Author: Elise Harmon – Page 22

Incorporating Art Into Your Planning Process

Posted on March 7, 2017 at 1:34 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

Whether a colorful mural brightening an otherwise-bare wall, a trail adorned with temporary or permanent public art, or a wastewater treatment plant enhanced by interpretive arts elements, cultural resources and art improve the sense of place and community everywhere from workplaces to small towns to major cities. Arts and culture add vibrancy and connectivity to […]

Perfect Fit Parking: How Much is Residential Parking Actually Being Used?

Posted on February 24, 2017 at 4:09 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

In communities across Metro Boston, parking is a point of contention for initiatives ranging from zoning to housing projects: everyone needs more of it. However, there’s little hard data about how many off-street spaces are available in the region and what the actual demand for residential parking is. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s new initiative, […]

Newton's Community Solar Share Initiative: Sometimes, the Answer is Hidden in Plain Sight

Posted on January 26, 2017 at 12:06 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

Typically, low income households pay a higher percentage of income for electricity than those in other income brackets. In Boston, for example, median-income households spend 2.8 percent of their total income on electricity on average, whereas low-income households spend 6.7 percent of income on electricity. At the same time, disadvantaged households often do not have […]

MAPC’s Metro Mayors Coalition Receives Shannon Grant to Combat Youth and Gang Violence

Posted on January 11, 2017 at 2:30 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

MAPC’s Metro Mayors Coalition has received the Senator Charles E. Shannon Jr. Grant to prevent youth and gang violence for the 11th consecutive year. On Tuesday, Jan. 10, in a ceremony at the grand staircase of the Massachusetts State House, Governor Charlie Baker and Secretary of Safety and Security Dan Bennett announced that $5.7 million […]

Life Moves Pretty Fast, But Lowering Speed Limits Can Save Lives

Posted on January 5, 2017 at 2:45 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

“Life moves pretty fast,” goes the quote from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” “If you don’t slow down and look around, you might miss it.” What Ferris doesn’t say, though, is that if you slow down, you can also save lives. On Jan. 9, 2017, the City of Boston’s new default speed limit will be 25 […]