A Look Back at Urban Renewal

A theory of Urbanism?...Urban Renewal

Some food for thought on the legacy of the federal urban renewal program that by virtue of providing money to cities influenced development patterns of the time between 1949 and 1974 (this date is debatable, but I'm going with it, b/c Robert Caro used it and Bob Beauregard seem to overlap on it and I trust their judgement). 

From Robert Beauregard's When America Became Suburban: 

"Cities used urban renewal to eliminate obsolete buildings, create large-scale real-estate projects with critical mass to keep existing businesses from leaving and attracting new businesses into the downtown." (2006)

"Urban renewal and public housing were linked." The slums targeted by the public housing program were often adjacent to the main commercial districts, and their condemnation and demolition were central to the vision of the renewed downtown. Multiple mid-to-high-rise buildings set amid lawns and playgrounds replaced slums." (2006)

Renzo Piano on Sustainability & the New York Times Building

In an interview with Architectural Record in 2008 Renzo Piano comments on the inspirational nature of sustainability: 

“Constantly present in my mind when designing the New York Times Building was that today's architecture should be inspired by what is happening with the climatic crisis. In the way the last [20th] century opened with an interest in rationalism and the modern movement, I like the idea that this century is opening up with a discovery that the earth is fragile and the environment is vulnerable. Fragility, breathing with the earth and the environment, is part of a new culture. I thought the Times Building should have the qualities of lightness, vibrancy, transparency, and immateriality."

NYC Zoning Trivia

The original 1916 New York City Zoning Resolution was amended 2,500 times between 1916 and 1961, when the 2nd (and current) New York City Zoning Resolution was finally passed (efforts had started in the late 1930s).

APA 2011 National Conference in Boston

I have officially registered for my first Urban Planning conference this April in Boston!!!

NYC Zoning Handbook: 2011 Edition

Words of wisdom from the new New York City Zoning Handbook 2011 Edition:

"New York City is recognized for its iconic landmarks, but it is also at the forefront of continual reinvention and architectural exploration...Cities never stand still, nor should zoning."

Bashing the Presidential Politicos, Does It Come With the Territory?

Have we reached that point...Has it officially become fashionable to bash President Obama? The funny thing is that about 99% (this is my guesstimate) of the people who bash him, would still be star-struck and delighted to meet him. Is that hypocritical?