Sights and Scenes: Old Town Alexandria

January 13, 2021 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

A photographic journey illustrating the pedestrian friendly sights and scenes through Alexandria, Virginia's historic Old Town.

Exploring the campus of Edward Waters College

January 6, 2021 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

Anchoring Mid-Westside, Edward Waters College was founded in 1866 to educate the former enslaved and is the oldest private institution of higher education in the state of Florida. Located a...

Sights and Scenes: Southbank Riverwalk

December 31, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

As we prepare to put 2020 behind us and head into a new year, here are a few night sights and scenes from a stroll on the Southbank Riverwalk.

12 amazing industrial adaptive reuse projects

December 2, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

During their heyday, late 19th and early 20th century industrial sites employed thousands and were the largest buildings in their respective cities. Obsolete for modern industrial uses, these spaces are...

Walkable Jacksonville: San Marco Square

November 24, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

Jacksonville's urban core is home to a number of historic walkable neighborhood commercial districts. Many are a direct result of the city's former electric streetcar network that operated between 1880...

Walkable Jacksonville: Shoppes of Avondale

November 16, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

Jacksonville's urban core is home to a number of historic walkable neighborhood commercial districts. Many are a direct result of the city's former electric streetcar network that operated between 1880...

A walk through Pittsburgh's Strip District

November 5, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

Located just northeast of Downtown Pittsburgh, 'The Strip” is a narrow one-half mile strip of land sandwiched between the Allegheny River and a mountain of a hill.

Urban Revitalization: Atlanta's Cabbagetown

October 23, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

The Jaxson and Modern Cities take a visit to one of urban Atlanta's most popular neighborhoods: Cabbagetown

Before and After Withintrification: College Park

October 12, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

Modern Cities and The Jaxson take a look at a revitalized pedestrian friendly commercial district featuring a cluster of Black-owned local businesses: College Park

A look at the streets of Old San Juan

September 22, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, this article captures the sights and scenes in the oldest neighborhood of Puerto Rico's largest city: Old San Juan

30 things about Santo Domingo that you didn't know

September 17, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, here are 30 facts about one of the largest cosmopolitan cities in the Caribbean: Santo Domingo

10 Prairie School commercial buildings in downtown

September 14, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

Originating in Chicago, Prairie School was attempt in creating an indigenous North American style of architecture related to the ideas and aesthetics of the Arts and Crafts Movement of the...

The Prairie School residences of Riverside Avenue

September 10, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

Riverside Avenue is home to the most concentrated collection of Prairie-style houses in the South.

Central Park: Reviving the Scrub

July 27, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

A virtual look at Tampa's progress in the revival of a historic African-American community that was nearly completely razed by mid-20th century urban renewal.

A virtual tour of pre-COVID Downtown San Antonio

July 16, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

lifestyle

The Jaxson dives into its extensive digital city archives to show off the historic downtown core of a booming Texas metropolis: San Antonio

Neighborhoods: Old Ortega Historic District

July 7, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

A virtual tour of a historic Jacksonville neighborhood added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004: Old Ortega Historic District

Neighborhoods: Five Points

June 3, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

A virtual tour of Jacksonville's vibrant Five Points District.

Visions of Vibrancy: Denver's LoDo

May 27, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

The vibrancy of cities comes in all shapes and sizes. Many believe that what works in internationally known cosmopolitan settings may not be applicable for cities in America that have...

Jacksonville's oldest local barbecue restaurants

May 11, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

The South is known for great barbecue and Jacksonville's restaurants are no exception. In honor of National Barbecue Month, here are nine Jacksonville BBQ joints that have been serving up...

Neighborhoods of Jacksonville: Monterey

May 8, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Monterey is the area of Arlington bounded by the St. Johns River, Jacksonville University, University Boulevard and the Arlington Expressway. Although home to two historic communities dating back to the...

Exploring Havana, Cuba

April 22, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Modern Cities visits a city established as a strategic location for the Spanish conquest of the Americas during the 16th century: Havana, Cuba.

A brief history of Orange Park

April 20, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Despite being known for having some of Florida's longest commutes due to massive gridlock on its two main thoroughfares, the actual Town of Orange Park is much smaller and quaint...

