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+1 on more urban trees. Few things improve a streetscape more. It seems that higher urban temperatures help trees grow, and then of course more trees also mitigate the urban heat island effect.
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Despite other conditions that might have influenced this faster growth, the researchers have determined that the hyper-growth speeds are largely attributable to the higher temperatures in the city. They confirmed this hypothesis with seedlings grown in a lab under similar temperatures and conditions.

Trees can provide a number of benefits to urban areas. Their positive impact on property values has been documented extensively. Urban trees have also been found to provide a significant economic benefit to cities due to their role in stormwater treatment, energy use reduction, air quality improvement and carbon sequestration.

Trees have also been found to help counter the urban heat island effect that is apparently helping them grow much faster – a negative feedback loop that suggests planting more trees in the city makes a lot of environmental sense. The warmer temperatures caused by the urban heat island effect are certainly causing problems in cities, but they're also creating what have turns out to be ideal conditions for tree planting.
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trees urban_forest cities amenities atlantic_cities

It starts out lightheartedly, as a meditation on the power of showers (water pressure, preferably STRONG), and morphs into a list of very excellent points about what every city should be able to provide:
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It was under a deluge from the massive showerhead at the hotel one morning last week that I started thinking about a simple checklist that every mayor should ensure is delivered everyday for every resident and visitor. My 10-point checklist went something like this: [click through/ read on for more]
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monocle_magazine tyler_brule cities amenities

Men feel soothed by experiencing culture, whereas women feel that way if they're creating it? This is interesting...
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* Regardless of education or wealth, people who go to museums or concerts or make art tend to be happier.
* The link between culture and good feelings were different for men and women.
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stress culture amenities

Brief article on the benefits of public benches on city sidewalks, and that T.O. has too few of them. Interestingly, this is something that has been bugging me for a while about Victoria, too. Too often, there is literally NO WHERE to sit, even on d/t streets with broad sidewalks. As soon as the street is out of the tourist district or off Government, no more benches. No benches on Fort or on Yates, two streets that are wide and generous in other respects (and the sidewalks are wide enough on Yates, although mingy on Fort). The comments on this article are useful, too.

thestar christopher_hume toronto cities amenities public_space street_appeal street_usage sidewalks

Intro page from the Royal Society for the Preservation of Birds (RSPB) to a report by a Dr. William Bird (ha!) called "Natural Thinking," available as a PDF download. Bird's report is an "investigating [of] the links between the natural environment, biodiversity and mental health."

This could be a useful reference for urbanist writing, insofar as it underscores the importance of amenities as a necessary complement to density. You don't want to have density while simultaneously "automating" everything (no more walking, driving only, no interaction with nature, etc.). Even small "hot spots" of natural interaction will work, or more walking with actual natural elements at hand.

health mental_health nature amenities stress research rspb

Crosscut's David Brewster referenced this article in his critique of 2 Seattle developments. Key aspect is that if the amenities aren't delivered, you can't have the density. It won't work -- the amenities HAVE to be first-class. Recall Edward T. Hall and his commentary on Calhoun.

amenities eco_density frances_bula urban_development vancouver

Featuring many comments from CEOs for Cities's Carol Coletta, on the various strategies cities are being encouraged to use to make them more child-friendly.

amenities ceos_for_cities child_friendly cities neighbourhoods urbanplanning