In North American cities, pedestrian only streets are commonly considered as a logical solution to making downtowns and urban districts better. As more and more North Americans travel abroad to Europe, Asia and beyond, where pedestrianized streets are more common, it is often believed these streets could work well in North American cities. Does this really work?

In fact, over the last half century, hundreds of North American cities have pedestrianized streets in urban districts and almost all have failed and most have been reverted back to the original design. However, some of these have succeeded.

Why is that? What conditions have been utilized that facilitated success? What elements have contributed to the failures?

Join Mark and Dorian for this in depth discussion about pedestrian only street misperceptions-- what can help or hinder a downtown or urban district.
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NOTE: All photos and videos shown in this episode were taken by Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA except as noted.

Please join the City Builders, LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the channel
and SHARE this episode with others!

@CityBuildersLog
______________________________________________________________________
City Builders hosts:

Mark Nickita, FAIA
President of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto.
Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Dorian Moore, FAIA
Vice President of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto.
Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA lead Archive DS, a distinctly unique urban design, architectural, planning and development consulting practice. Archive DS travels the globe studying and documenting urban development for use in practice in cities around North America.

They are City Builders.

Archive DS [Design Studio] is an award-winning team of urban specialists focused on re-establishing post-industrial cities and urban sites, with a primary emphasis on the Lake Belt Region of North America. Through architecture, urban design, civic leadership, entrepreneurial activity, lecturing and global urban research, Archive DS has established a reputation as experts regarding the enhancement of the built environment and their various challenges.

The firm’s partners also serve as a resource on urban issues, as civic and professional leaders for local and national media outlets. Their professional experience has encompassed many aspects of city-making. These include major civic projects, adaptive reuse buildings, innovative mixed-use developments and historic renovations as well as the creation of design and economic strategies, urban visioning, and Placemaking, in addition to working as developers and the branding of projects and urban districts.

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA are available to assist in the development of building and urban design projects. They often team up with other firms and consult with development groups and municipalities. They have also presented and lectured for numerous groups on a variety of urban issues and topics throughout North America.

contact info:
www. ArchiveDS.com
info@ArchiveDS.com
313.963.6687
________________________________________________________
Music for video Intro and Outro:
"Changers"
written and performed by Curtainwall

Curtainwall is:
Dave Baker - Guitars
Mike Gusway - Bass
Mark Nickita - Drums+Vocals
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Fair Use Disclaimer
The content shared on this channel may include copyrighted material used for commentary, criticism, news reporting, teaching, research, or education purposes. All such use falls under the guidelines of Fair Use under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 107). We do not claim ownership of any third-party images, video clips, or audio featured in this channel’s content. All rights remain with their respective owners.

Copyright ©︎ 2026 City Builders, Mark Nickita, Dorian Moore. All Rights Reserved.

Have you ever walked on a sidewalk that just ended?

Or stood waiting far too long at a corner crosswalk and the "WALK" signal didn't light up?

Have you walked across an excessively wide street and wondered why it has so many lanes?

In this City Builders episode, Mark and Dorian pass along some of their observations in cities that they find to be missteps.....or simply frustrating.

Inconsistent crosswalks, wide streets, bikers and scooters zooming by on sidewalks, loud crosswalk signaling, one way streets and bike lanes that stop, are just some of these urban missteps.

Enjoy the discussion on what should be, but isn't, as Mark and Dorian talk about some urban missteps.

DO BETTER!
______________________________________________________________________
NOTE: All photos and videos shown in this episode were taken by Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA except as noted. A couple photos from Google Images.

Please join the City Builders, LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the channel
and SHARE this episode with others!

@CityBuildersLog
______________________________________________________________________
City Builders hosts:

Mark Nickita, FAIA
President of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto.
Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Dorian Moore, FAIA
Vice President of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto.
Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA lead Archive DS, a distinctly unique urban design, architectural, planning and development consulting practice. Archive DS travels the globe studying and documenting urban development for use in practice in cities around North America.
They are City Builders.

