Streetsblog Network is our brand new clearinghouse of sustainable transport, smart growth and livable streets news, linked from blogs across the country. Here’s a taste of what’s on the site right now.

Seeking Redemption for the Strip Mall. Milwaukee, WI: Is there an upside to strip mall sprawl? Some believe big box stores like Wal-Mart, by forcing small retailers to diversify, make a valuable and necessary contribution to the economy. Where looks at how "the boxscape" might be an asset to a new suburbia.

The Meaning of an American Commonwealth. Indianapolis, IN: What role should the federal government play in ensuring economic health for all regions of the nation? What responsibility do prosperous areas have to those suffering a downturn? Midwesterners and others debate the answer on The Urbanophile.

Also on Streetsblog.net: bike commuting tips, congestion pricing in San Francisco, thoughts from Texas on how to encourage connectivity in subdivisions, and much more.

Photo: austrini/Flickr