PCRD

The Geography of Buzz

Posted by Christine Nolan

Richard Florida’s theories about the importance of the “creative class” are getting some further exploration from a new study by planners and spatial analysts at Columbia University in New York city and the University of Southern California in LA.  The new study, called “The Geography of Buzz” mapped the density of a range of cultural events in Manhattan and LA for a period of one year using GIS technology, and came up with clusters of hot spots in fashion, art, film, theater, television and music.  The study is described by a recent article in the New York Times and you can read it here.

The article contains links to the downloadable study report *get it directly here), as well as maps of the centers of creative activity in each city.  It’s worth taking the time to have a quick look at some of the reader comments, too.

 

Quality Connected Places: Walkable Communities

With gas at $4.00-plus per gallon, living someplace where you get get some things done without jumping in the car, is becoming increasingly more desirable. The site walkscore.com lists America's 40 Most Walkable Communities. Indianapolis ranks 37th with a score of Walkability Score of 42 out of 100. San Francisco occupies the top spot with a score of 86.

The site also has a feature where you can enter in any U.S. address and it will provide a Walkability Score. In case you are wondering, my neighborhood in Lebanon, IN scores an 80. Not bad.

They offer the following advice on what makes a neighborhood walkable:

• A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a discernible center, whether it's a shopping district, a main street, or a public space.
• Density: The neighborhood is compact enough for local businesses to flourish and for public transportation to run frequently.
• Mixed income, mixed use: Housing is provided for everyone who works in the neighborhood: young and old, singles and families, rich and poor. Businesses and residences are located near each other.
• Parks and public space: There are plenty of public places to gather and play.
• Pedestrian-centric design: Buildings are placed close to the street to cater to foot traffic, with parking lots relegated to the back.
• Nearby schools and workplaces: Schools and workplaces are close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.

New models of economic development focus on quality, connected places. Factors like a walkability score are becoming important factors in where people choose to live and work and where companies decide to invest.   

Infrastructure 2008: A Competitive Advantage

Posted by Indraneel Kumar

A new report by the Urban Land Institute and Ernst and Young caution about the deteriorating condition of infrastructure system in the U.S. and how it can erode our competitive advantages that we had so far. Today, there is a funding gap of about $ 170 billion to upgrade and bring up-to-date the existing infrastructure system. The study says that China is investing about 9 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on infrastructure, India is following suit, and Europe and Canada are revamping their existing infrastructure systems.

The authors also mention that new ways of planning for land use is required to balance the development and infrastructure. The old ways of unconnected transportation and land use planning might not be helpful in any way. The book presents various innovative methods, such as models of Public Private Partnerships, National Infrastructure Bank, etc. to finance the future infrastructure projects. Read an excerpt here and the whole study here.  

Walkable Urban Places

Posted by Eda Unal

"Over the past 15 years, there has been a gradual shift in how Americans have created their built environment as demonstrated by the success of the many downtown revitalizations, new urbanism, and transit-oriented development. This has been the result of the re-introduction and expansion of higher density walkable urban places.”

In his study, Footloose and Fancy Free: A Field Survey of Walkable Urban Places in the Top 30 U.S. Metropolitan Areas, from The Brookings Institution, Christopher B. Leinberger attempts to identify the number and location of "regional-serving" walkable urban places in the 30 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S., where 138 million, or 46 percent, of the U.S. population lives. The first section defines the key concepts used in the survey, providing relevant background information for those who have not read The Option of Urbanism: Investing in a New American Dream (Island Press, November 2007). The second section outlines the methodology. The third section, which is the heart of the report, outlines the findings and conclusions of the survey.  You can download the complete report here. Also, you can watch a CNN interview (available here) with Christopher B. Leinberger.