Ben Brown
Ben connects, helping build environments of trust so planning can be about testing ideas instead of protecting turf and battling through cynicism. With solid communications and facilitation skills, he fosters a genuinely inclusive process and coaxes fence-sitters and doubters towards common ground — a place where shared goals stand in bold relief against divisive perspectives. Leveraging skills acquired through training and years of experience in fiercely competitive, deadline-driven arenas, Ben helps keep the promise of placemaking as a community-building exercise.
Factory-built affordability: Are we there yet?
After more than a decade of sporadic advancements, the factory-built cottage idea may finally have arrived. This development could make a difference in quality affordable housing across the US.
How charrettes avoid the Loop of Doom
What serves the veto seekers and frustrates everybody else is process paralysis. Which is the usual outcome when the goals and strategies of the politically savvy and elite-warry clash with those of politically naïve design pros.
From Ideas to Action: Cheaply, quickly, fairly
Last week, sociologist David Brain outlined strategies for a Lean charrette, which is a work-in-progress concept designed to match up with Lean Urbanism strategies. Opportunist that I am, I welcome that as an excuse to try Part 2 of the charrette...