The Sierra Club will present Sustainability in Shelby County: The Next Chapter tonight.
The event, which will be held at Trinity United Methodist at Galloway and Evergreen, begins with refreshments at networking at 6:30 p.m., followed by a panel discussion at 7 p.m.
The forum will discuss the results of Sustainable Shelby, as well as "the promise of what implementation of these proposals means for Memphis and Shelby County."
Sustainable Shelby, an initiative led by Shelby County mayor A C Wharton, has come up with lots of good recommendations for future growth in the area. I've been really happy to see that the majority of people polled in Shelby County want to live in neighborhoods that are healthier, greener, and more walkable.
If we don't implement the report's ideas, however, it means nothing, so the coming months are going to be the test.
Showing posts with label sustainability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sustainability. Show all posts
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Outer Limits
With I-269 looming on the horizon, the Coalition for Livable Communities wants citizens to be in the loop. So to speak.
The CLC will host a community forum about the new super beltway, an interstate that will stretch to Millington, out to the Shelby and Fayette county line and down into Mississippi.
“These outer loops can suck resources out of existing neighborhoods,” says CLC program manager Sarah Newstok. “We know the project is happening. Let’s make it beneficial for our region, not just for economic development along the corridor.”
It might be difficult for people living in the city’s core to understand how the future I-269 affects them, but the local population isn’t growing. It’s spreading out.
“Any resources spent farther out on the I-269 corridor are resources that could have been spent where people are living now,” Newstok says.
The interstate may be funded with federal dollars, but area roads and interchanges linking with it will be funded locally.
These types of developments also have a tendency to rob retail investment from older neighborhoods.
“We need to have a plan in place where development is done in a sustainable manner, and we’re not creating the same thing at each intersection along the way,” forum panelist Les Binkley of Boyle Investment says.
Though Boyle is a developer, Binkley says the company shares the same interests as community groups.
“We want to see our developments thrive and increase in value, not just capture a fleeting market that is there temporarily,” he says.
The forum is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 21st, at Shelby Farms’ main lodge. It’s free, but a reservation is required and can be made by e-mailing sarah@livablememphis.org.
The CLC will host a community forum about the new super beltway, an interstate that will stretch to Millington, out to the Shelby and Fayette county line and down into Mississippi.
“These outer loops can suck resources out of existing neighborhoods,” says CLC program manager Sarah Newstok. “We know the project is happening. Let’s make it beneficial for our region, not just for economic development along the corridor.”
It might be difficult for people living in the city’s core to understand how the future I-269 affects them, but the local population isn’t growing. It’s spreading out.
“Any resources spent farther out on the I-269 corridor are resources that could have been spent where people are living now,” Newstok says.
The interstate may be funded with federal dollars, but area roads and interchanges linking with it will be funded locally.
These types of developments also have a tendency to rob retail investment from older neighborhoods.
“We need to have a plan in place where development is done in a sustainable manner, and we’re not creating the same thing at each intersection along the way,” forum panelist Les Binkley of Boyle Investment says.
Though Boyle is a developer, Binkley says the company shares the same interests as community groups.
“We want to see our developments thrive and increase in value, not just capture a fleeting market that is there temporarily,” he says.
The forum is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 21st, at Shelby Farms’ main lodge. It’s free, but a reservation is required and can be made by e-mailing sarah@livablememphis.org.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Banking a Billion
My friend Tom Jones of the Smart City Memphis blog recently forwarded me a very interesting presentation from CEOs for Cities and done by Portland economist Joe Cortright.
The CityDividends report looked at certain costs and savings associated with three components it referred to as talent, green, and opportunity (basically education, transportation, and poverty) in the 51 U.S. metro areas with more than a million people.
The question: If those components could be transformed, even very marginally, how much of a difference could it make?
The answer: $166 billion.
And $1.3 billion annually in Memphis.