Neighborhoods of Jacksonville: Baldwin

April 16, 2020 | Bill Delaney

The Jaxson shares the history of an independent town within the city limits of consolidated Jacksonville: Baldwin, Florida.

Vibrant urban waterfronts: The Detroit River

March 3, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Modern Cities takes a visual walk through a revitalizing urban riverfront: The Detroit International Riverwalk

Jacksonville's Southern rock graves

February 14, 2020 | Bill Delaney

Jacksonville, the birthplace of Southern rock, is also the final resting place of many who defined the genre. Photographer Chris Soldt takes a tour of Jacksonville's Southern rock graves.

Pine Forest: A Southside Gullah Geechee Community

February 11, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Surrounded by modern sprawl-based development, the Gullah Geechee community of Pine Forest is one of Jacksonville's oldest black neighborhoods.

Denver's Five Points: The Harlem of the West

February 10, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

A look at the Harlem of the West. Denver's Five Points

Exploring the Lowcountry: Georgetown, South Carolina

January 13, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Situated in the heart of Gullah Geechee and South Carolina Lowcountry, Georgetown is the third-oldest city in South Carolina behind Charleston.

Exploring Nocatee

January 6, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Located halfway between Jacksonville and Saint Augustine, Nocatee is one of America's most rapidly growing master planned communities.

A walk through urban Kissimmee

December 26, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Once known as Cow Town and now a SunRail commuter rail system destination, Kissimmee has grown to become the second largest city in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area.

New Orleans: A Walk Through Faubourg Marigny

December 17, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Originating as an early 19th century Creole French speaking suburb, Faubourg Marigny is a New Orleans neighborhood that has experienced significant gentrification post Hurricane Katrina.

A Walk Through Orlando's Lake Eola Park

November 18, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Every great city is home to a great park. For the City of Orlando, that great space is known as Lake Eola Park. Today, Modern Cities takes a virtual walk...

24 Hours of Chicago's Loop

October 30, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Chicago is a city that loves to celebrate Halloween. Today, Modern Cities explores 24 hours of the Loop, ending with Arts in the Dark: The Halloween parade celebrating Chicago's creative...

This Miami Food Hall's Best Dish Isn't on the Menu

August 26, 2019 | Melissa Hege, AICP

This Miami Food Hall's Best Dish Isn't on the Menu: It's a Community Thing. Melissa Hege, AICP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. takes a look at Miami's...

10 Attractions Downtown Jacksonville Should Have

August 19, 2019 | Bill Delaney

Downtown Jacksonville is loaded with potential, and there are plenty of opportunities for new attractions that make the most of our unique culture and history. From fresh seafood markets to...

The River District Comes Alive: Fort Myers

August 15, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP

10 years after the completion of a $52 million downtown utility and streetscape improvement project, the visual results of clustering complementing development within a compact setting are beginning to pay...

Parisian Cafés: The Center of Social Life in Paris

June 26, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP

The clustering of sidewalk cafés and sidewalk dining is one of the most affordable and least time consuming ways to add life to the urban streetscape. Here is a street...

The Revitalization of Pensacola's Palafox Street

June 3, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP

The rapid transformation of Pensacola's Palafox Street serves as a revitalization example for other cities to follow.

Columbus Commons: From Dead Mall to Urban Park

May 4, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP

A look at the rapid transformation of Columbus Commons: from desolate mall to premier urban park

The Makeover of Giralda Plaza

April 22, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP

The makeover of Giralda Avenue in the heart of Downtown Coral Gables serves as a visual example of the power of clustering, complementing uses within a compact urban setting and...

A Rainy Night In Downtown Houston

March 12, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Sights and scenes from a rainy February 2019 night in Downtown Houston.

Saint Arnold: A Cathedral Built for Beer

March 6, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP

The power and elegance of adaptive reuse in urban settings comes in a variety of forms. Today, we take a look a rapidly growing craft brewery that has won numerous...

Off The Beaten Path: Mayport Village

January 14, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Considered a fisherman's dream, Mayport Village is an authentic old Florida working waterfront located on the St. Johns River two miles east of the Atlantic Ocean.

