the future of urbanism workshop
TRANSCRIPT
is democratic
Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and
only when, they are created by everybody-- Jane Jacobs
The civil rights movement taught us to listen, and to hear those whose voices had gone
unheard for generations. R/UDAT has taught us how to turn the aspirations of citizens, and their descriptions of urban value, into
action.-- David Lewis/Peter Batchelor
Behind all the current buzz about collaboration is a discipline. And with all due respect to the ancient arts of governing and
diplomacy, the more recent art of collaboration does represent something new -- maybe Copernican. If it contained a silicon
chip, we’d all be excited.-- John Gardner
1990s
1960s
Brief History of a Movement
1980s
Threats
Global urbanization
Rising Inequality
Climate Change
Crisis in Governance
• Just 19% 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
Today’s National Context…disastrous
Moving Beyond “Engagement” • National League of Cities survey of U.S. Cities (2010) - 81 percent use public
engagement processes "often" (60 percent) or "sometimes" (21 percent)• American Planning Association (2012) – “More than 50 percent want to
personally be involved in community planning efforts, including more than half of Democrats, Republicans, and independents as well as majorities of urban, suburban, and rural respondents.”
• Center for Public Interest Design (2013) – 75% of AIA members think that architects should advocate for underrepresented groups, engage local stakeholders in decision-making, and conserve resources.
PR vs. P2: The Expectations Gap
What Government/Organizations Want
What the Public Wants
Feb 2014 Survey on IAP2 Spectrum
But, there is great work happening…
“Artificial” polarization
Detroit 1950s Population = 1.86 million2012 Population= 700,000
30,000 interactions
Austin population: 885,000. Population doubles every 20 years. Imagine Austin = 18,000 comments
Fremont Troll, Seattle
When urban democracy expands, cities flourish. The placemaking outcomes – and the impact on people –
are nothing short of remarkable.
Portland Pearl District R/UDAT (1983)
“Viewed from today, it is hard to believe the sense of risk that the first developers in the Northwest Triangle felt as they challenged a complete lack of interest in downtown living when the R/UDAT came to town in 1983. The R/UDAT team had demonstrated sound opportunity. Daring developers, good planning and a favorable economy turned opportunity to reality and ushered in metropolitan living in the Pearl District on a scale unimaginable in 1983.” –Paddy Tillett, FAIA
Austin R/UDAT (1991)
“When looking back on how far downtown Austin has come in the last 20 years, many newcomers to Austin would be surprised by the state of downtown in 1993. Few people resided in downtown and retail in the urban core was nearly non-existent. Needless to say, Austin was faced with a fairly dormant downtown…. From the plan came a number of recommendations that began the wheels of transformation to create the vibrant downtown we all know today.” – Charles Betts, Downtown Austin Magazine
Santa Fe Railyard R/UDAT (1997)
“It was an experiment in deep democracy. That is the beauty of it –a true community effort, we were all in it together. It was not created through a hierarchy of controlling leadership.” – Steve Robinson, Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation
Port Angeles, WA SDAT (2009)
“This opportunity for our community was a catalyst for action, implementation and improvement. A primary outcome has been that the process awakened community pride and inspired a “together we can” attitude.” – Nathan West, Community Development Director