Hot off my RSS feed:

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  Bigger is Better: We are living in the era of the Mega City. The world has more big cities than at any time in history, and those cities are larger than they have ever been. But far from the urban dystopia that was widely predicted, cities are experiencing a renaissance. Have we begun to embrace the hugeness? (Dwell)

• Urban Topographies: Cuts & Patches: A strangely fascinating look at one of the often overlooked elements that make up the urban environment. “While you look around and marvel at the city, don’t forget, every now and again, to look down.” (UrbanOmnibus)

• Place-Making For People of Small Means: Placemaking is often looked at as reserved for municipal governments and developers. This post looks at how EVERYbody can play a role in shaping the look and feel of their neighborhoods. (The Well Run Dry)

• Urban Triangle?: My friend Matthew Petro, wrote this observant post on the challenges facing downtown Phoenix as it struggles to create a variant urban core. While obviously of interested to Valley dweller the post hits on some universal truths of placemaking. (Matthew Petro)

• Brave New Codes: Cities and towns across the country are abandoning conventional zoning codes in favor of a more ‘urban’ alternative, the form-based code. However, debate remains in urbanist circles as to whether this is the best way to go. (Architect)