Julie Weatherbee
@juliewbee.bsky.social
I find lost things, watch Ann Arbor City Council, and I like squirrels, tech, and city living. Change is fine. Primarily pedestrian.
Reposted by Julie Weatherbee
Although most US cities have failed at attracting families with kids in downtowns and other urban places (largely through the creation of a self-fulfilling prophesy of failure), other places, including Vancouver, have succeeded. Read my @vox.com interview with @volts.wtf. www.vox.com/2017/6/21/15...
Young families typically leave cities for the suburbs. Here’s how to keep them downtown.
Urbanist Brent Toderian explains how Vancouver held onto its families.
www.vox.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Although most US cities have failed at attracting families with kids in downtowns and other urban places (largely through the creation of a self-fulfilling prophesy of failure), other places, including Vancouver, have succeeded. Read my @vox.com interview with @volts.wtf. www.vox.com/2017/6/21/15...
Hey #A2Council and architecture fans, here is an interesting event tomorrow at the U-M Library: www.lib.umich.edu/visit-and-st...
The Michigan Kit-House Industry: Not Just a Flash in the Pan
www.lib.umich.edu
November 19, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Hey #A2Council and architecture fans, here is an interesting event tomorrow at the U-M Library: www.lib.umich.edu/visit-and-st...
NEW from me: A recent study finds that fully electrified homes in Handsworth, built to adhere to a draft version of the Future Homes standard, put less pressure on the grid than researchers expected.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Heat-pump homes put less strain on grid than expected, study shows
Analysis of new-builds in Birmingham suggests all-electric homes not only use less energy but vary in peak usage
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Reposted by Julie Weatherbee
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
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November 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
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Woot! The Draft Ann Arbor Comprehensive Land Use Plan will now enter the requisite 63-day plan review. #A2Council engage.a2gov.org/comprehensiv...
Draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Comp Plan)
A plan to guide growth and land use decisions
engage.a2gov.org
October 21, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Woot! The Draft Ann Arbor Comprehensive Land Use Plan will now enter the requisite 63-day plan review. #A2Council engage.a2gov.org/comprehensiv...
New open data portal from the city! Intended to be easier for everyone to use than previous machine-readable site. ADA and mobile device compliant! www.a2gov.org/news/posts/a... #A2Council
Ann Arbor Launches Open Data Portal | City of Ann Arbor
www.a2gov.org
October 20, 2025 at 11:13 PM
New open data portal from the city! Intended to be easier for everyone to use than previous machine-readable site. ADA and mobile device compliant! www.a2gov.org/news/posts/a... #A2Council
Reposted by Julie Weatherbee
Gentle readers, it's #a2Council night. Here's your preview: www.damnarbor.com/2025/10/ann-...
In a rare turn of events, tonight's spiciest chili is on the consent agenda. Hopefully nobody pulls the Comprehensive Land Use Plan update from the consent agenda and it passes with out much ado.
In a rare turn of events, tonight's spiciest chili is on the consent agenda. Hopefully nobody pulls the Comprehensive Land Use Plan update from the consent agenda and it passes with out much ado.
Ann Arbor City Council Agenda: October 20, 2025
Gentle readers, it's #a2Council night in Ann Arbor. Here's the agenda . The meeting kicks off with a scant, 4 item consent agenda. The sp...
www.damnarbor.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Gentle readers, it's #a2Council night. Here's your preview: www.damnarbor.com/2025/10/ann-...
In a rare turn of events, tonight's spiciest chili is on the consent agenda. Hopefully nobody pulls the Comprehensive Land Use Plan update from the consent agenda and it passes with out much ado.
In a rare turn of events, tonight's spiciest chili is on the consent agenda. Hopefully nobody pulls the Comprehensive Land Use Plan update from the consent agenda and it passes with out much ado.
Reposted by Julie Weatherbee
Does your local coffee shop look like this?
If not, it’s probably because:
1) zoning created large distances between housing & shops.
2) the streets between housing & shops are unsafe for biking.
3) there isn’t any/enough secure bike parking
1/2
If not, it’s probably because:
1) zoning created large distances between housing & shops.
2) the streets between housing & shops are unsafe for biking.
3) there isn’t any/enough secure bike parking
1/2
October 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Does your local coffee shop look like this?
If not, it’s probably because:
1) zoning created large distances between housing & shops.
2) the streets between housing & shops are unsafe for biking.
3) there isn’t any/enough secure bike parking
1/2
If not, it’s probably because:
1) zoning created large distances between housing & shops.
2) the streets between housing & shops are unsafe for biking.
3) there isn’t any/enough secure bike parking
1/2
Reposted by Julie Weatherbee
Interestingly, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, who had previously opposed the infrastructure, eventually reversed their position and became one of the city’s most vocal cycling proponents—calling protected bike lanes “the way of the future” and a “win–win–win for all users”.
