Envision the city of the future. Is it a "sustainable" community? The idea of sustainability has finally made its way eastward across the Atlantic and is gaining traction in the US. Whether you count the number of dedicated web pages, Mayors' mentions, or the amount of butt-time conference attendees are investing to learn about sustainability, it seems like the concept is cropping up – organically, of course – everywhere you look.
Are "cool communities" and sustainable communities the same thing? I'm not sure. So I'm listing my Cool Community mantras, and invite your feedback about how they stack up as tenets of "Sustainable Communities."
1. Cities are for PEOPLE (not cars)
John Naisbitt (author of High Tech, High Touch) had it right: the more technology distances us (telecommuting, distance education, email, videoconferencing), the more we crave human contact. Today, walkable communities, stroll districts, green transit, multi-modal transportation, urban density...all point in the direction of people-centered planning.
Note: although all cities are for people, not all people are for cities. For the "no fences" cohort, rural rambling acreage is the it-thing. Rock on. I'll come visit.
2. Cities are for ALL people
Cool communities have multiple places at the table for every flavor and color of folk. Black female mayors, Hispanic congressmen, young professionals, gay governors (well, almost.) For cities of the future, tolerance is passé; inclusion is critical. Young professionals are moving to cities where people "mix:" in clubs, at church, and in neighborhoods. In Paris, housing projects require a set-aside of several units ONLY for artists. Other cities require that 10-15% of all new residential buildings are affordable housing. Mixing doesn't happen without intention. And when it happens, it can be magic.
3. Healthy Cities
At the US Conference of Mayors meeting in January, Austin's Mayor Will Wynn spent eleven minutes doing a seven minute presentation on his community's commitment to being a healthy city. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz (Madison WI) and Mayor Tom Potter (Portland) are also embracing the "healthy" mantra. Former Mayor Jeremy Harris (Honolulu) is a marine biologist, whose commitment to the environment includes the largest order of diesel-hydrogen buses for a US city. Cool communities have more bike racks on the front of buses, more walking and biking trails within cities (not just outside them) and greater commitment to green/open spaces.
Next time: Part 2 of Sustainable Cities
Comments