Those economic gains could be achieved by:
1. Increasing the four-year college attainment rate by 1 percentage point
2. Reducing the vehicle miles traveled by one mile per day per person
3. Reducing the poverty rate by one percentage point
(The report makes clear that the study focused on the quantifyable benefits only, not the policies or programs that it would take to get there. BUT I think the CityDividends report shows how even a small change can make a big difference.)
For instance, Memphis had the highest poverty rate — about 18 percent — of the 51 metropolitan areas surveyed.
But if the poverty rate could be decreased by one percentage point here, the study says the economic gain would be $109 million.
The study hypothesizes that households living in poverty are a driver of public service costs and thus, reducing poverty, even by a percentage point, would reduce public sector costs:
"Each additional person in poverty is associated with $8,200 in spending on poverty-related programs for the entire metro area," the presentation says. "These savings come from shifting the entire distribution of income, not just moving a few households out of poverty."
When Cortright was in town last year to kick off the Sustainable Shelby intiative, he talked about how driving fewer miles meant savings in citizens' pockets ... and that equals more money that can be spent elsewhere.
That can be achieved by people simply driving less or carpooling, or, for a longer-term solution, building things closer together.
According to the study, if Memphians could drive one mile less per day, the area would reap a dividend of $232 million a year.
"Each vehicle mile traveled costs about 50 cents, including fuel, maintenance, and capital costs. At current gas prices, fuel represents about one-third of total vehicle costs," the presentation says.
In terms of education, the study makes the case that better-educated cities have higher incomes, better-skilled workers are more innovative and productive, and that each 1 percentage point increase in college attainment is associated with a $763 increase in per capita income for the entire metro area.
Of course, yes, the question now is how to attain some of these dividends. But having quantified economic benefits associated with the components — rather than just "drive less, it's better for the environment and it saves you money" — should make pursuing them all the more attractive.
The CityDividends report looked at certain costs and savings associated with three components it referred to as talent, green, and opportunity (basically education, transportation, and poverty) in the 51 U.S. metro areas with more than a million people.
The question: If those components could be transformed, even very marginally, how much of a difference could it make?
The answer: $166 billion.
And $1.3 billion annually in Memphis.
Those economic gains could be achieved by:
1. Increasing the four-year college attainment rate by 1 percentage point
2. Reducing the vehicle miles traveled by one mile per day per person
3. Reducing the poverty rate by one percentage point
(The report makes clear that the study focused on the quantifyable benefits only, not the policies or programs that it would take to get there. BUT I think the CityDividends report shows how even a small change can make a big difference.)
For instance, Memphis had the highest poverty rate — about 18 percent — of the 51 metropolitan areas surveyed.
But if the poverty rate could be decreased by one percentage point here, the study says the economic gain would be $109 million.
The study hypothesizes that households living in poverty are a driver of public service costs and thus, reducing poverty, even by a percentage point, would reduce public sector costs:
"Each additional person in poverty is associated with $8,200 in spending on poverty-related programs for the entire metro area," the presentation says. "These savings come from shifting the entire distribution of income, not just moving a few households out of poverty."
When Cortright was in town last year to kick off the Sustainable Shelby intiative, he talked about how driving fewer miles meant savings in citizens' pockets ... and that equals more money that can be spent elsewhere.
That can be achieved by people simply driving less or carpooling, or, for a longer-term solution, building things closer together.
According to the study, if Memphians could drive one mile less per day, the area would reap a dividend of $232 million a year.
"Each vehicle mile traveled costs about 50 cents, including fuel, maintenance, and capital costs. At current gas prices, fuel represents about one-third of total vehicle costs," the presentation says.
In terms of education, the study makes the case that better-educated cities have higher incomes, better-skilled workers are more innovative and productive, and that each 1 percentage point increase in college attainment is associated with a $763 increase in per capita income for the entire metro area.
Of course, yes, the question now is how to attain some of these dividends. But having quantified economic benefits associated with the components — rather than just "drive less, it's better for the environment and it saves you money" — should make pursuing them all the more attractive.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Journey to Iran Tonight
Tonight's the Francis Mah Travel Grant Lecture "Ancient and Sustainable: A Journey to Iran."
