The Commons and its surroundings have experienced growth that encourages business activity over the years. There are still a lot of areas where there could be improvement. Our overview started out walking down State Street to the next intersection. Stopping here, we could see 8 parking lots, all of which are in prime locations for commercial development. Not only could they be developed, but they also break the stream of shops and make the area seem less developed and enticing for shoppers. Visibility is therefore a key component of a plan to improve The Commons. There should be better signage for visitors and more openness in the inner area. Removing the large trees in the middle and replacing them with smaller side trees would help improve visibility.
What’s nice about the commons is that the central shopping area is closed off to cars. Our trip leader mentioned that an overhead rail system (PRT) could potentially bring more business to the city, but that it is ten years away. While some of us agreed with that view, others thought that the first phase of such a system should be put in place within the next 3 years. It was also brought up that perhaps The Commons could be extended into State Street in the south side, with bumps in Cayuga Street to slow down traffic. What makes this traffic flow even more prominent is if the buildings in shopping areas are mixed use, so that they house people in the top area. There are a lot of these multiuse dwellings on the commons already, but they could be extended to every building with incentives to build up to 6-8 stories high. Aurora Street essentially marks the end of the commons on the other side. The restaurants in this area could see more business activity if a circle was placed at that intersection to slow down traffic.
The businesses in The Commons could also use improvement in the facades. There should be a program to incentivize this. There should also be a plan to refurbish/redesign The Commons, as it hasn’t been done since the 1970’s. The Center Ithaca needs to be more visible and engaged that it is today. There should also be new development in the History Center area to connect it more to The Commons. On the mobility area of the surrounding area, there was discussion of improved bus service and the setup of bike lanes through the reduction of unused sidewalks and parking spaces. One idea was to reduce sidewalks between trees to allow for parking spaces, therefore opening up space for bike lanes. There was also discussion of better carpooling services, such as Zimride, and a bike program that provides bike access to residents (such as the Paris system). In the long-term, the PRT system would allow for the development of parking lots in the area.
Team Members: Andrew, Carlos, Gabriella, Greg, Leah, and Maya
Friday, October 5, 2007
Downtown 10/02/07 Green Cities Field Trip -State and Plain Street Area Reflections
From the eyes of an Ithaca city planner (Elizabeth)
Current assets of the community are multiple community centers and help centers. The roads are currently tree lined and well kept. Another asset is the fact that most of the residents are renters, making it more possible to implement the systems with little resistance or disturbance. On the other hand, having high rental rates causes lower levels of investment in the community. There is a church in the neighborhood, and faith based organizations are assets. There is room to be developed such as parking lots. However, in some cases, buildings would have to be demolished
for space. Such buildings have little character or history. There are
also a few small businesses, such as restaurants in the area. A
liability is the fact that there is high car traffic down the center road
due to the addition of the bridge. Otherwise, the residential area allows
for a high level of non-car-based transport. The corner where the church is
houses buildings which are not residential or historic and could become a
hub of activity.
There are currently many areas in this neighborhood that could be
developed into mixed income, and mixed use buildings
while still preserving the feeling and important aspects of the
community. There are many one story buildings and box buildings currently
taking up space in an inefficient way. Building on top of many of
these, and occasionally knocking some down, would allow for more
development that would help the community and not displace people.
Because this neighborhood is currently residential, a light rail system
would be more likely to spur economic development. People would be more
likely to go into the neighborhood than they previously were when they
had no reason, or did not pass through on their way to the next location.
Integrating the rail system could prove to be slightly difficult because of the single home older look of the neighborhood.
Because the rail does not have a covered roof, there would still be light
coming through as to not cause harm to the social and physical aspects of
the neighborhood. If steel could be integrated in with the current green
landscape, the rail system would fit well aesthetically. The space over the State Street
Diner provides and example of where development over one story buildings
could occur.
The main issue would be how to prevent gentrification. As the neighborhood is currently a lower income rental neighborhood, adding development could cause drastic change. In order to build multiculturalism, the city would have to actively support it. First of all, the community would need to keep its current organizations, such as the church and rehab centers. Creating varied types of housing, both full housing and apartments would lead to more mixed income and multicultural areas. The block on state street could become a common space. If the current
assets were used, such as the church, this could help to create a usable
community-based area and not just something developers decide to put in.
With the addition of a rail line, hopefully car use could decrease and
focus could be on walking. It would be interesting to know how many of
the current residents currently own a car, and therefore how easy the
change to a car free zone would be.
