this book), author Carl Smith uses just the right amount of detail to illustrate the concepts.

Apr 19th, 2010 by Jeramey Jannene

Asian Carp are a Real Threat to Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan faces a wide range of threats, but the most pressing is the latest in a long line of invasive species, Asian Carp.

Jan 4th, 2010 by Dave Reid

Renewable Energy in the Midwest

The production of renewable energy continues to move forward in the Midwest as new projects are proposed and government adjusts to make construction of new developments easier. The most noteworthy is the planned 39 acre urban solar power plant in the City of Chicago's West Pullman neighborhood.

Jun 9th, 2009 by Jeramey Jannene

Zweig Project Would Add a Twist to Milwaukee

The debate swirling around the Janet Zweig art project got me thinking about the value of public art to our city and how other cities embrace opportunities to enhance their public places.

Apr 13th, 2009 by Dave Reid

Solar Powered Bus Stops As Power Centers?

As a follow-up to my post on Chicago’s Green Alley Program, I did some reading on rubber sidewalks they’re building. That led me to how they’re making their bus stops solar powered (we’re talking the three-sided ones, not the poles in the ground). About 100 solar shelters will be installed next year by the company that has the contract for shelter advertising. The installation will save the city an estimated $20,000 in electricity costs every year, according to Heramb. I don’t know if they’ve considered this, but what if you turned these solar powered bus stops into a decentralized grid of power centers? Why stop at just powering the light at the bus stop? Why not power all the street lights on the block? Why not power the new electronic parking meter LUKE too? Imagine all Department of Public Works property throughout the city of Milwaukee being powered by a money-saving distributed network of solar panels on top of MCTS bus stops. I would imagine Milwaukee could save a lot of money doing this and improving on an idea started by our friends to the south.

Nov 29th, 2007 by Jeramey Jannene

Chicago Spire

Chicago Spire Originally uploaded by *Gary* I did quite a bit of reading on the Chicago Spire last night. As you may or may not be aware, the Spire is Santiago Calatrava‘s new building being built in Chicago that will be the tallest building in North America and the tallest all residential building in the world. What’s most impressive about the building, however, is the fact that it’s designed as a LEED Gold building. Sustainable features include recycled rainwater, river water used for cooling, ornithologically-sensitive glass to protect migratory birds, intelligent building and management systems, waste storage and recycling management, and monitored outdoor air delivery. Learn more. To think that at a building this big will achieve the highest certified sustainability measure is truly impressive. The only LEED Gold-certified building within the city of Milwaukee is the Johnson Control’s Brengel Technology Center.

Nov 5th, 2007 by Jeramey Jannene

Murphy’s Law