Unique Urbanity: Pittsburgh's Strip District

December 13, 2018 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Located just northeast of Downtown Pittsburgh, 'The Strip” is a narrow one-half mile strip of land sandwiched between the Allegheny River and a mountain of a hill.

A Night In Downtown Orlando

October 23, 2018 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Over the last 20 years, Downtown Orlando has emerged as a diversified Central Florida hub for commerce, government and finance. While many cities continue to struggle to establish a flourishing...

FAMU's Homecoming Exposes Black History Lesson

October 11, 2018 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Founded in 1887 in Tallahassee and situated on the former plantation site of Duval County namesake Governor William Pope Duval, Florida A&M University (FAMU) is the fifth largest historically black...

Exploring North Florida: Fernandina Beach

October 5, 2018 | Ennis Davis, AICP

Jacksonville may be Northeast Florida's largest city and St. Augustine may be the nation's oldest, but if you're willing to explore, you'll discover the First Coast is filled with many...

Cities Vie for Retirees... That Aren't Moving

September 28, 2018 | Sophee Payne

Cities vie for retiring baby boomers...that aren't moving.

Gentrified: San Diego's Little Italy

September 5, 2018 | Ennis Davis

Located on the northwest end of Downtown San Diego and a few blocks from the Embarcadero, Little Italy originated as a predominately Italian fishing neighborhood during the late 19th century....

Florida Southern College: An Architectural Masterpiece

August 14, 2018 | Ennis Davis

Ranked in the past by Princeton Review as the most beautiful college campus in the country, Florida Southern College (FSC) is home to the world's largest single-site collection of Frank...

A Photo Tour of St. Louis

July 17, 2018 | Bill Delaney

St. Louis, Missouri is the Gateway to the West, known for breweries, baseball, and its imposing Gateway Arch. Join Modern Cities' Bill Delaney on a photo tour of some of...

Inside Eataly Chicago

July 10, 2018 | Ennis Davis

Food halls have become the sharing economy for restaurants. They're also one of the hottest trends in the restaurant business and retail right now.

What does 'gentrification' really mean?

May 11, 2018 | Mike Field

Kea Wilson of Strong Towns explores gentrification. No two people seem to quite agree on what the word “gentrification” means. If you’re at all interested in what shapes our cities,...

Moncrief prepares to lose its food desert status

May 8, 2018 | Ennis Davis

A long time Jacksonville food desert could be going away if the Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation (CDC) has it their way. Founded in 2001, the mission of the CDC...

72 hours on foot in Havana, Cuba

April 18, 2018 | Ennis Davis

Modern Cities visits a city established as a strategic location for the Spanish conquest of the Americas during the 16th century: Havana, Cuba.

A photographic tour of Downtown San Diego

April 1, 2018 | Ennis Davis

Modern Cities' Ennis Davis takes readers on a photographic tour of Downtown San Diego.

What If The Corner Store Was A Gathering Place?

March 21, 2018 | Mike Field

Chicago-based Foxtrot looks to expand their new convenience store concept with a nationwide roll-out.

Before & After Placemaking: Albania's Pazari i Ri

February 28, 2018 | Ennis Davis

A before and after look at the recent transformation of Tirana, Albania's Pazari i Ri.

Leading entertainment cities from various perspectives

February 25, 2018 | Ennis Davis

As the globe becomes a much smaller place thanks to greatly improved transport and connections between locations in different continents, destinations around the world are competing fiercely for tourist dollars,...

New York Judge Rules Graffiti Is Protected Public Art

February 22, 2018 | Mike Field

Landmark judgement results in $6.7 million in damages awarded to 21 graffiti artists for destroyed murals.

Nassau: Perfect Destination for Bahamas Beach Vacation

February 19, 2018 | Ennis Davis

Perched beneath a palm tree, feet buried in sparkling sand and a fruity concoction of a cocktail in your hand. And yes, there is a little pink umbrella in your...

Reimagining The Gas Station Of The Future

February 15, 2018 | Mike Field

If electric vehicles are the future of transportation, can gas stations be re-imagined into centers promoting exercise and healthy eating?

Size Matters: Why Beaufort Does it Better

February 6, 2018 | Ennis Davis

Melissa Hege, AICP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. shares her thoughts on what makes Beaufort, South Carolina a special place.