Reflections From a Small Business Owner (Toni):
As a small merchant/business owner my primary goal is to build and
strengthen my business by protecting and increasing my customer base. A
downtown transit line has the potential to greatly strengthen or weaken
my business so I would have a few serious questions to ask before I
could support the cause. On the corner of Plain and Seneca there is a
small convenience store with a small parking lot, and next to that is a
corner church. It is proposed that that spot could be the possible site
for a little town square named Martin Luther King Square. As the
convenience store owner, some serious questions would need to be
addressed before I would consider allowing my store to be demolished and
relocated. The total selling price for my existing store would have to
cover the cost of relocation, the business lost during the move, and the
complete renovation of the new store. There would need to be a reliable
survey indicating the amount of customer traffic my business would
enjoy. If the transit stations will increase economic growth to the
business closest to it, how can I get my business near a station? The
station locations are of significant importance to my business because
they provide the best opportunity for growth, but also because it could
threaten my business and decrease customer traffic and accessibility to
my store if I am not near a transit station. Who would decide where the
stations would go? A small business owner doesn’t have the influence a
larger business has. Will business monetary contributions to the Connect
Ithaca Transit Line affect where the stations will go. If so, my business
could be bypassed completely.
More questions:
If the road is eventually car-free, how would suppliers be able to get to my business and would it
be a hassle? Will my taxes go up because of the transit line and all the
new development? Owning a small business is a delicate balance and any
type of change could tip the scale and end my business. I would need a
realistic picture of how the Transit line would work before I could
accept any major changes that could affect the health of my business.
Reflections From A Low Income Resident (Christopher):
The proposed transit line will certainly connect the Southside neighborhood to the Ithaca community as a whole, but many of the residents may object to the project out of fear that the light rail will change the social environment of the area in an undesirable way. Currently, the neighborhood has a very cohesive quality (period architecture and appropriate scale) but the transit line will certainly change this dynamic (especially for residents who live on streets where the transit line will be installed and for residents who live next to stations and hubs where development will occur). As the transit line brings new economic development to the community, low income residents will more than likely find their neighborhood threatened by gentrification. Unless the local government initiates aggressive policy to keep development from displacing these residents, Ithaca’s south side will undoubtedly attract a new set of residents (mainly middle and upper class) who can afford to live in the highly connected area. In theory, low income residents might gain better access to jobs across the city once the line is built (perhaps at the hospital or near the airport) but in the long run these residents will need more than new jobs to keep them living in the neighborhood.
Reflections From A Retiree (Melanie):
Downtown Ithaca’s current assets include the Commons and State Street, which is a concentrated area of commercial activities and residential spaces, walkable tree-lined streets, entertainment facilities (theaters, restaurants, etc.) and a relatively safe public environment. State & Plain also contains many nice older buildings that contribute to the character of the area. Some of the liabilities include the increasing development of sprawl-like residential and commercial areas that are drawing shoppers and residents outside the city core. While there are buses that run during regular business hours, there is a huge lack of regular public transit during off peak hours. There is also poor transit access to many areas of development outside the city center like Wegmans, the Farmer's Market, many large parks, and the hospital.
There are possibilities for increasing the density of Ithaca as buildings that are only one or two stories high may be replaced with more efficient, higher density ones. There could also be more mixed use of Ithaca’s core areas to that blocks now reserved almost solely for commerce may include living spaces above them and vice versa. With mixed use zones, people may reduce the need for automobiles because they will have much of what they need within easy walking distance. When we looked at the Plain and State Street areas, the neighborhood is mostly residential (with the exception of State Street itself). If a new transit system was implemented, then this could encourage a greater mix of residential and commercial areas along the main lines, with an even more intensely mixed zones or public squares at major intersections. As a retiree considering living at State & Plain, I would like to live in an area where I can walk to all my major amenities within five minutes. Likewise, the Commons and other areas that already have intensive commerce could benefit by creating more living spaces within them.
I am a retired person, so one of my major areas of concern is noise and traffic. I need a sense of peace and quiet, so I would like some sort of guarantee that the new transit system will not be too noisy, especially at night. I would hope that new buildings and retrofits would look for ways to buffer and reduce noise from transit and the increased pedestrian/bike traffic. By the way, I don’t have air-conditioning, so my windows have to be open in the summer and I don’t want to hear a noisy streetcar go by my third-story window every five minutes. If the streets with the elevated transit system were only for use by pedestrians and bicycles, then I would want there to be clear areas separating the two because some people can be holy terrors on bikes just like they are in cars. As I get older, I could drive a golf cart or electric wheelchair in the bike lanes too. All my friends in Florida now live in golf cart/motorized wheelchair communities, and they can really help the elderly get around comfortably. Will there be places to park these types of personal vehicles at the PRT stations or will I have to leave my wheelchair at home? Incidentally, I know that Ithaca should be reducing its amount of hard horizontal surfaces in order to allow the soil to efficiently absorb and filter water, but I can't get around well on uneven surfaces because I am not that steady anymore. If the city ripped up all the asphalt, then it would have to make sure that whatever walking or biking surfaces that replace it are disabled and elder-friendly.
While I like a bit of peace and quiet, I am also looking to be well-integrated into society at large. I may be retired, but it doesn’t mean that I want to hide myself away or only spend time with other people my age. I take an interest in young people and people of different cultures, and I would like to have more opportunities to interact with them. With this in mind, the city should avoid ghettoizing different types of people and should encourage interaction. A new public square at State and Plain should try to do that because I would like to spend time in a nicely-planted place with cultural events and different types of people to watch and get to know better. If our neighborhood is beautiful enough, then maybe tourist will even want to visit, and that will give me even more people-watching foddor when I sit in the public square.