Archive DS [Design Studio] is an award-winning team of urban specialists focused on re-establishing post-industrial cities and urban sites, with a primary emphasis on the Lake Belt Region of North America. Through architecture, urban design, civic leadership, entrepreneurial activity, lecturing and global urban research, Archive DS has established a reputation as experts regarding the enhancement of the built environment and their various challenges.

The firm’s partners also serve as a resource on urban issues, as civic and professional leaders for local and national media outlets. Their professional experience has encompassed many aspects of city-making. These include major civic projects, adaptive reuse buildings, innovative mixed-use developments and historic renovations as well as the creation of design and economic strategies, urban visioning, and Placemaking, in addition to working as developers and the branding of projects and urban districts.

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA are available to assist in the develop of building and urban design projects. They often team up with other firms and consult with development groups and municipalities. They have also presented and lectured for numerous groups on a variety of urban issues and topics throughout North America.

contact info:
www. ArchiveDS.com
info@ArchiveDS.com
313.963.6687
________________________________________________________
Music for video Intro and Outro:
"Changers"
written and performed by Curtainwall

Curtainwall is:
Dave Baker - Guitars
Mike Gusway - Bass
Mark Nickita - Drums+Vocals
________________________________________________________
Fair Use Disclaimer
The content shared on this channel may include copyrighted material used for commentary, criticism, news reporting, teaching, research, or education purposes. All such use falls under the guidelines of Fair Use under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 107). We do not claim ownership of any third-party images, video clips, or audio featured in this channel’s content. All rights remain with their respective owners.

Copyright ©︎ 2026 City Builders, Mark Nickita, Dorian Moore. All Rights Reserved.

How are downtown districts doing in the post-pandemic environment and with the recently embraced "work from home" office model?

In this City Builders episode, Mark and Dorian discuss recent circumstances that are transforming cities all over North America. In some cases changes have been negative, however, some changes have been considered to be positive.

What is the new paradigm? For office users, for retailers, for residential users and for public spaces? And what about mobility.....walkability, biking, transit?

Enjoy a downtown focused discussion as Mark and Dorian talk about the current and future state of urban districts.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
NOTE: All photos and videos shown in this episode were taken by Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA except as noted.

Please join the City Builders, LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the channel
and SHARE this episode with others!

@CityBuildersLog
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
City Builders hosts:

Mark Nickita, FAIA
President of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto.
Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Dorian Moore, FAIA
Vice President of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto.
Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA lead Archive DS, a distinctly unique urban design, architectural, planning and development consulting practice. Archive DS travels the globe studying and documenting urban development for use in practice in cities around North America.
They are City Builders.

Archive DS [Design Studio] is an award-winning team of urban specialists focused on re-establishing post-industrial cities and urban sites, with a primary emphasis on the Lake Belt Region of North America. Through architecture, urban design, civic leadership, entrepreneurial activity, lecturing and global urban research, Archive DS has established a reputation as experts regarding the enhancement of the built environment and their various challenges.

The firm’s partners also serve as a resource on urban issues, as civic and professional leaders for local and national media outlets. Their professional experience has encompassed many aspects of city-making. These include major civic projects, adaptive reuse buildings, innovative mixed-use developments and historic renovations as well as the creation of design and economic strategies, urban visioning, and Placemaking, in addition to working as developers and the branding of projects and urban districts.

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA are available to assist in the develop of building and urban design projects. They often team up with other firms and consult with development groups and municipalities. They have also presented and lectured for numerous groups on a variety of urban issues and topics throughout North America.

contact info:
www. ArchiveDS.com
info@ArchiveDS.com
313.963.6687
________________________________________________________
Music for video Intro and Outro:
"Changers"
written and performed by Curtainwall

Curtainwall is:
Dave Baker - Guitars
Mike Gusway - Bass
Mark Nickita - Drums+Vocals
________________________________________________________
Fair Use Disclaimer
The content shared on this channel may include copyrighted material used for commentary, criticism, news reporting, teaching, research, or education purposes. All such use falls under the guidelines of Fair Use under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 107). We do not claim ownership of any third-party images, video clips, or audio featured in this channel’s content. All rights remain with their respective owners.

Copyright ©︎ 2026 City Builders, Mark Nickita, Dorian Moore. All Rights Reserved.