Sustainable Urban Design, an Environmental Approach

By Adam Ritchie/Patrick Clarke

I chose to focus on this article because my interest in sustainability is more focused on the community aspect as it relates to that segment of our society least likely to understand or practice sustainable living.  The particular chapter that this article refers to is Urban Planning and Design, a sustainable approach to successful and sustainable urban environments.  The articles takes a realistic approach in that it recognizes the most important point to the successful design of a sustainable community lies in a great degree to the way in which people and goods move within the community.  When the methods of movement shifts, so does the pattern of human activities with a direct consequences for the planning and design principles that will determine the development of the area. 

In most at-risk urban communities, the car has been the primary means of transportation thus drawing jobs, shopping, leisure, and most aspect of living away from the community to area outside the community easily accessible by car.  Our highways and city infrastructure have been designed accordingly, that is to facilitate easy exist from the community where one lives to shopping, work, and leisure.  An excellent example would be to look at any community within the City of Fort Worth; my example would be the Stop Six Community.  This community is conveniently bordered by major freeways which is accessible within 5 to 10 minutes from the center of the community.  East bordered by Loop 820 East; south bordered by Highway 287; north bordered by Interstate 30; and west bordered by Interstate 35.  

Now we find ourselves attempting to reduce our reliance automobiles, fossil fuel, and all the carbon emissions that go with this mode of community.  We are trying to re-establish walking, cycling, public transportation, neighborhood shopping, and all the living styles that we moved away from a few decades ago.  The difficult realization that for many city officials to realize is that the expected lifespan for a road will not always match the reality of how well that design will in reality work.

We now find ourselves faced with streets and highways that have a lifespan longer than the lifestyle that they were built for, and we are living at a time when city, state, and federal budgets are stretched to capacity.  No one will make the unpopular decision to make a costly change to an urban infrastructure that works.  Before we can embark upon changing the infrastructure of our communities, we must first educate those that live within these communities that there is a more efficient and economical.  Some of the key points that the author suggest to make this transition is:

1.        The creation of socially mixed and inclusive communities.

2.       The provision of services and facilities that meet a range of needs.

3.       Engaging local communities in discussion about how they see their neighborhood and their priorities and aspirations for the future.

4.       The provision of quality public transportation services.

In looking specifically at the Stop Six Community, these recommendations and suggestions are on-point. 

1.       In my opinion, the first point would probably be more difficult to achieve, however maybe one of the least important of the four.  The Stop Six Community’s population is currently 81% African American, low income, high poverty rate, primary build structure is houses (rental).  Not much will change these numbers without major changes in the other factors.

2.       It is very difficult to find fresh food within walking distance within the Stop Six Community.  This is where I believe a community garden will be a tremendous asset to this community. 

3.       Apathy within the community is very prevalent, I believe because many people do not realize how much power they have over their own destiny.  Community engagement and empowerment will go a long way to help people take charge of their community.  By educating and establishing community action teams, I believe this community can turn itself around. 

4.       Though transportation services are available, it is inadequate at best.  Because the public transportation exists, this would be an easy adjustment to make.

This article I found very interesting in that it gave me some insight into how a community can be changed, in addition it gave me the tools to get to work and do just that!