Since I am retired, I am seeking ways to make use of my time. While I don’t want to work full-time anymore, I am looking for a part-time job and some volunteer opportunities. I would like to be able to work very close to where I live, and I would be more than willing to learn new skills to be a part of the new green economy. Since I like gardening, I would like to have access to a garden (maybe on an accessible rooftop) and be able to volunteer my time to growing food for the community. I like young people, so I would also be interested in helping out at a daycare centre. City beautification projects are also very important to me, and I could could do a lot to contribute to these efforts. Since gardening and living in a green neighborhood with lots of trees is very important to me, I would be willing to accept an elevated transit system if there was a guarantee that it would not shade out all the gardens below it. It would also be ideal if the column that support the cars could be used to grow plants on them too. Greenery always seem to look more decent than naked steel or concrete!
Of course, I am concerned about rain and ice dripping on me if I hobble underneath the elevated transit system. I use a cane, and can’t move very fast to get out of the way. With this in mind, the new, free transit system can’t have seats that are too low and will have to be able to wait for me to get myself in and out of the cars. I am old and can’t be rushed or else I will get stressed out and not use the system anymore. Besides, the whole reason they took my license away was because the doctor said that my eyesight was too poor to drive safely. A new transit system could help me get to my doctor and the hospital more easily, but I would feel much better if there were attendants at the stations to help me use it. After all, I don’t really trust computers, so a completely automated system seems very foreign to me. I would be afraid that I might break it if I do something wrong.
Summary:
From the perspectives of a city planner, small business owner, a low-income resident and a retiree, the Connect Ithaca Concept Plan shows a lot of potential to satisfy diverse stakeholders. The neighborhood already has some valuable assets, such as tree-lined streets, moderate commercial activity, low-cost rental housing and historic buildings. Some of the major concerns of the current (low-income) and possible (retired) residents are how to avoid gentrification, increase diversity and foster multiculturalism in the State & Plain Street neighborhood. The major concern for the city planner is how to densify and transition the area from one that is overrun by cars to a car-free zone. Almost all the stakeholders saw that the proposed plan could link different neighborhoods and increase access to important places like hospitals and work sites, while also increasing local commercial and residential opportunities. If these and other stakeholders can continue to openly exchange questions, ideas and criticisms about the plan, then the Connect Ithaca Concept might have great potential to make Ithaca more sustainable.
Current assets of the community are multiple community centers and help centers. The roads are currently tree lined and well kept. Another asset is the fact that most of the residents are renters, making it more possible to implement the systems with little resistance or disturbance. On the other hand, having high rental rates causes lower levels of investment in the community. There is a church in the neighborhood, and faith based organizations are assets. There is room to be developed such as parking lots. However, in some cases, buildings would have to be demolished
for space. Such buildings have little character or history. There are
also a few small businesses, such as restaurants in the area. A
liability is the fact that there is high car traffic down the center road
due to the addition of the bridge. Otherwise, the residential area allows
for a high level of non-car-based transport. The corner where the church is
houses buildings which are not residential or historic and could become a
hub of activity.
There are currently many areas in this neighborhood that could be
developed into mixed income, and mixed use buildings
while still preserving the feeling and important aspects of the
community. There are many one story buildings and box buildings currently
taking up space in an inefficient way. Building on top of many of
these, and occasionally knocking some down, would allow for more
development that would help the community and not displace people.
Because this neighborhood is currently residential, a light rail system
would be more likely to spur economic development. People would be more
likely to go into the neighborhood than they previously were when they
had no reason, or did not pass through on their way to the next location.
Integrating the rail system could prove to be slightly difficult because of the single home older look of the neighborhood.
Because the rail does not have a covered roof, there would still be light
coming through as to not cause harm to the social and physical aspects of
the neighborhood. If steel could be integrated in with the current green
landscape, the rail system would fit well aesthetically. The space over the State Street
Diner provides and example of where development over one story buildings
could occur.
The main issue would be how to prevent gentrification. As the neighborhood is currently a lower income rental neighborhood, adding development could cause drastic change. In order to build multiculturalism, the city would have to actively support it. First of all, the community would need to keep its current organizations, such as the church and rehab centers. Creating varied types of housing, both full housing and apartments would lead to more mixed income and multicultural areas. The block on state street could become a common space. If the current
assets were used, such as the church, this could help to create a usable
community-based area and not just something developers decide to put in.
With the addition of a rail line, hopefully car use could decrease and
focus could be on walking. It would be interesting to know how many of
the current residents currently own a car, and therefore how easy the
change to a car free zone would be.
