urbancole’s Recent Comments

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  Why isn't there more new urbanism?

  There isn't more new urbanism because it is "new."  Both the real estate industry and the disaggregated local jurisdictions that regulate it are slow to innovate -- and there is tremendous momentum behind the auto industry and all its attendent servants (retail, highway construction, banking etc.)

  Fundamentally, though, there is not the kind of powerful "vision" that has been fleshed out to make "urbanism" as cool as "suburbanism" was to the returning vets and retiring Rosie the Riveters who gave birth to the Baby Boom.  A convergence of powerful incubating ideas crested during the 40s and 50s to meet the demographic demands of that time with single family housing tracts, shopping malls and office parks.

  I believe that too will come.  Especially with high oil prices and the obesity epidemic, new urbanism will continue to catch on.

  Finally, I hope it doesn't all come at once.  You can do it very badly and that would not do anyone any good.  We need to get really good at it before we start spreading it all over the (infilled) landscape.  On Why isn't there more new urbanism? posted 3 years, 8 months ago 28 Responses