livable streets

If you're searching for reasons to feel positive about the future, the street transformations pictured below are a good start. Earlier this month we asked readers to send in their nominations for the best American street redesigns of 2014. These five are the finalists selected by Streetsblog staff. They include new car-free zones, substantial sidewalk expansions, superb bike infrastructure, awesome safety upgrades, and exclusive transit lanes.

The impending departure of the Golden Angel pancake house, 4344 North Lincoln in North Center, located kitty-corner from the Sulzer Library, where I often type up Streetsblog posts, is bitter-sweet for me. I’ll miss conversing with the chatty waitresses at this old-school greasy spoon while I tuck into a plate of their tasty chilaquiles.