Presenter Babak Keyvani will start the journey with a brief history of Iran and its architecture. After that, he'll "explore Iran's historical and contemporary approaches to sustainability and what lessons can be learned through an examination of the use of architectural and natural elements in sustainable buildings and neigborhoods, and how buildings of the past have become integrated into the built environment today."
The evening begins with a reception at Howard Hall (2282 Madison) at 5 p.m., with the lecture running from 6 to 7:30 (for those of you who like to know what time things should be over).
It's free and open to the public and, since I can't go, someone out there should and then tell me all about it.
The travel grant is funded by the Mah family and TRO Jung|Brannen with additional support by AIA Memphis and the Architecture Department at the University of Memphis.
Presenter Babak Keyvani will start the journey with a brief history of Iran and its architecture. After that, he'll "explore Iran's historical and contemporary approaches to sustainability and what lessons can be learned through an examination of the use of architectural and natural elements in sustainable buildings and neigborhoods, and how buildings of the past have become integrated into the built environment today."
The evening begins with a reception at Howard Hall (2282 Madison) at 5 p.m., with the lecture running from 6 to 7:30 (for those of you who like to know what time things should be over).
It's free and open to the public and, since I can't go, someone out there should and then tell me all about it.
The travel grant is funded by the Mah family and TRO Jung|Brannen with additional support by AIA Memphis and the Architecture Department at the University of Memphis.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Boxed Out
A few years ago, the Shelby County School system was looking to convert an empty Schnucks into a temporary elementary school.
In researching that story, I stumbled on a project by Ohio artist Julia Christensen in which she looked at how communities around the country had re-used former big-box retail spaces, turning them into schools, churches, and rec. centers.
Her investigation has now resulted in a new book: Big Box Reuse.
From the website:
"Christensen crisscrossed America identifying these projects, then photographed, videotaped, and interviewed the people involved. The first-person accounts and color photographs of Big Box Reuse reveal the hidden stories behind the transformation of these facades into gateways of community life. Whether a big box store becomes a 'Senior Resource Center' or a museum devoted to Spam (the kind that comes in a can), each renovation displays a community’s resourcefulness and creativity — but also raises questions about how big box buildings affect the lives of communities."
In researching that story, I stumbled on a project by Ohio artist Julia Christensen in which she looked at how communities around the country had re-used former big-box retail spaces, turning them into schools, churches, and rec. centers.
Her investigation has now resulted in a new book: Big Box Reuse.
From the website:
"Christensen crisscrossed America identifying these projects, then photographed, videotaped, and interviewed the people involved. The first-person accounts and color photographs of Big Box Reuse reveal the hidden stories behind the transformation of these facades into gateways of community life. Whether a big box store becomes a 'Senior Resource Center' or a museum devoted to Spam (the kind that comes in a can), each renovation displays a community’s resourcefulness and creativity — but also raises questions about how big box buildings affect the lives of communities."
Monday, September 22, 2008
Giving Mother Nature a Face Lift
Interesting piece in the NYTimes today about a landscape architecture professor from MIT who is re-engineering a wetland in Terracina, Italy, to filter out pollution.
From the story: "Designing nature might seem to be an oxymoron or an act of hubris. But instead of simply recommending that polluting farms and factories be shut, Professor Berger specializes in creating new ecosystems in severely damaged environments: redirecting water flow, moving hills, building islands and planting new species to absorb pollution, to create natural, though 'artificial,' landscapes that can ultimately sustain themselves."
I have to say, if you get into the second page of the story, there is a description of the water runoff that is just really ew. The professor even said in this case you really needed to know where your food was produced and that he would only eat "from uphill."
From the story: "Designing nature might seem to be an oxymoron or an act of hubris. But instead of simply recommending that polluting farms and factories be shut, Professor Berger specializes in creating new ecosystems in severely damaged environments: redirecting water flow, moving hills, building islands and planting new species to absorb pollution, to create natural, though 'artificial,' landscapes that can ultimately sustain themselves."
I have to say, if you get into the second page of the story, there is a description of the water runoff that is just really ew. The professor even said in this case you really needed to know where your food was produced and that he would only eat "from uphill."
Friday, September 19, 2008
Farr Side
Hopped over to the Sustainable Tennessee Regional Opportunity Forum with Doug Farr this morning.
I heard Farr speak a few months ago at the Sustainable Shelby kick-off and he's always an engaging speaker. He cited some of the usual statistics: between 1970 and 2005, the average American house got 60 percent bigger while the average American family got smaller. In the U.S., people drive more than 10,000 miles per capita each year.
One thing he likes to talk about is how neither more efficient light bulbs nor hybrid cars nor "green" buildings will reduce CO2 enough.
"It's not about the efficiency of objects," he said. "As things become more efficient, we use them more."
Instead, sustainable urbanism ("walkable, transit-served urbanism integrated with green buildings and high performance infrastructure") becomes a way to conserve. When looking at vehicle miles traveled, for instance, the most important factor in reducing the amount of travel is destination (the other factors interrelate — design, diversity of uses, and density).
"It's about how we organize our lives," Farr said.
If neighborhoods are dense, have a mixture of residential, business, and retail, and it's easy to get from one place to another, people will be more likely to forgo their cars.
Will probably have more later. Stay tuned.
I heard Farr speak a few months ago at the Sustainable Shelby kick-off and he's always an engaging speaker. He cited some of the usual statistics: between 1970 and 2005, the average American house got 60 percent bigger while the average American family got smaller. In the U.S., people drive more than 10,000 miles per capita each year.
One thing he likes to talk about is how neither more efficient light bulbs nor hybrid cars nor "green" buildings will reduce CO2 enough.
"It's not about the efficiency of objects," he said. "As things become more efficient, we use them more."
Instead, sustainable urbanism ("walkable, transit-served urbanism integrated with green buildings and high performance infrastructure") becomes a way to conserve. When looking at vehicle miles traveled, for instance, the most important factor in reducing the amount of travel is destination (the other factors interrelate — design, diversity of uses, and density).
"It's about how we organize our lives," Farr said.
If neighborhoods are dense, have a mixture of residential, business, and retail, and it's easy to get from one place to another, people will be more likely to forgo their cars.
Will probably have more later. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Seeing Sustainability
Fire up those Flickr accounts — the Sustainable Shelby initiative is looking for your digital photos.
Earlier this year, Sustainable Shelby came up with 52 recommendations to make the area more sustainable, including walkable neighborhoods, protecting the natural environment, and creating unique public spaces. (This is all the detail I plan to go into right now. Need more info? Click here or here.)
Now the initiative wants local photos to illustrate its upcoming implementation plan and website.
From the info I got:
"We need your help to capture images that will help us illustrate the importance of sustainability for the future of our community — the things and places that you love about Memphis and Shelby County. We are especially interested in 'active' photographs that include not only local places but local people as well."
If only this had people in it — it'd be perfect. Yes, says me.
Digital photos can be emailed to photos@sustainableshelby.com and should include a brief written description of the photo, including where and when it was taken. Higher resolution images are preferred, but not required.
The deadline to submit photos is October 8th.
And if you take pictures all the time but aren't really sure what you'd send in, Sustainable Shelby has a list of examples, including local examples of natural features, active downtown streetscapes, your favorite place to walk, run, or ride your bike, Beale Street, historic districts, and community gardens.
If I get more info, I'll be sure to pass it along.
Earlier this year, Sustainable Shelby came up with 52 recommendations to make the area more sustainable, including walkable neighborhoods, protecting the natural environment, and creating unique public spaces. (This is all the detail I plan to go into right now. Need more info? Click here or here.)
Now the initiative wants local photos to illustrate its upcoming implementation plan and website.
From the info I got:
"We need your help to capture images that will help us illustrate the importance of sustainability for the future of our community — the things and places that you love about Memphis and Shelby County. We are especially interested in 'active' photographs that include not only local places but local people as well."
If only this had people in it — it'd be perfect. Yes, says me.Digital photos can be emailed to photos@sustainableshelby.com and should include a brief written description of the photo, including where and when it was taken. Higher resolution images are preferred, but not required.
The deadline to submit photos is October 8th.
And if you take pictures all the time but aren't really sure what you'd send in, Sustainable Shelby has a list of examples, including local examples of natural features, active downtown streetscapes, your favorite place to walk, run, or ride your bike, Beale Street, historic districts, and community gardens.
If I get more info, I'll be sure to pass it along.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Fireflies Burning Out?
With mounting evidence that fireflies are disappearing, researchers in New England started a citizen science project.
Boston's Museum of Science teamed up with Tufts University and Fitchburg State College to ask regular people to spend 10 minutes one night each week of the summer tracking the number of fireflies they see in their yards.
Researchers surmise that pesticides and outdoor lighting, among other things, may be affecting lightning bugs' habitat.
It looks like citizens from all over the country have signed on, though it doesn't appear that anyone from Memphis is registered to participate.
The museum has a very cute virtual habitat feature to teach its aspiring data collectors about flash color, pattern, and location. For instance, the male will flash while patrolling an area while the female will flash from a perch. Who knew?
Here's a story in USAToday about the anecdotal evidence that supports the diminishing numbers of fireflies theory.
Boston's Museum of Science teamed up with Tufts University and Fitchburg State College to ask regular people to spend 10 minutes one night each week of the summer tracking the number of fireflies they see in their yards.
Researchers surmise that pesticides and outdoor lighting, among other things, may be affecting lightning bugs' habitat.
It looks like citizens from all over the country have signed on, though it doesn't appear that anyone from Memphis is registered to participate.
The museum has a very cute virtual habitat feature to teach its aspiring data collectors about flash color, pattern, and location. For instance, the male will flash while patrolling an area while the female will flash from a perch. Who knew?Here's a story in USAToday about the anecdotal evidence that supports the diminishing numbers of fireflies theory.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Let Them Eat Cake?
Calling for a food revolution, participants of the first-ever Slow Food Nation convention are convened in San Francisco this week.
The revolution centers on eating fresh, whole foods grown in a sustainable manner.
From a story in USAToday:
"People need to reprioritize food — much as they did in the 1940s before processed fast foods took over, says Slow Food Nation executive director Anya Fernald. 'This is an event to birth a more political food movement. We're operating in a context where it's become blatantly obvious that we're eating ourselves to death in America.'"
Some have criticized the group's platform as being elitist, but they argue that you can either pay more in upfront costs for healthier foods or you can pay more for later health care costs.
Michael Pollan's recent In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto shares a similar thesis. His three rules of eating boil down to: 1. Eat Food, 2. Not too much, 3. Mostly plants.
I read it about a month ago and I haven't stopped talking it up since. Pollan's simple argument against the Western Diet — and its related diseases — was too persuasive (of course, right now as I type this, it's not even lunchtime yet and I'm eating a box of cherryheads, so take that how you will.)
The slow food convention organizers hope that other cities will host similar events. In the meantime, organizers plan to post convention seminars and lectures to YouTube in coming weeks.
Brussels Sprouts. If anyone cares, I roast mine with olive oil and kosher salt. When I'm not eating candy for dinner, that is.
The revolution centers on eating fresh, whole foods grown in a sustainable manner.
From a story in USAToday:
"People need to reprioritize food — much as they did in the 1940s before processed fast foods took over, says Slow Food Nation executive director Anya Fernald. 'This is an event to birth a more political food movement. We're operating in a context where it's become blatantly obvious that we're eating ourselves to death in America.'"
Some have criticized the group's platform as being elitist, but they argue that you can either pay more in upfront costs for healthier foods or you can pay more for later health care costs.
Michael Pollan's recent In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto shares a similar thesis. His three rules of eating boil down to: 1. Eat Food, 2. Not too much, 3. Mostly plants.
I read it about a month ago and I haven't stopped talking it up since. Pollan's simple argument against the Western Diet — and its related diseases — was too persuasive (of course, right now as I type this, it's not even lunchtime yet and I'm eating a box of cherryheads, so take that how you will.)
The slow food convention organizers hope that other cities will host similar events. In the meantime, organizers plan to post convention seminars and lectures to YouTube in coming weeks.Brussels Sprouts. If anyone cares, I roast mine with olive oil and kosher salt. When I'm not eating candy for dinner, that is.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Driving is the New Smoking?
For Doug Farr, sustainable urbanism is the new American dream.
The author of Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature, Farr defines the concept as walkable, transit-served urbanism integrated with high-performance buildings and high-performance infrastructure. Farr thinks this will be the norm by 2030.
"It's in the public's interest; it's in each individual's interest; and developers can make money off of it," he said.
In front of the packed room at the Memphis Botanic Garden yesterday, Farr said that communities (okay, he may have used the words "the media") have to get past the compact fluorescent lightbulb, the hybrid car, and more energy efficient buildings, because while those things are good, they're not enough.
Which brings us to the local Sustainable Shelby initiative.
Shelby County mayor A C Wharton said that when he was first elected, it became clear to him that we were "creating disposable neighborhoods."
That realization eventually led to his Sustainable Shelby initiative, which included yesterday's call to action.
"A few years ago, people thought they looked stupid if they rode a bicycle," Wharton said of Germany, a country he just visited and where a gallon of gas costs $8. "Now the only people who look stupid are those driving to work alone in their car."
From the Sustainable Shelby report — recommendations put together by seven committees and rated by both committee members and a survey of the general public — Wharton said he drew several conclusions: that there is a strong sentiment for revitalizing existing neighborhoods, that people care about the public realm and want to have parks, streets, and plazas that are special, that people want to protect the natural environment, that they want walkable communities, and they want the local government to stop talking about sustainability and start leading the charge.
"While there are noble and idealistic reasons for sustainability, in the end, it is in our own enlightened self-interest," Wharton said.
The administration will develop plans for how to implement the top 52 recommendations within the next 90 days. If you're interested in Sustainable Shelby's full report and top recommendations, visit www.dpdgov.com. Or here's a better link.
The author of Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature, Farr defines the concept as walkable, transit-served urbanism integrated with high-performance buildings and high-performance infrastructure. Farr thinks this will be the norm by 2030.
"It's in the public's interest; it's in each individual's interest; and developers can make money off of it," he said.
In front of the packed room at the Memphis Botanic Garden yesterday, Farr said that communities (okay, he may have used the words "the media") have to get past the compact fluorescent lightbulb, the hybrid car, and more energy efficient buildings, because while those things are good, they're not enough.
Which brings us to the local Sustainable Shelby initiative.
Shelby County mayor A C Wharton said that when he was first elected, it became clear to him that we were "creating disposable neighborhoods."
That realization eventually led to his Sustainable Shelby initiative, which included yesterday's call to action.
"A few years ago, people thought they looked stupid if they rode a bicycle," Wharton said of Germany, a country he just visited and where a gallon of gas costs $8. "Now the only people who look stupid are those driving to work alone in their car."
From the Sustainable Shelby report — recommendations put together by seven committees and rated by both committee members and a survey of the general public — Wharton said he drew several conclusions: that there is a strong sentiment for revitalizing existing neighborhoods, that people care about the public realm and want to have parks, streets, and plazas that are special, that people want to protect the natural environment, that they want walkable communities, and they want the local government to stop talking about sustainability and start leading the charge.
"While there are noble and idealistic reasons for sustainability, in the end, it is in our own enlightened self-interest," Wharton said.