Exploring North Florida: Fernandina Beach

January 10, 2018 | Ennis Davis

Jacksonville may be Northeast Florida's largest city and St. Augustine may be the nation's oldest, but if you're willing to explore, you'll discover the First Coast is filled with many...

Where your Florida orange juice comes from

December 27, 2017 | Ennis Davis

In 1915, Claude E. Street produced his first bottle of Street's Grapefruit Juice in Haines City, Florida, becoming the first citrus juice processing manufacturer in America. Today, behind Brazil, Florida...

You've Come a Long Way Baby: Downtown West Palm Beach

December 13, 2017 | Ennis Davis

Melissa Hege, AICP, LEED AP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. emphasizes how a distinctive and unique waterfront plaza has helped reshape Downtown West Palm Beach.

A Glimpse of Downtown Miami

November 21, 2017 | Ennis Davis

Like many cities, Miami aspires to achieve greatness with its downtown. Judging from the amount of cranes dominating the skyline, Miami is well on its way. Today, Modern Cities shares...

Medellín: The cosmopolitan city you've never seen

October 12, 2017 | Ennis Davis

Sometimes called the City of the Eternal Spring, Medellín is a cosmopolitan city you rarely discussed in positive circles across the United States. During the 1980s, Medellín was once known...

Put The Heatlamp Away, 7-Eleven Ups Their Food Game

September 26, 2017 | Mike Field

Company's pilot program seeks to reinvent stores into a neighborhood fast-casual dining destination.

Startup Fronts Down Payment If You Rent Room On Airbnb

September 20, 2017 | Mike Field

Want to buy a house but can't afford the down payment? This startup offers assistance... with a catch.

Silicon Valley Looks To Kill The Corner Store

September 15, 2017 | Mike Field

New startup is either a disruptive technology that will forever change the corner store, or yet another example of Silicone Valley looking to gentrify neighborhoods- depending on who you ask....

Bartram Park: A suburban millennial paradise?

August 30, 2017 | Ennis Davis

Despite well publicized excitement about downtown revitalization, young adults are fueling rapid growth in suburban areas like Bartram Park across the country. Is it by choice, or necessity?

Placemaking, We've Got this Miami

August 1, 2017 | Ennis Davis

Melissa Hege, AICP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. highlights the power of placemaking.

A Glimpse of the Motor City's Renaissance

July 20, 2017 | Ennis Davis

50 Years have passed since the 1967 Detroit riot. While the movie rehashing that pivotal moment in the city's history gets all the press over the next few weeks, Downtown...

A Tale of Two Zip Codes

June 29, 2017 | Ennis Davis

When it comes to our health, our zip code matters more than our genetic code. For many communities across the United States, easy access to healthy food options, parks for...

Exploring Montréal as a Next City Vanguard

June 14, 2017 | Ennis Davis

Ennis Davis, AICP of Modern Cities provides a review of Next City's 2017 Vanguard Conference in Montréal and suggests what it could mean for cities of the future.

Sarasota: Where urban amenities meet small town living

May 19, 2017 | Ennis Davis

Situated one hour south of Tampa, Sarasota is generally overlooked but continues to quietly retrofit itself into a bonafide walkable Sunbelt city. In fact, the city with 14.89 square miles...

Raleigh: One of America's Fastest Growing Downtowns

April 24, 2017 | Ennis Davis

Raleigh: An In-Depth Look at One of America's Fastest Growing Downtowns

Venice Beach: What Other Communities Can Learn

April 4, 2017 | Ennis Davis

Melissa Hege, AICP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. takes a trip to Venice Beach in Los Angeles, to provide other communities with a few urban planning tips...

30 things about Richmond that you didn't already know

March 28, 2017 | Ennis Davis

30 facts about one of the South's most historically walkable cities: Richmond, Virginia

A night on Jacksonville's St. Johns River

March 24, 2017 | Ennis Davis

Sights and scenes from a sunset water taxi cruise along the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville.

Taco Bell Invading The Urban Border

March 9, 2017 | Mike Field

Popular millennial-focused chain plans to open up to 200 locations of a new urban-focused concept serving craft beer and fresh, upscale food.

