John's Blog

Yesterday at work, a co-worker stopped to show me one of her new toys (which was a new digital camera, incase you were thinking I meant something else). It was a beauty, and I jokingly told her that this ten megapixel camera just might be several more megapixels than anybody really needs. It was only later that I realized although I meant and delivered it as a joke, it probably revealed the "hey you kids, get off my lawn" part of my personality trying to get out.

Today, I believe that this portion of my psyche has emerged victorious after my repeated attempts to suppress it. I read an article on-line about the redevelopment of a large tract of land close to where I live. It used to be a manufacturing plant before that company shifted production to another location. The announced redevelopment was vaguely described as "mixed-usage" with retail, commercial, and residential components. I'll ignore the soap-box potential of this shift from a manufacturing site to an essentially retail enterprise, since the argument could be made that it's a metaphor for what's wrong with this country and our economy today. But since others have done a better job of exploring our march towards the service economy, I'll let that issue slide for today.

What really "gets my goat" is that I see that the final plan has been revealed, and what is probably going to be built is your basic "lifestyle center" without any form of residential development. In other words: a mall. A "nice" mall to be sure, but a mall nonetheless. This "Towne Square" as they call it aspires to be "a sprawling shopping and entertainment complex featuring pedestrian-friendly streetscapes reminiscent of Disney theme parks" in a motif designed to evoke a thriving downtown of the 50's. Ironic that they would describe it as Disneyesque, since they excel at creating sanitized and soulless illusions.

Rather than creating a stage illusion version of an urban environment, I'd prefer the real deal be constructed. The developer claims that "the community" wanted it that way, but I don't remember being ask for my opinion. In the FAQ section of their website, they say that "more than 30 members of the public" gave them feedback and input. With a population of almost 98,000 that doesn't seem like significant public involvement.

If this is to be a truly vital downtown district, there is no better way to create that 24 hour vitality than by making it a mixed development with people there at all hours who are part of a community. Without that, you've just got buildings. The absence of full-time residents can create spaces that are sterile and invite crime during the off-hours. Maybe I'm being too much of a "Jane Jacobs wannabe" but this seems like a opportunity to create something good, and not just another mall. Luckily, I'm only a few blocks away from a quaint little downtown area, so I'm not reliant on this pasteurized, homogenized version for my urban experience.

And in a semi-related topic I see that there are those who are revisiting the legacy of Robert Moses, the master builder who has been portrayed as the great villain of enlightened and humane urban planning. An interesting NY Times article that puts a more balanced perspective on the subject. It also includes some great pictures and video about the three Moses focused exhibitions which reexamine his career.

Tags: urban planning, pointless rambling