Two weeks ago, Katherine Gregor's Chronicle column discussed a recent study by professors Louise Harpman and Jason Sowell from UT Architecture, sponsored by the Downtown Austin Alliance. The study concluded that Wooldridge Square Park (between Guadalupe/San Antonio and 9th/10th Street) needs more community support, event programming, and landscaping improvements. Wooldridge Square, along with Republic Square and Brush Square, was one of four public squares included in the original grid for the city of Austin... more ›

Jane Jacobs, the original urban planner who helped save Manhattan from an evil plan to cover it with highways, died this morning in Toronto. We at Austinist mourn her passing. Her vision of a livable downtown environment, explained in her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities, was a major factor in the rebirth of downtown living in the United States. Austin has just begun to reap the benefits of her insight. more ›