Awesome Ultimate Race story

An ex-NFL player-turned-developer plans a walkable solar city.

The idea is to create a self-contained community where people can live and shop and work and go to school and have fun without long car trips. Kitson's construction plans start with a walkable and bikable downtown that will include a magnet school, a wellness facility and sustainable retail as well as 8,000 homes - including affordable homes for local workers. "In Florida, everyone has to drive everywhere they want to go," Kitson says. "And everyone thinks the solution to congestion is to build more roads. I think the solution is to design communities so you don't need more cars on the roads."

Yes, it could end up a pipedream, and it's a drawback that he's killing open space to do it. But a viable prototype of a new-grid city could have far-reaching effects. And it's also proof that retired football players have more to offer than dreamt of in "Heathers."