ABSTRACT
Good urbanism builds upon what is integral to people and locales their prima materia or DNA. It enhances places by revealing and celebrating these existing gifts, rather than focusing on deficits and problems. The gifts may include natural landscapes, buildings, neighborhoods, businesses, cultural institutions, history and cultural traditions, as well as the talents, ideas, and skills of stakeholders. Good communication about places similarly begins with an appreciation for what is working, thereby offering inspiration and instruction. In contrast, the modernist genre of criticism focuses on what is not working, typically offering cautionary tales about what not to do. Good urbanism is co-creative, inviting a wide range of professionals and stakeholders to participate, welcoming them when they do, and partnering to bring ideas to life. Good urbanism aims to create prosperous places where all people can live prosperous lives. It measures success in terms of such prosperity, rather than power, profit, and prestige.
