Island Press Field Notes

Tensions around a DC bridge reveal the historical and contemporary realities of how marginalized communities continue to be limited the full breadth of services afforded to other communities, both on land and in the water.

“When it comes to gentrifying neighborhoods, we want to make sure that we’re understanding how the broader community is impacting displacement in DC, whether it’s the arts community or the LGBT community.”

Vacant lots, so often seen as neighborhood blight, have the potential to be a key element of community revitalization. As manufacturing cities reinvent themselves after decades of lost jobs and population, abundant vacant land resources and interest in green infrastructure are expanding opportunities for community and environmental resilience.

Social design is changing how we build and conceive of cities.