The administration will develop plans for how to implement the top 52 recommendations within the next 90 days. If you're interested in Sustainable Shelby's full report and top recommendations, visit www.dpdgov.com. Or here's a better link.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Shelby Smart Growth?
Today is the "call to action" event for Mayor A C Wharton's Sustainable Shelby initiative. Doug Farr, author of Sustainable Urbanism, will speak and the initiative's agenda and future plans will be announced. It starts at 2:30 p.m. at the Memphis Botanic Garden.
But, while I'm very supportive about what Sustainable Shelby is trying to do, I think they've got their work cut out for them.
I was looking over the Sustainable Shelby public opinion poll yesterday and was surprised by a number of results.
Forty-two percent of those surveyed put a "very high" value on walkable communities while 39 percent put a "high" value on it. Twenty-three percent "strongly agree" that the rising cost of fossil fuels will make longer trips from home to work unsustainable.
At the same time, however, when asked about "what is sometimes called urban sprawl," 62 percent of respondents were "for it," meaning they preferred the suburbs because they have "lower density development, are less noisy, more private, have better schools, less crime, and a generally slower lifestyle."
In fact, in response to a question about what your neighborhood needs to have in order to be sustainable for future generations, one person said this:
"I think the further away from Memphis the better."
Obviously, there's a disconnect.
More than 600 people — from Memphis, Bartlett, Millington, Germantown, etc. — were surveyed and of course, they are going to have a myriad different opinions. But I think the initiative will need to explain what smart growth and sustainable urbanism is, exactly, and what it means to the people involved.
Many people surveyed said smart growth was about building new (or better) homes and bringing new (or better) jobs to neighborhoods. I think those can be effects of smart growth, but I'm not sure I would call those the main tenets.
In my mind, smart growth is about controlling sprawl, re-using existing buildings when possible, mixed-use development, and a host of transportation options.
But maybe it won't be as challenging as I think.
When asked about responsibility for the local environment and natural resources, 47 percent said they felt "a great deal" of personal responsibility for those things. Forty-one percent said they felt "some" personal responsibility.
The trick, I think, will be tapping into people's self-interest.
But, while I'm very supportive about what Sustainable Shelby is trying to do, I think they've got their work cut out for them.
I was looking over the Sustainable Shelby public opinion poll yesterday and was surprised by a number of results.
Forty-two percent of those surveyed put a "very high" value on walkable communities while 39 percent put a "high" value on it. Twenty-three percent "strongly agree" that the rising cost of fossil fuels will make longer trips from home to work unsustainable.
At the same time, however, when asked about "what is sometimes called urban sprawl," 62 percent of respondents were "for it," meaning they preferred the suburbs because they have "lower density development, are less noisy, more private, have better schools, less crime, and a generally slower lifestyle."
In fact, in response to a question about what your neighborhood needs to have in order to be sustainable for future generations, one person said this:
"I think the further away from Memphis the better."
Obviously, there's a disconnect.
More than 600 people — from Memphis, Bartlett, Millington, Germantown, etc. — were surveyed and of course, they are going to have a myriad different opinions. But I think the initiative will need to explain what smart growth and sustainable urbanism is, exactly, and what it means to the people involved.
Many people surveyed said smart growth was about building new (or better) homes and bringing new (or better) jobs to neighborhoods. I think those can be effects of smart growth, but I'm not sure I would call those the main tenets.
In my mind, smart growth is about controlling sprawl, re-using existing buildings when possible, mixed-use development, and a host of transportation options.
But maybe it won't be as challenging as I think.
When asked about responsibility for the local environment and natural resources, 47 percent said they felt "a great deal" of personal responsibility for those things. Forty-one percent said they felt "some" personal responsibility.
The trick, I think, will be tapping into people's self-interest.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Neighborhood Watch
The Coalition for Livable Communities will host their Second Annual Summit for Neighborhood Leaders tomorrow at 9 a.m. at 600 Jefferson Ave.
