david dixon -- providence 2016: jane jacobs conundrum

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


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?

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


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


Urbanism is rooted in empowering communities to

seize the benefits of an era of unparalleled urban

opportunities



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



“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


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


units

How density creates amenity: impact of 1-2,000 new housing units...

30-50,000SF


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

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

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


1000 people


150-200

20,000-25,000

120-140

15,000-20,000

100-120

5,000-10,000

SUBURBAN EXBURBAN URBAN

Miles per year


1000 people


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



200%

20,000-25,000 15,000-20,000

50%

5,000-10,000

URBAN SUBURBAN EXURBAN

100%

Miles per year




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...


Charlestown, MA Charlestown, MA


Bunker Hill Public Housing, Charlestown

One Charlestown

Bunker Hill Neighborhood,, Charlestown


“…build cities for lovers and friends.” Lewis Mumford

CNU NEW ENGLAND David Dixon FAIA Stantec’s Urban Places Group Leader

[email protected]

A “Jane Jacobs” conundrum: What is 21st century urbanism?

david dixon -- providence 2016: jane jacobs conundrum

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