Reflections From a Small Business Owner (Toni):
As a small merchant/business owner my primary goal is to build and
strengthen my business by protecting and increasing my customer base. A
downtown transit line has the potential to greatly strengthen or weaken
my business so I would have a few serious questions to ask before I
could support the cause. On the corner of Plain and Seneca there is a
small convenience store with a small parking lot, and next to that is a
corner church. It is proposed that that spot could be the possible site
for a little town square named Martin Luther King Square. As the
convenience store owner, some serious questions would need to be
addressed before I would consider allowing my store to be demolished and
relocated. The total selling price for my existing store would have to
cover the cost of relocation, the business lost during the move, and the
complete renovation of the new store. There would need to be a reliable
survey indicating the amount of customer traffic my business would
enjoy. If the transit stations will increase economic growth to the
business closest to it, how can I get my business near a station? The
station locations are of significant importance to my business because
they provide the best opportunity for growth, but also because it could
threaten my business and decrease customer traffic and accessibility to
my store if I am not near a transit station. Who would decide where the
stations would go? A small business owner doesn’t have the influence a
larger business has. Will business monetary contributions to the Connect
Ithaca Transit Line affect where the stations will go. If so, my business
could be bypassed completely.
More questions:
If the road is eventually car-free, how would suppliers be able to get to my business and would it
be a hassle? Will my taxes go up because of the transit line and all the
new development? Owning a small business is a delicate balance and any
type of change could tip the scale and end my business. I would need a
realistic picture of how the Transit line would work before I could
accept any major changes that could affect the health of my business.
Reflections From A Low Income Resident (Christopher):
The proposed transit line will certainly connect the Southside neighborhood to the Ithaca community as a whole, but many of the residents may object to the project out of fear that the light rail will change the social environment of the area in an undesirable way. Currently, the neighborhood has a very cohesive quality (period architecture and appropriate scale) but the transit line will certainly change this dynamic (especially for residents who live on streets where the transit line will be installed and for residents who live next to stations and hubs where development will occur). As the transit line brings new economic development to the community, low income residents will more than likely find their neighborhood threatened by gentrification. Unless the local government initiates aggressive policy to keep development from displacing these residents, Ithaca’s south side will undoubtedly attract a new set of residents (mainly middle and upper class) who can afford to live in the highly connected area. In theory, low income residents might gain better access to jobs across the city once the line is built (perhaps at the hospital or near the airport) but in the long run these residents will need more than new jobs to keep them living in the neighborhood.
Reflections From A Retiree (Melanie):
Downtown Ithaca’s current assets include the Commons and State Street, which is a concentrated area of commercial activities and residential spaces, walkable tree-lined streets, entertainment facilities (theaters, restaurants, etc.) and a relatively safe public environment. State & Plain also contains many nice older buildings that contribute to the character of the area. Some of the liabilities include the increasing development of sprawl-like residential and commercial areas that are drawing shoppers and residents outside the city core. While there are buses that run during regular business hours, there is a huge lack of regular public transit during off peak hours. There is also poor transit access to many areas of development outside the city center like Wegmans, the Farmer's Market, many large parks, and the hospital.
There are possibilities for increasing the density of Ithaca as buildings that are only one or two stories high may be replaced with more efficient, higher density ones. There could also be more mixed use of Ithaca’s core areas to that blocks now reserved almost solely for commerce may include living spaces above them and vice versa. With mixed use zones, people may reduce the need for automobiles because they will have much of what they need within easy walking distance. When we looked at the Plain and State Street areas, the neighborhood is mostly residential (with the exception of State Street itself). If a new transit system was implemented, then this could encourage a greater mix of residential and commercial areas along the main lines, with an even more intensely mixed zones or public squares at major intersections. As a retiree considering living at State & Plain, I would like to live in an area where I can walk to all my major amenities within five minutes. Likewise, the Commons and other areas that already have intensive commerce could benefit by creating more living spaces within them.
I am a retired person, so one of my major areas of concern is noise and traffic. I need a sense of peace and quiet, so I would like some sort of guarantee that the new transit system will not be too noisy, especially at night. I would hope that new buildings and retrofits would look for ways to buffer and reduce noise from transit and the increased pedestrian/bike traffic. By the way, I don’t have air-conditioning, so my windows have to be open in the summer and I don’t want to hear a noisy streetcar go by my third-story window every five minutes. If the streets with the elevated transit system were only for use by pedestrians and bicycles, then I would want there to be clear areas separating the two because some people can be holy terrors on bikes just like they are in cars. As I get older, I could drive a golf cart or electric wheelchair in the bike lanes too. All my friends in Florida now live in golf cart/motorized wheelchair communities, and they can really help the elderly get around comfortably. Will there be places to park these types of personal vehicles at the PRT stations or will I have to leave my wheelchair at home? Incidentally, I know that Ithaca should be reducing its amount of hard horizontal surfaces in order to allow the soil to efficiently absorb and filter water, but I can't get around well on uneven surfaces because I am not that steady anymore. If the city ripped up all the asphalt, then it would have to make sure that whatever walking or biking surfaces that replace it are disabled and elder-friendly.