Miami Design District versus Beverly Hills

February 28, 2017 | Ennis Davis

Melissa Hege, AICP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. shares her thoughts on the Miami Design District verses Beverly Hills.

The Fifty Best Food Trucks In The US

January 15, 2017 | Mike Field

Walk up to the fifty best mobile kitchens in the US. These food truckers stand out by serving excellent food, curbside.

Behind the Facade: The Dewberry Charleston

January 12, 2017 | Ennis Davis

A behind the scenes look into the repurposing of Charleston's Mendel Rivers Federal Building into a luxury boutique hotel called The Dewberry Charleston.

31 things about Santo Domingo that you didn't know

January 4, 2017 | Ennis Davis

31 facts about one of the largest cosmopolitian cities in the Caribbean: Santo Domingo

A trip inside Yuengling: America's largest craft brewer

December 27, 2016 | Ennis Davis

Established in 1829, D. G. Yuengling & Son is the oldest operating brewing company in the United States. Based on volume of beer sold in 2015, it is also the...

Wildlight: New urbanism's answer to lowcountry living?

December 16, 2016 | Ennis Davis

Is it possible to create a community combining the best elements of Lowcountry southern living, cuisine and architecture with industry and New Urbanism? This major timber company believes so.

Discovering the Atlanta you probably didn't know

December 8, 2016 | Ennis Davis

Atlanta is known for a lot of things but being a historically pedestrian scale city is not one of them. However, an explosion in growth since 1950, that has lead...

The power of public art: Murals show Jax's resilience

November 22, 2016 | Ennis Davis

Once considered to be down and out, Jacksonville's urban core is a place on the move. The resilience of the city is captured in the rapidly expanding conversion of once...

The Tampa Riverwalk: 40 years from start to finish

October 31, 2016 | Ennis Davis

A brief walking tour of one of Florida's most recent significant public waterfront investments: The Tampa Riverwalk

A foodie's paradise? The awesome food halls of Atlanta

October 28, 2016 | Ennis Davis

An American Urban Anomaly: New Orleans

October 11, 2016 | Ennis Davis

Haven't been to New Orleans in a while? Don't worry, we have you covered. Here's a brief photo tour of the urban core of one of the country's most beautiful...

Asheville Bound: A Glimpse of Perfection

September 16, 2016 | Ennis Davis

Melissa Hege, AICP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. takes a trip to Asheville, NC and shares what she learned about implementing smart and subtle, yet affordable urban...

The South's 14 must-visit food halls

September 1, 2016 | Ennis Davis

Here's a list of the best food halls around, if you find yourself in the South and in need of a bite to eat.

4 little known facts about Ft Lauderdale we should know

August 28, 2016 | Ennis Davis

A major tourist destination and yachting center with 165 miles of canals, Fort Lauderdale is known for several things. Being called a walkable city is not one of them. In...

Walkable Suburbanism: Palo Alto, CA

July 26, 2016 | Ennis Davis

Palo Alto is thought to be one of the most educated and expensive cities in the United States. It is a diverse community; with a mixture of old and new...

These Are The Newest Food Halls You Need To Visit

July 11, 2016 | Mike Field

Food halls have enjoyed a popular resurgence in popular food culture. While places like Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market, Seattle's Pikes Place Market and San Francisco's Ferry Building have long been...

These Night Markets Are Lighting Up Cities

July 4, 2016 | Mike Field

As farmers markets and food truck rallies now seemingly pop up everywhere, a new nocturnal trend has recharged the street food scene and illuminated the rich potential hidden in long-forgotten...

Milwaukee Helps To Fund Parks With Beer

July 3, 2016 | Mike Field

Experiencing Houston as a Next City Vanguard

May 25, 2016 | Ennis Davis

Editorial by Ennis Davis, AICP

Savannah: A Southern Urban Anomaly

May 11, 2016 | Ennis Davis

Article and urban photo tour by Ennis Davis, AICP

Mexico City: North America's Largest Urban Center

March 29, 2016 | Ennis Davis

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP

The Best Weekly Markets in the Southeast

March 9, 2016 | Mike Field

Article by Michael Field

Asheville: Then and Now

March 9, 2016 | Ennis Davis

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP