TURNING CITIES INTO VIBRANT COMMUNITIES
Retronomic Development is the phased restoration of a community’s architecturally historic commercial corridor using multi-repurposing and appropriate green building infill.
There is a major problem lurking in the world today and I know you have spotted it. You can't have missed it if you have visited a city in the last few years.
Do you know what it is?
The problem is rapant Urban Decay and the sad state of the modern city. This is a challenge that has faced federal, state and city governments; developers, designers, urban planners and architects; environmentalists and concerned area residents for many years. I see it all the time as I travel from place to place.
The term Urban Renewal has been in use since the 1940s to address the challenges facing cities trying to revitialize their "Downtown" areas. In some cases, cities have a large problem with distressed and deteriorated areas of blight over most of their urban footprint.
Although this term has had merit ( whether you agree or disagree to it's affectiveness is beside the point ), I feel it is time to add a new concept into the global urban landscapescape. A term to serve as a rallying point to gather the forces of local leaders, investors, developers and citizens into a single vision. It is:
Retronomic Development.
Retronomic development is the phased restoration of a community's historic commercial corridor using multi-repurposing and apporoiate green building infill.
I believe that retronomic development will be the catalyst to drive conscious and sustainable redevelopment in the re-emerging urban areas.
Here are some facts I dug up:
A study conducted in 2007 by the United Nations, that appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, predicted that by the end of 2008, more than half of the world's population would be living in cities. The report states that there will be "27 megacities with at least 10 million residents by mid-centry compared with 19 giant metropolitan areas today". The planet's population is expected to grow from 3.3 billion to 6.4 billion, an almost 100 % increase. The level of global urbanization is predicted to rise to 70% worldwide by 2050.
The report goes on to say that at least 1/2 of the urban growth will be in smaller cities with a population fewer than 500,000. More than 70% of the people in North America, Europe and the richer, developed nations around the world currently live in urban areas as of the end of 2007. Only 39% of Africans and 41% of Asians were living in urban areas as of that date.
A major factor to consider is the growing American acceptance of the urban lifestyle. People are drawn to the cities because of the presence of greater culture: art galleries, concert halls, street fairs, social diversity: restaurants, music venues, various ethnic celebrations, Mardi Gras, and ease of transportation ie. mass transit: buses, light rail. I know that I love cities for a few reasons: their ethnic food, the live music and the people watching.
So this is the beginning of an open dialogue. I invite you all, all denizens of the planet to start a conversation with me and with each other. Lets put our heads together and make some positive changes.
Here is a video that addresses the problems of Boston and the Boston West End and how forward thinking city fathers are dealing with the problem of rebuilding one of the worlds best cities.