While I like a bit of peace and quiet, I am also looking to be well-integrated into society at large. I may be retired, but it doesn’t mean that I want to hide myself away or only spend time with other people my age. I take an interest in young people and people of different cultures, and I would like to have more opportunities to interact with them. With this in mind, the city should avoid ghettoizing different types of people and should encourage interaction. A new public square at State and Plain should try to do that because I would like to spend time in a nicely-planted place with cultural events and different types of people to watch and get to know better. If our neighborhood is beautiful enough, then maybe tourist will even want to visit, and that will give me even more people-watching foddor when I sit in the public square.
Since I am retired, I am seeking ways to make use of my time. While I don’t want to work full-time anymore, I am looking for a part-time job and some volunteer opportunities. I would like to be able to work very close to where I live, and I would be more than willing to learn new skills to be a part of the new green economy. Since I like gardening, I would like to have access to a garden (maybe on an accessible rooftop) and be able to volunteer my time to growing food for the community. I like young people, so I would also be interested in helping out at a daycare centre. City beautification projects are also very important to me, and I could could do a lot to contribute to these efforts. Since gardening and living in a green neighborhood with lots of trees is very important to me, I would be willing to accept an elevated transit system if there was a guarantee that it would not shade out all the gardens below it. It would also be ideal if the column that support the cars could be used to grow plants on them too. Greenery always seem to look more decent than naked steel or concrete!
Of course, I am concerned about rain and ice dripping on me if I hobble underneath the elevated transit system. I use a cane, and can’t move very fast to get out of the way. With this in mind, the new, free transit system can’t have seats that are too low and will have to be able to wait for me to get myself in and out of the cars. I am old and can’t be rushed or else I will get stressed out and not use the system anymore. Besides, the whole reason they took my license away was because the doctor said that my eyesight was too poor to drive safely. A new transit system could help me get to my doctor and the hospital more easily, but I would feel much better if there were attendants at the stations to help me use it. After all, I don’t really trust computers, so a completely automated system seems very foreign to me. I would be afraid that I might break it if I do something wrong.
Summary:
From the perspectives of a city planner, small business owner, a low-income resident and a retiree, the Connect Ithaca Concept Plan shows a lot of potential to satisfy diverse stakeholders. The neighborhood already has some valuable assets, such as tree-lined streets, moderate commercial activity, low-cost rental housing and historic buildings. Some of the major concerns of the current (low-income) and possible (retired) residents are how to avoid gentrification, increase diversity and foster multiculturalism in the State & Plain Street neighborhood. The major concern for the city planner is how to densify and transition the area from one that is overrun by cars to a car-free zone. Almost all the stakeholders saw that the proposed plan could link different neighborhoods and increase access to important places like hospitals and work sites, while also increasing local commercial and residential opportunities. If these and other stakeholders can continue to openly exchange questions, ideas and criticisms about the plan, then the Connect Ithaca Concept might have great potential to make Ithaca more sustainable.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Are megacities sustainilizable?
Re Green Jean (Gabriella)’s query: What do these eco-theorists think we should do about the megacities? Is there any hope for New York City to become more sustainable or is it too late, has it been completely lost?
Great Question!
Some of the bigger cities are in the forefront of the Green City movement (see below), partly because they can generate the capital to support major infrastructure and restoration experiments. They also also have large devastated areas where major restoration experiments are feasible. Most of them have embraced bold mass transit/car use reduction strategies (efficient mass transit, car use disincentives, express buses in dedicated lanes, etc.) as well as land use & greening strategies (comprehensive regional planning, urban growth boundaries, transit villages, urban farms, green industry, green building incentives, etc.) Key systemic infrastructure changes needed for deeper sustainability, such as those Register is talking about, will take many years in these places, just as is true in small to medium cities.
In the US: San Francisco, Seattle, Oakland, Portland are leaders, all located in a progressive coastal cultural region that provides grass roots support. Chicago and New York, are also leaders, with bold visionary leaders.
In Canada, the leaders are: Vancouver, Quebec City, & Toronto,
In Europe: Amsterdam, Stockholm, Berlin, among others
In South America: Curitiba and Bogota have bold, visionary leaders. Sao Paolo is large & innovative.
Others’ comments?
Great Question!
Some of the bigger cities are in the forefront of the Green City movement (see below), partly because they can generate the capital to support major infrastructure and restoration experiments. They also also have large devastated areas where major restoration experiments are feasible. Most of them have embraced bold mass transit/car use reduction strategies (efficient mass transit, car use disincentives, express buses in dedicated lanes, etc.) as well as land use & greening strategies (comprehensive regional planning, urban growth boundaries, transit villages, urban farms, green industry, green building incentives, etc.) Key systemic infrastructure changes needed for deeper sustainability, such as those Register is talking about, will take many years in these places, just as is true in small to medium cities.
In the US: San Francisco, Seattle, Oakland, Portland are leaders, all located in a progressive coastal cultural region that provides grass roots support. Chicago and New York, are also leaders, with bold visionary leaders.
In Canada, the leaders are: Vancouver, Quebec City, & Toronto,
In Europe: Amsterdam, Stockholm, Berlin, among others
In South America: Curitiba and Bogota have bold, visionary leaders. Sao Paolo is large & innovative.
Others’ comments?
Monday, October 1, 2007
Ecocities - Chapter 7
I read chapter 7 in registers Ecocities. In addition, to discussing some of the ideas that came up in this chapter i will compare and contrast some of the concepts to things that i noticed while exploring the downtown Ithaca area and then conclude with my desires for the remaining six classes.
In chapter 7 "what to build" Register covers many ideas surrounding the idea ecocity. Of the chapters read so far i enjoyed this one the most and for the first time i really could visualize a lot of the ideas he presented. Many of the overarching concepts were somewhat redundant from those that he has brought up in past chapters. Although i believe that this was the first and most successful time that he brought all of these concepts together in a very cohesive and integrated manner. I really felt as though he was making a city with his ideas instead of somewhat randomly throwing them out to the reader.
The first idea that he really emphasizes is that "you can't build a house starting with the roof....it can't be done randomly". This is one idea that he and other previous authors have presented many times, but for the first time Register really demonstrates the importance of this. In terms of a comparison with Ithaca i believe that the current state of Ithaca was not thought of in the holistic foundation first manner. It definitely does not display the continuity and thoughtfulness towards sustainable practice and the residents best interest that Register would like. I do believe that the people of Ithaca are attempting to rectify this by thinking in a much more holistic way in terms of the future of Ithaca. This includes taking a lot of time to think about land use and the implications that every decision will have. Such as the new developments behind the wal-mart or the future of city transportation.
The next important concept explored by Register were his principles of the ecocity. I really enjoyed his principle but the one that i enjoyed the most was to "build soils and enhance biodiversity. I personally really enjoyed this concept for the obvious yet difficult reason that diversity is one of the keys to sustainability, too much of anything will never be a good thing. In Ithaca i believe that they are trying very hard to have biodiversity. They are attempting to appeal to the masses through big box stores while still maintaining much of the small town charm that the commons bring. They also work very hard, as they should, to maintain much of the outside resources available to the area.
Definitely the most enjoyable part of this chapter form me was the bike tour, although a bit silly at times i literally felt as though i was on the tour with him. Many of the pictures that he painted through his descriptions seemed so peaceful and happy i really wanted to be in this fictional place at many times. Some of the elements that i enjoyed the most were the public spaces on roofs, and the high rise environment. He almost made it seem like in an ecocity everybody would always be happy and everyday would be a sunny and happy good time. One problem that i did have was that i think he gets a bit too caught up in some of the ideas and overlooks many of the practical sides of a city. Such as his solutions for the police and the ambulances just seemed laughable and ridiculous to me i think that many of the physical ideas were great but much of the systematic elements need much more thought.
Finally i must end with a question that has been bothering me for some time. In many of our readings and especially in those of Register the ideas for the ecocity seem to be geared towards the small to mid-sized city, like Ithaca, but i must ask what do these eco-theorists think we should do about the megacities? Is there any hope for new york city to become more sustainable or is it too late has it been completely lost? This kept appearing in my mind and i would really like to explore more sustainable practice in both governmental approach and actual implementation in the large city. We have talked a bit about the community garden but other than that and public transportation i see very little towards an ideal ecocity.
In chapter 7 "what to build" Register covers many ideas surrounding the idea ecocity. Of the chapters read so far i enjoyed this one the most and for the first time i really could visualize a lot of the ideas he presented. Many of the overarching concepts were somewhat redundant from those that he has brought up in past chapters. Although i believe that this was the first and most successful time that he brought all of these concepts together in a very cohesive and integrated manner. I really felt as though he was making a city with his ideas instead of somewhat randomly throwing them out to the reader.
The first idea that he really emphasizes is that "you can't build a house starting with the roof....it can't be done randomly". This is one idea that he and other previous authors have presented many times, but for the first time Register really demonstrates the importance of this. In terms of a comparison with Ithaca i believe that the current state of Ithaca was not thought of in the holistic foundation first manner. It definitely does not display the continuity and thoughtfulness towards sustainable practice and the residents best interest that Register would like. I do believe that the people of Ithaca are attempting to rectify this by thinking in a much more holistic way in terms of the future of Ithaca. This includes taking a lot of time to think about land use and the implications that every decision will have. Such as the new developments behind the wal-mart or the future of city transportation.
The next important concept explored by Register were his principles of the ecocity. I really enjoyed his principle but the one that i enjoyed the most was to "build soils and enhance biodiversity. I personally really enjoyed this concept for the obvious yet difficult reason that diversity is one of the keys to sustainability, too much of anything will never be a good thing. In Ithaca i believe that they are trying very hard to have biodiversity. They are attempting to appeal to the masses through big box stores while still maintaining much of the small town charm that the commons bring. They also work very hard, as they should, to maintain much of the outside resources available to the area.
