david dixon -- providence 2016: jane jacobs conundrum
TRANSCRIPT
Amenity-rich, walkable urban places create value...and displace the economic diversity Jane Jacobs envisioned
Jane Jacobs conundrum: What is 21st century urbanism?
“…build cities for lovers and friends.” Lewis Mumford
CNU NEW ENGLAND
David Dixon FAIA
April 28, 2016
Stantec’s Urban Places Group Leader
Amenity-rich, walkable urban places create value...and displace the economic diversity Jane Jacobs envisioned
She was a prophet...for NYC
Downtown Wichita
...Wichita, Kansas!
...and Dublin, Ohio?
Dublin, Ohio
So how should we
“interpret” a prophet five
decades later?
So how should we
“interpret” a prophet five
decades later?
Rally for the Fairmont Corridor
Stantec’s Urban Places Group
Capitalize Albany
Manage change to build opportunity, livability, equity, and resilience
Downtown Albany, NY
Urbanism is rooted in its era
The rise of cities through the fall of Rome: Defining the city Gateways welcomed gods
Middle Ages: Protecting the city
The rise of cities through the fall of Rome: Defining the city European charm began with war
The rise of cities through the fall of Rome: Defining the city Aristocrats gathered in squares
The rise of cities through the fall of Rome: Defining the city Grids came to the New World to sell land
The rise of cities through the fall of Rome: Defining the city Boulevards were for marching armies
Denver
Postindustrial era: Deurbanizing the city
The rise of cities through the fall of Rome: Defining the city Urban renewal was once progressive
Singapore
Postindustrial era: Deurbanizing the city
The rise of cities through the fall of Rome: Defining the city ...and is definitely the wrong model today
What is 21st century urbanism?
21st urban begins with recognition that we can urban opporutnities not seen since before the Great Depression...and the economic opportunity, health and sustainability, community, and equity
The rise of cities through the fall of Rome: Defining the city
What is 21st century urbanism?
Urbanism is rooted in empowering communities to
seize the benefits of an era of unparalleled urban
opportunities
The rise of cities through the fall of Rome: Defining the city
What is 21st century urbanism?
Urbanism is rooted in empowering communities to
seize the benefits of an era of unparalleled urban
opportunities.
...often disguised as challenges of our age:
• Economic opportunity
• Community in the midst of diversity
• Wellness
• Sustainability
• Equity
21st urbanism starts with the
work of people like Laurie
and Chris...and density
100%
40%
2050 2015 1990
60%
20%
80%
% of Federal discretionary $s
consumed by a growing elderly population
Postindustrial era: Deurbanizing the city
The rise of cities through the fall of Rome: Defining the city
“The it ain’t the it”
“It” is declining public $’s
40%
2050 2015 1990
60%
20%
80%
% of Federal discretionary $s
consumed by a growing elderly population
...an aging America turns out to be very expensive...
Density is the new principle #1 partnerships (in cities and suburbs...) to build a new generation of... • Economic competitiveness • Healthy people and environment • Community in the midst of diversity • ...equity
...if we still looked like this we’d be in big trouble
“Demographics are destiny”:
Can we animate this transition so you see the different pie slices changing shape...maybe 4-5 increments?
“Demographics are destiny”: 1990-2010 population growth by age
Over 65
Under 35
35-65
years-old
“Demographics are destiny”: 2010-30 population growth by age
35-65
Over 65
Years-old
Under 35
Source: Arthur C. Nelson
Compact:
50 million
housing units
Sprawl:
30 million
housing units
Compact growth Sprawl
Millio
ns
of
ho
usi
ng
s u
nits
The case for density: Making room for 50M housing units
Source: Arthur C. Nelson
Compact growth Sprawl
Millio
ns
of
ho
usi
ng
s u
nits
Urban
dividend:
$10–12+ trillion
Sprawl:
$5–6 trillion
The case for density: An urban dividend: $10-12+ trillion
0-3 years of
college
4+ years of
college
Oldest child
<5
Oldest child
>5
-10%
-10% -5% +5% +10% +15% +20%
All urban Higher density urban
People who can are making urban choices: household change 2000-14
More urban dividends: education
Top income
decile
-10% -5% +5% +10% +15% -15%
2nd
3rd
4rth
5th
8th
7th
6th
9th
10th
More urban dividends: education...and wealth People who can are making urban choices: household change 2000-14
With great opportunity comes great responsibility Ours responsibility is to use planning, development and design to spend this dividend to address fundamental challenges of our age
• Competing for economic opportunity
• Creating community in the midst of diversity
• Promoting wellness • Pursuing environmental
responsibility • ...and achieving equity
Economic opportunity starts with an educated workforce
…and they are voting
with their feet
2015 1990 2030
% of knowledge workers graduating each year vrs demand
...and intense competition to retain and attract these folks
40%
60%
20%
80%
...by creating walkable, mixed-use, amenity-rich environments
Miles per year
20,000-25,000
EXURBAN
na
Walkable retail supported by 1,000 to 2,000 new housing
units
How density works: impact of 1-2,000 new housing units...
Miles per year
20,000-25,000 15,000-20,000
SUBURBAN EXURBAN
negligible na
Walkable retail supported by 1,000 to 2,000 new housing
units
How density creates amenity: impact of 1-2,000 new housing units...
Miles per year
20,000-25,000 15,000-20,000
30-50,000SF
5,000-10,000
URBAN SUBURBAN EXURBAN
negligible na
Walkable retail supported by 1,000 to 2,000 new housing
units
How density creates amenity: impact of 1-2,000 new housing units...
30-50,000SF
Walkable retail supported by 1,000 to 2,000 new housing
units
Miles per year 5,000-10,000
Once more for emphasis...
URBAN
tampa
Case in point...Tampa
New Waterside District, Tampa
Waterside District, Tampa
tampa
New Waterside District, Tampa Waterside District, Tampa
Waterside District, Tampa
The Atlantic Oct 2013
High-wage jobs are growing in regions with amenity-rich cores
The Atlantic Oct 2013
High-wage jobs are growing in regions with amenity-rich cores
Source: Boston Redevelopment Authority, Boston Diversity Index, 2010
RACE LANGUAGE AGE
HHD. INCOME EDUCATION ORIGIN
America is resegregating around race, income, education...
Primary Role: Centers of
neighborhood activity
MOBILITY TYPOLOGY
NODE: “CENTER”
Envisioning a new role for Boston’s
public realm: building community
Goals:
CIVIC: Does this place feature design/architecture that
celebrates Boston?
SOCIAL: Does this place encourage social interaction?
CULTURAL: Does this place tell its stories?
Envisioning a new role for Boston’s
public realm: building community
TEMPORARY CORNER PARK – BUBBLEWARE - AUSTIN
Social
JAMISON PARK - PORTLAND
Civic
THE UPTRUCK - BOSTON
Cultural
Railroad Park, Birmingham
Railroad Park, Birmingham
150-200
20,000-25,000
EXURBAN
Miles per year
“Chronic health conditions” per
1000 people
Density supports healthier lives
150-200
20,000-25,000
120-140
15,000-20,000
SUBURBAN EXBURBAN
Miles per year
“Chronic health conditions” per
1000 people
Density supports healthier lives
150-200
20,000-25,000
120-140
15,000-20,000
100-120
5,000-10,000
SUBURBAN EXBURBAN URBAN
Miles per year
“Chronic health conditions” per
1000 people
Density supports healthier lives
200%
20,000-25,000
EXURBAN
Density is sustainability.
Miles per year
Carbon footprint per household
...and promotes greater environmental responsibility
200%
20,000-25,000
100%
15,000-20,000
SUBURBAN EXURBAN
Miles per year
Carbon footprint per household
...and promotes greater environmental responsibility
200%
20,000-25,000 15,000-20,000
50%
5,000-10,000
URBAN SUBURBAN EXURBAN
100%
Miles per year
Carbon footprint per household
...and promotes greater environmental responsibility
Amenity-rich, walkable urban places create value...and displace the economic diversity Jane Jacobs envisioned
Jane Jacobs conundrum: urban revival is only working for some of us
Amenity-rich, walkable urban places create value...and displace the economic diversity Jane Jacobs envisioned
Jane Jacobs conundrum: urban revival is only working for some of us
• If not include us not about us
Union Square, Somerville, MA
All of density’s essential benefits are fueling and equity crisis
1950
100%
200%
300%
1980 2010
Productivity, 1947-today
Chart
adapted
from The
New York
Times
US productivity continues to grow
1950 1980 2010
100%
200%
300%
The Great Prosperity, 1947-79
The Great Disparity, 1980-today
300%
But for most of us incomes are no longer-tied to productivity
We are moving poverty to suburbs
300%
We are relocating poverty to suburbs
Charlestown, MA
Two Charlestown’s...
Two Charlestown’s...
Charlestown, MA Charlestown, MA
Two Charlestown’s...
Bunker Hill Public Housing, Charlestown
One Charlestown
Bunker Hill Neighborhood,, Charlestown
Amenity-rich, walkable urban places create value...and displace the economic diversity Jane Jacobs envisioned
Amenity-rich, walkable urban places create value...and displace the economic diversity Jane Jacobs envisioned
“…build cities for lovers and friends.” Lewis Mumford
CNU NEW ENGLAND David Dixon FAIA Stantec’s Urban Places Group Leader
A “Jane Jacobs” conundrum: What is 21st century urbanism?