design action teams: dublin, ireland pilot presentation
TRANSCRIPT
The Empowered City: Design Action Teams
Design Assistance Teams: Since 1967, the DAT program, a public service of the AIA, represents over 1000 professionals from more than 30 disciplines providing millions of dollars in professional pro bono services to more than 200 communities across the country.
What distinguishes a DAT?
• We are NOT:– Another Consultant Team– A process to produce a
planning document• “Please don’t give us
another plan. We have plenty – they all sit on the shelves. We need implementation strategies.” – Almost Every community
– Government-focused– “Green”-focused– Building-focused
• We ARE:– Public Service in the Public
Interest• “Consultants work for
somebody. Design Assistance Teams work for everybody.”
– Action-Oriented – Community-focused– Holistic, Customized
• “It’s about the space between the buildings, and the people that inhabit that space”
Objectivity
Multi-disciplinary Expertise
Community Participation
Implementation
Port Angeles, WA 2009 Project: 2 months later, 43 buildings repainted with volunteers and donated paint, (at least 3,500 volunteer hours, or roughly
$66,500 worth of donated labor) led to a façade improvement program, then private $
Wayfinding & Signage
Realizing Their Aspirations, in 5 years
Bringing People Back to the Waterfront
Transforming Downtown: Before
Transforming Downtown: After
Snowball Effect: $100 Million+
Leveraging Investment for Placemaking
They are already in construction for phase 2
Newport, VT R/UDAT (2009)
Wayfinding & Signage
Form Based Code
• 2011 – Newport receives Foreign Trade Zone status• 2011 – Canadian manufacturing firm co-locates here• 2011 – 2012 – Vermont biotech firm re-locates here• 2012 – 2013 – South Korean biotech firm co-locates
here• 2013 – Senior residential resort is built• 2014 – Waterfront resort conference center opens• 2014 – Re-development of blighted block on Newport’s
Main St.
Newport 2.0: $250 Million in New Investments
a six-story commercial and residential block -$70 million
Dublin Context
21st Century Change Paradigm
• Downside: The scale of issues is larger and more complex/interconnected than ever before. The public sector is weaker than ever. And the rules of the game are changing as we speak.
• Upside: Transferability of our ideas, how we contribute to one another, now allows for widespread adaptation. And, Civil Society has never been stronger or more capable. Cities are democratic creations, and we succeed when people are empowered to collaborate. Grassroots strategies are powerful.
Our Urban Future
• By 2030, 6 in 10 people will live in cities.
• In the developing world, 3 out of 5 will live in cities.
• There are currently one billion people living in slums and squatter settlements and that number is expected to double by 2030 and reach 3 billion by 2050
The Stakes are HIGH
“Civilizations rise and fall-and sometimes if they are lucky-
they renew themselves” –John W. Gardner
Our land is…disappearing
Our water is…disappearing
Our democracy is…disappearing?
• Just 13% of Americans say the government can be trusted to do what is right always or most of the time. (10% say NEVER)
• Only 17% of Americans believe that big business can be trusted to do what is right always or most of the time
Our trust is…disappearing
Citizens are pissed
Recent Urban Protests across the world – A Sample
Global Crisis in Governance
Del Paso Heights, Sacramento
Skid Row, Los Angeles
Camden, New Jersey
Central City, New Orleans
Indianapolis
Bridgeport, CT
Detroit
Washington, DC
Baltimore
The Housing Crisis
Ireland The United States
Dublin
• Most apartments in Dublin were built in the last 20 years (55K out of 65K) with 35K completed between 2001 and 2008. The rise in national population from 2002 to 2006 showed that the annual growth rate of 2% was the highest since records began.
• Should we be concerned about improving quality and livability for the benefit of residents, for the reputation of apartment living generally and for the overall quality of the built environment?
• Objective: motivate residents around long term regeneration, high-quality neighborhood, and durable community
What is the city saying to us? What is its story?
What does your city say about its community identity?
What does apartment living say about community?
What does new development say about community?
What do your public spaces say about community?
What do your vibrant spaces say about community?
What do derelict places say about community?
What do your buildings say about community?
What does it say about politics?
What does infrastructure tell us?
How does it serve community values?
What does the city say about resilience?
Even about love?
You have a lot to say about love
a LOT to say about Love
a LOT to say about Love & Equality
Not only for yourselves, but for the entire world
Who are you, as Dubliners, today?What is the soul of your city?
What do you want for your Future?
A good public process opens the door to that truth.
Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are
created by everybody-- Jane Jacobs
Thank You Dublin!