Definitely the most enjoyable part of this chapter form me was the bike tour, although a bit silly at times i literally felt as though i was on the tour with him. Many of the pictures that he painted through his descriptions seemed so peaceful and happy i really wanted to be in this fictional place at many times. Some of the elements that i enjoyed the most were the public spaces on roofs, and the high rise environment. He almost made it seem like in an ecocity everybody would always be happy and everyday would be a sunny and happy good time. One problem that i did have was that i think he gets a bit too caught up in some of the ideas and overlooks many of the practical sides of a city. Such as his solutions for the police and the ambulances just seemed laughable and ridiculous to me i think that many of the physical ideas were great but much of the systematic elements need much more thought.
Finally i must end with a question that has been bothering me for some time. In many of our readings and especially in those of Register the ideas for the ecocity seem to be geared towards the small to mid-sized city, like Ithaca, but i must ask what do these eco-theorists think we should do about the megacities? Is there any hope for new york city to become more sustainable or is it too late has it been completely lost? This kept appearing in my mind and i would really like to explore more sustainable practice in both governmental approach and actual implementation in the large city. We have talked a bit about the community garden but other than that and public transportation i see very little towards an ideal ecocity.
Environmental Justice Screening WED OCT 3 6:00pm
THIS WEDNESDAY, October 3rd, 6:00pm
HEC Auditorium, Goldwin Smith What:
Radiation Power: Past and Present
Screening Two Documentaries:
FROM CHECHNYA TO CHERNOBYL
A documentary about the hundreds of thousands of refugees that have fled wars and political turmoil in Chechnya, Tajikistan, Georgia and Azerbaijan in order to find peace in the radioactive pastures surrounding Chernobyl, scene of the world's worst nuclear accident in 1986.
SURVIVORS
Twenty survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings tell their stories.
Roots and Shoots contact: Caitlin Corner-Dolloff cac94@cornell.edu
HEC Auditorium, Goldwin Smith What:
Radiation Power: Past and Present
Screening Two Documentaries:
FROM CHECHNYA TO CHERNOBYL
A documentary about the hundreds of thousands of refugees that have fled wars and political turmoil in Chechnya, Tajikistan, Georgia and Azerbaijan in order to find peace in the radioactive pastures surrounding Chernobyl, scene of the world's worst nuclear accident in 1986.
SURVIVORS
Twenty survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings tell their stories.
Roots and Shoots contact: Caitlin Corner-Dolloff cac94@cornell.edu
Ecocities - Chapter 5
As I sat down to read another chapter of Richard Register’s Ecocities, I quickly forgot that I was doing work and felt like I was just reading for enjoyment. His writing style is terrific and the manner in which he deals with the subject matter is well thought out, if slightly ethereal. It quickly became more apparent that it wasn’t only his first few chapters that encompassed grandiose ideals. If readers are looking for a roadmap on exactly how to build a green city, they may be disappointed, but if they want to understand the really important concepts that should sit at the core of any plan for an ecocity, Register pulls together some fabulous ideas in this area. Register paints a picture of future urban environments that are almost utopian. The skeptic in me is looking for major problems that would make the authors visions unrealistic, but I don’t see any insurmountable barriers. Of course there is the ever-present “change is bad” mindset that exists with nearly everything different, but though this force is strong it is also can change dramatically in a reasonably short period of time.
Consider for example this nations attitude toward protesting, and how that has changed over recent decades. In the 50’s protest considered un-American. This changed drastically in the 2 decades to come where protest was part of the earth-child’s birth right, but in recent times protest is again considered outside of the mainstream. It is difficult to imagine a time where protest will again be acceptable in today’s political climate, but it will.
One of the recurring themes that Register emphasizes as important in any ecocity or ecoburb is density. By bringing all of the amenities that we need/want into a close proximity we can shop, go to the movies, garden, swim, party all in a few city blocks. Of course for this plan to work, our cinemas and supermarkets, for example, would be smaller, and we would have to lose our “super-size me” cultural attitudes of bigger is better.
One area where I do disagree with Register is in the use of bridges as a truly practical means of transport between buildings. Perhaps in the densest of urban areas there may be a need, but Register’s image of 6 and 7 story buildings connected with multiple bridges (pg. 117) doesn’t seem to be necessary or practical, especially when streetscapes are free of cars. Minor point? Sure, but I had to disagree with something, or my praise wouldn’t seem credible.
Perhaps the greatest reason that Register’s writing is so enjoyable to read is that it is relatively free of the sour-grape type style of writing that focuses on what needs to change before real change can occur, and why things can’t be done. Instead, Register seems to be able to point to real world examples as inlets into his fantasy (for now) Ecoworld in a way that has me saying “Yeah, that actually seems possible”. And yes, I did just quote my own brain.
I do hope we can keep reading this book.
P.S. It appears that after reading some of the other posts Register does provide practical steps and concrete measures that should be taken in establishing a ecocity. I will suspend my charachterization of the author as completely etherial until I read on.
Consider for example this nations attitude toward protesting, and how that has changed over recent decades. In the 50’s protest considered un-American. This changed drastically in the 2 decades to come where protest was part of the earth-child’s birth right, but in recent times protest is again considered outside of the mainstream. It is difficult to imagine a time where protest will again be acceptable in today’s political climate, but it will.