October 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Wake up, #A2Council fans, T. Swift isn’t the only person dropping something new today! Draft 3 of the Comp Plan is available now! engage.a2gov.org/comprehensiv...
Draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Comp Plan)
A plan to guide growth and land use decisions
engage.a2gov.org
October 3, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Wake up, #A2Council fans, T. Swift isn’t the only person dropping something new today! Draft 3 of the Comp Plan is available now! engage.a2gov.org/comprehensiv...
Reposted by Julie Weatherbee
2025 is on pace to be Ann Arbor's worst year for pedestrian crashes. We talk with @crashesinannarbor.bsky.social's Peter Houk who complied these data.
#a2Council
www.damnarbor.com/2025/10/2025...
#a2Council
www.damnarbor.com/2025/10/2025...
2025 on pace to be Ann Arbor's worst for pedestrian crashes: an interview with Crashes in Ann Arbor's Peter Houk
Serious and fatal pedestrian crashes by year from Crashes in Ann Arbor . 2025 data is year to date. Ann Arbor has an ambitious Vision Zero ...
www.damnarbor.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:56 PM
2025 is on pace to be Ann Arbor's worst year for pedestrian crashes. We talk with @crashesinannarbor.bsky.social's Peter Houk who complied these data.
#a2Council
www.damnarbor.com/2025/10/2025...
#a2Council
www.damnarbor.com/2025/10/2025...
Very interesting, #A2Council.
US multifamily housing is 6 times safer than single family homes - and safer even than older multifamily buildings
sprinklers.
it's why 6-8 story point access blocks are a no-brainer.
great research from @alexhrwtz.bsky.social & PEW
www.pew.org/en/research-...
sprinklers.
it's why 6-8 story point access blocks are a no-brainer.
great research from @alexhrwtz.bsky.social & PEW
www.pew.org/en/research-...
September 30, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Very interesting, #A2Council.
Reposted by Julie Weatherbee
This is why I’ve been trying to reform design review for a decade and generally oppose more new city regs. This isn’t benign bureaucracy—it ossifies into a tool for capricious delay and to extract reductions in dev capacity.
I watched a design review hearing for a planned grocery store-anchored housing development in Wedgwood tonight and it definitely reminded me why we shouldn't let volunteer boards of architects dictate every detail of building design
September 30, 2025 at 11:44 AM
This is why I’ve been trying to reform design review for a decade and generally oppose more new city regs. This isn’t benign bureaucracy—it ossifies into a tool for capricious delay and to extract reductions in dev capacity.
Reposted by Julie Weatherbee
There are only 41,000 coal miners in the United States. By way of comparison, there are 100,000 **registered** yoga teachers, 361,000 Starbucks baristas and 265,000 faculty and staff members working for the University of California system alone.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Fox: "We're announcing today expanded programs to help the American coal industry. We're helping it because for years it has been under assault. It was out of fashion with the chardonnay set in San Francisco, Boulder, and NYC ... coal just makes the world go round."
September 29, 2025 at 5:32 PM
There are only 41,000 coal miners in the United States. By way of comparison, there are 100,000 **registered** yoga teachers, 361,000 Starbucks baristas and 265,000 faculty and staff members working for the University of California system alone.
Ye Olde Ann Arbor hasn’t seen this many cowboy boots since, well, maybe ever. #ZachBryanConcert
September 27, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Ye Olde Ann Arbor hasn’t seen this many cowboy boots since, well, maybe ever. #ZachBryanConcert
Reposted by Julie Weatherbee
Three years and no response from the city for this report on a dangerous intersection. I bike this way regularly and cars never yield to pedestrians even when the walk signal is activated. This area has very high pedestrian traffic.
#a2Council
seeclickfix.com/issues/13483...
#a2Council
seeclickfix.com/issues/13483...
Sidewalk issue
Please remove need for beg button to cross medical center dr There are always numerous people waiting to cross here in the mornings and evenings No need to require a button push, which is impossible...
seeclickfix.com
September 24, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Three years and no response from the city for this report on a dangerous intersection. I bike this way regularly and cars never yield to pedestrians even when the walk signal is activated. This area has very high pedestrian traffic.
#a2Council
seeclickfix.com/issues/13483...
#a2Council
seeclickfix.com/issues/13483...
Reposted by Julie Weatherbee
Zach Bryan and John Mayer are headlining @umich.edu's first concert at Michigan Stadium on September 27. While the show is expected to have over 112,000 fans in attendance, it got us wondering about some of the other concerts at U-M’s second-biggest venue: Crisler Center.
pulp.aadl.org/node/647186
pulp.aadl.org/node/647186
September 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Zach Bryan and John Mayer are headlining @umich.edu's first concert at Michigan Stadium on September 27. While the show is expected to have over 112,000 fans in attendance, it got us wondering about some of the other concerts at U-M’s second-biggest venue: Crisler Center.
pulp.aadl.org/node/647186
pulp.aadl.org/node/647186