The event is free (registration required) and will include presentations on the CLC Neighborhood Survey, the city/suburb connection, how to "green" your home, and how to get to work using public transportation. And it appears Mayor Wharton might be speaking about his Sustainable Shelby initiative.
Should be interesting ...
The event is free (registration required) and will include presentations on the CLC Neighborhood Survey, the city/suburb connection, how to "green" your home, and how to get to work using public transportation. And it appears Mayor Wharton might be speaking about his Sustainable Shelby initiative.
Should be interesting ...
Friday, June 20, 2008
odds and ends
— The committees of Mayor A C Wharton's Sustainable Shelby met in a digital congress yesterday to vote on the initiative's priorities. Using a "clicker" — it looked just like a little remote — members of the initiative ranked the various committee's recommendations from 1, strongly disagree, to 7, strongly agree.
No surprise, there were a lot of 7s in the house (and only four recommendations out of 52 got a majority of 5s).
To begin, Wharton called sustainability "plain good business" and reminded the assembly of the kickoff meeting in March. At that meeting, Joe Cortright said that if we could get citizens to shave 2 miles off their daily drive, it would save a combined $280 million. (That they could then spend on other things.)
"There is no doubt that sustainable communities do more than improve the environment," Wharton said. "They result in considerable savings that lead to economic growth."
The complete agenda will be presented at a Sustainable Shelby Call to Action public meeting Tuesday, July 8th, 2:30 p.m. at the Botanic Garden.
— Is mixed-use enough? Architect Keith Ray argues that omni-use is required to revitalize areas.
— Related to yesterday's post about infrastructure, Houston has just approved five light rail lines, to be completed by 2012. If I recall correctly, 2012 is the year that Memphis' light rail line, announced eight years ago and scheduled to run down Lamar to the airport, might be done.
No surprise, there were a lot of 7s in the house (and only four recommendations out of 52 got a majority of 5s).
To begin, Wharton called sustainability "plain good business" and reminded the assembly of the kickoff meeting in March. At that meeting, Joe Cortright said that if we could get citizens to shave 2 miles off their daily drive, it would save a combined $280 million. (That they could then spend on other things.)
"There is no doubt that sustainable communities do more than improve the environment," Wharton said. "They result in considerable savings that lead to economic growth."
The complete agenda will be presented at a Sustainable Shelby Call to Action public meeting Tuesday, July 8th, 2:30 p.m. at the Botanic Garden.
— Is mixed-use enough? Architect Keith Ray argues that omni-use is required to revitalize areas.
— Related to yesterday's post about infrastructure, Houston has just approved five light rail lines, to be completed by 2012. If I recall correctly, 2012 is the year that Memphis' light rail line, announced eight years ago and scheduled to run down Lamar to the airport, might be done.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Before I forget
This is sort of a little way off, but I told someone I'd mention it and so I'm just going to go ahead and do it, and probably (with a little luck) I'll mention it again.
The Coalition for Livable Communities will hold their Second Annual Summit for Neighborhood Leaders Saturday, June 28th, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The agenda includes workshops on "green building for everyone," "the city-suburb connection," and something that I think could be very important — "Planning Boards and Commissions: A Citizens Guide to Development Decisions."
From the agenda: "Ever wonder how to get the development "powers that be" to pay attention? This workshop breaks down the planning process and shows you how to make the system work for you."
And all without a big stack of dollar bills in a paper sack.
The event is free, but registration is required. To do so, contact sarah@livablememphis.org.
The Coalition for Livable Communities will hold their Second Annual Summit for Neighborhood Leaders Saturday, June 28th, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The agenda includes workshops on "green building for everyone," "the city-suburb connection," and something that I think could be very important — "Planning Boards and Commissions: A Citizens Guide to Development Decisions."
From the agenda: "Ever wonder how to get the development "powers that be" to pay attention? This workshop breaks down the planning process and shows you how to make the system work for you."
And all without a big stack of dollar bills in a paper sack.
The event is free, but registration is required. To do so, contact sarah@livablememphis.org.
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