One of the recurring themes that Register emphasizes as important in any ecocity or ecoburb is density. By bringing all of the amenities that we need/want into a close proximity we can shop, go to the movies, garden, swim, party all in a few city blocks. Of course for this plan to work, our cinemas and supermarkets, for example, would be smaller, and we would have to lose our “super-size me” cultural attitudes of bigger is better.
One area where I do disagree with Register is in the use of bridges as a truly practical means of transport between buildings. Perhaps in the densest of urban areas there may be a need, but Register’s image of 6 and 7 story buildings connected with multiple bridges (pg. 117) doesn’t seem to be necessary or practical, especially when streetscapes are free of cars. Minor point? Sure, but I had to disagree with something, or my praise wouldn’t seem credible.
Perhaps the greatest reason that Register’s writing is so enjoyable to read is that it is relatively free of the sour-grape type style of writing that focuses on what needs to change before real change can occur, and why things can’t be done. Instead, Register seems to be able to point to real world examples as inlets into his fantasy (for now) Ecoworld in a way that has me saying “Yeah, that actually seems possible”. And yes, I did just quote my own brain.
I do hope we can keep reading this book.
P.S. It appears that after reading some of the other posts Register does provide practical steps and concrete measures that should be taken in establishing a ecocity. I will suspend my charachterization of the author as completely etherial until I read on.
Input on upcoming Syllabus/schedule
Hi folks
We’d like your input, please, on the remaining classes:
There are 6 remaining regular Tuesday classes:
Oct 16, Oct 23, Oct 30, Nov 6, Nov 13, Nov 20 plus
Nov 27 Project Presentations & Thu Nov 29 Last Class Project Presentations
During exam period Dec 5-14 Closing session, but no exam
Given 6 upcoming sessions, not including Project Presentations and class finale:
These 5 areas strongly recommended, but still possible to drop one or two, if strong enough demand for other areas:
• Transportation systems
• Economic development (Community-based/”Green collar “)
• Green buildings & design (policy, systems, neighborhood & municipal level)
• Energy use & renewable systems
• Local Food Systems & Food Justice
These are very valuable options, could definitely add in one or possibly 2 or 3, if we drop one or more of above or consolidate 2 into one.
• Second field trip –Food systems, Econ Dev, Green Bldg (1 or 2 of these)
• Integrating Community Systems – Skills for Building social capital and participatory democracy (visioning and participatory planning, partnership and coalition building, facilitation, conflict resolution, communication, etc.) One session or more, could include skill-building practice sessions
• Waste/recycling/reuse systems
• Fostering Sustainable Behavior Change/Creating a Culture of Sustainability
• More depth/follow-up on earlier areas: Systems Design & Planning, Justice/Access/Equity Issues, Participatory Planning, Urban Greening, Land Use & Urban Form, Connect Ithaca’s program
• More in-depth group learning time, with ongoing learning areas, including a whole session for one or more of the following:
*****Sharing about our behavior change efforts
*****Sharing about our projects
*****Sharing case presentations & Nature in the City observations
*****Open discussions about any aspects of our learning
*****More small group discussions.
********PLEASE REPLY SOON, AND SUCCINCTLY, ON BLOG, OR, IF YOU PREFER, OFF. *******
Elan
We’d like your input, please, on the remaining classes:
There are 6 remaining regular Tuesday classes:
Oct 16, Oct 23, Oct 30, Nov 6, Nov 13, Nov 20 plus
Nov 27 Project Presentations & Thu Nov 29 Last Class Project Presentations
During exam period Dec 5-14 Closing session, but no exam
Given 6 upcoming sessions, not including Project Presentations and class finale:
These 5 areas strongly recommended, but still possible to drop one or two, if strong enough demand for other areas:
• Transportation systems
• Economic development (Community-based/”Green collar “)
• Green buildings & design (policy, systems, neighborhood & municipal level)
• Energy use & renewable systems
• Local Food Systems & Food Justice
These are very valuable options, could definitely add in one or possibly 2 or 3, if we drop one or more of above or consolidate 2 into one.
• Second field trip –Food systems, Econ Dev, Green Bldg (1 or 2 of these)
• Integrating Community Systems – Skills for Building social capital and participatory democracy (visioning and participatory planning, partnership and coalition building, facilitation, conflict resolution, communication, etc.) One session or more, could include skill-building practice sessions
• Waste/recycling/reuse systems
• Fostering Sustainable Behavior Change/Creating a Culture of Sustainability
• More depth/follow-up on earlier areas: Systems Design & Planning, Justice/Access/Equity Issues, Participatory Planning, Urban Greening, Land Use & Urban Form, Connect Ithaca’s program
• More in-depth group learning time, with ongoing learning areas, including a whole session for one or more of the following:
*****Sharing about our behavior change efforts
*****Sharing about our projects
*****Sharing case presentations & Nature in the City observations
*****Open discussions about any aspects of our learning
*****More small group discussions.
********PLEASE REPLY SOON, AND SUCCINCTLY, ON BLOG, OR, IF YOU PREFER, OFF. *******
Elan
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