Robert Davis Is Interviewed by the Urban Land Institute November 15, 2008
Arcadia’s November newsletter November 15, 2008
ROBERT S. DAVIS kicks off the sixth season of “The Forum at Redwood City: A Continuing Conversation on City Design” with a presentation on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 from 6 to 7:45 p.m. His presentation was titled “THE CITY OF IDEAS.” Since the early renaissance, as humanists began writing about the Citta’ Ideale (or “City of Ideas”), city building has looked to models like Pienza, Rome, Paris, Bath, Georgian London, Washington, the Chicago World’s Fair, Mariemont, and even Seaside for ideas about how to (re)make our towns and improve our lives. Each of these historical examples, as well as the words written by Alberti, Serlio, Burnham, Howard, Krier, Duany and others have much to teach those engaged in town building. Robert Davis explored the meaning and import of “cittá ideale” — Renaissance Humanism’s concept of the city. Heeding the humanist theories of Leon Battista Alberti and Sebastiano Serlio, Mr. Davis advised the audience to consider the “art of the possible”. Unlike “utopia,” the “cittá ideale” does not have to be perfect; in fact, the best examples (Pienza and Rome) maintained the existing medieval eccentricities that announced “character of place” while benefiting from periodic design interventions that aimed to make the city more legible, more livable and more elegant. The pre-existing town is still there, in all its ad hoc imperfection, and the beautiful street, square, obelisk, cathedral, and palazzo pubblico is made more interesting by its close proximity to the messy vitality of the pre-existing city.
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Arcadia releases inaugural newsletter October 23, 2008
Arcadia contributes to “Smart Transportation Guidebook” September 1, 2008
Woodmont Community Noted for Increased Demand July 8, 2008
Philadelphia, PA – Philadelphia Inquirer Real Estate writer Alan J. Heavens notes how location continues to drive sales in the Philadelphia suburbs. He mentions how, despite variations in marketing and construction, “location is still the secret to success.” Citing Wayne Norris, a new-home sales analyst in the area, he explains that Woodmont is a “strong performer” in the market with over 85 of it’s 120 houses sold since 2005. The article then moves to focus on the Lower Moreland School District as a another distinct advantage of Woodmont’s location. Finally, the article notes a shift in housing size and configuration as developers cater to shifts in demand. Bernard Markstein of the National Association of Home Builders writes, “The trend to smaller houses appears to be a national one, and they are generally selling better.” It is this national rise in demand for smaller houses that will increase Woodmont’s popularity and add to its site advantage.
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Woodmont receives praise in Philadelphia Inquirer article “Housing Market Not So Bad in Right Place” July 8, 2008
Philadelphia, PA – Philadelphia Inquirer Real Estate writer Alan J. Heavens notes how location continues to drive sales in the Philadelphia suburbs. He mentions how, despite variations in marketing and construction, “location is still the secret to success.” Citing Wayne Norris, a new-home sales analyst in the area, he explains that Woodmont is a “strong performer” in the market with over 85 of it’s 120 houses sold since 2005. The article then moves to focus on the Lower Moreland School District as a another distinct advantage of Woodmont’s location. Finally, the article notes a shift in housing size and configuration as developers cater to shifts in demand. Bernard Markstein of the National Association of Home Builders writes, “The trend to smaller houses appears to be a national one, and they are generally selling better.” It is this national rise in demand for smaller houses that will increase Woodmont’s popularity and add to its site advantage.