OBE5-Kate-Sustainable Twin Cities
In Stephen Wheeler’s article, “Planning Sustainable and Livable Cities,” he writes about the progression of city development and how it goes along with the ability to live in the city. One of the terms Wheeler uses frequently in his article is that of sustainable development. Sustainable development, as he defines it, is: “…development that improves long-term health of human and ecological systems (486).” This is basically stating the fact that he does not want an improvement in the environmental aspect of the city, but a better living space for the city dweller as well. Wheeler also stresses the fact that these development strategies, “…need to be long term – plans for twenty, fifty, one hundred years or longer rather than year-by-year plans that optimize short-term present enjoyment at the expense of future welfare (486).” He thinks the short-term plans that have been so present lately are doing nothing but setting the city up for destruction.
In this paper I will be writing about the nine implications for urban development that Wheeler speaks about. Within those nine implications I will explain some of the cities I have been to that either positively or negatively exemplifies what Wheeler means by these implications. Following those analyses I will write about how two of these implications could be applied to the fabulous Twin Cities metropolitan area.
The two cities that came to mind while I was reading about the implications for urban development were San Francisco, California and New Orleans, Louisiana. These two cities are some of my favorite in America. While I was reading the implications about the restoration of natural systems, which Wheeler says the following about, “Restoring ecosystems can lead to healthier and more livable cities, while providing important amenities that can help entice residents back from suburbia (492),” I thought of San Francisco. For those of you who have not visited this amazing city, it is truly one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to. San Francisco is full of plants, trees, green grass and beautiful flowers everywhere. This city is a great example of what cities across the country should look up to for the restoration of natural systems.
As I was reading the final implication for urban development, which was the preservation of local culture and wisdom, New Orleans came to my mind. I visited New Orleans pre-Katrina, but it was one of the few places I have been to in America that had so much culture. I think this is a fabulous quality of a city. While I was in the city I felt like I was so immersed in another culture that I almost felt as if I was in another country or another time. It is difficult to explain, but for those of you who have been there—I am sure you understand! Once again, cities across the country should look up to the culture-filled city of New Orleans for inspiration.
The two implications that reminded me of the Twin Cities were that of less automobile use, better access and community participation and involvement. Wheeler says the following about the first implication I mentioned, “Current transportation systems contribute to a complex web of urban problems such as air pollution, congestion, blight suburban sprawl, ecosystem destruction, and social fragmentation (491).” I do not know how I would survive without a car in the Twin Cities, I feel as if it is a place in which one needs a car to get around the city efficiently. I believe this is one of the things the Twin Cities could improve on. But, now on a more positive note, I believe the Twin Cities have a very high percentage of community participation and involvement. While I was researching my final paper I found many community and neighborhood organizations that contribute to the betterment of their communities--which, in turn, benefits the Twin Cities as a whole.
As I stated previously, I think San Francisco and New Orleans are two cities America can look up to for the restoration of natural systems and the preservation of local culture and wisdom. The Twin Cities do an amazing job with community involvement, but may need to work on the issue of less automobile use.
KATE CICHY