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Strong Towns : addressing the Long Emergency ... and more


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The "Strong Towns" effort is growing, becoming A MOVEMENT

 

It has grown beyond CNU and the Town Planners

 

Ordinary people care, including Spanish teachers, and "George, with the trombone"

 

Ep. 198 : Live from New York

 

MP3 : http://shoutengine.com/StrongTownsPodcast/StrongTownsPodcast-0198-live-from-new-york-5378.mp3

Andrew Burleson and Jim Kumon sit down with Chuck Marohn in an AirBnB in Brooklyn to talk about the future of the Strong towns movement.

 

These guys have a real message, and an endearing sincerity.

The professionals who care most are compromised, so they need ordinary people

 

Key hot button issues are: Cycling, and "the way that we live" (in America)

 

They want to hit 800 members by year end, and have 500+ now

 

> http://strongtowns.org

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  • 3 weeks later...
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Chuck Marohn questions the "received wisdom" which favors cars and drivers

 

MP3 : http://shoutengine.com/StrongTownsPodcast/StrongTownsPodcast-0199-just-another-pedestrian-killed-5511.mp3

 

Just Another Pedestrian Killed

Charles Marohn published on Dec 18, 2014 11:00AM

Chuck Marohn and Andrew Burleson sit down to discuss a tragedy in Springfield, Mass, where a mom and two girls were hit by a drunk driver on an urban stroad. The seven-year-old girl was killed and the other seriously injured. Marohn and Burleson discuss the engineering profession's approach to safety, the implications for those outside of an automobile and how our approach needs reform if we are truly build safe, productive places.

 

> just-another-pedestrian-killed-5511

 

http://www.StrongTowns.org

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  • 2 weeks later...

What's "too small to be viable" ?

 

SUBURBAN SOLUTION - in today's FT

"As Britain's centre of work become concentrated in its cities and larger towns, the inhabitants of smaller settlements have become increasing mobile, commuting much longer distances to get to their places of work. The advent of internet shopping means that the local retail is increasingly hard to sustain in many places."

"Megacities of 10 million or more citizens are increasing in number, leaving middle-sized cities and towns struggling to keep up. There are 28 megacities worldwide, and the UN forecast this will grow to 41 by 2030."

The GBP 250K Wolfson Prize ... was aimed at those working to make a Garden City that would be visionary, economically viable, and popular.

The solution proposed by THIS YEAR's WINNER: Existing Towns should be expanded ... to a Critical mass

CRITICAL MASS is said to be reached at this levels:

+ A Local Pub --------- : 2,000 residents

+ Local Shops -------- : 5,000

+ Childrens Nursery- : 10,000

+ Swimming Pool----- : 40,000

+ Library--------------- : 60,000

+ Multiplex cinema--- : 80,000

We see these levels easily reached in London, where local boroughs may have 250,000 - 300,000 people.

Some small towns, who are now struggling may have less than 50,000 residents

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  • 3 weeks later...

Combining a Strong Towns Meeting w/ a Visit to Philly ?

=

I am thinking about a visit to Philadelphia, and maybe from there, attending a StrongTowns regional meeting

 

Here's more about StrongTowns

The Curbside Chat - Introduction

Published on Sep 15, 2014

The Strong Towns Curbside Chat is an eye-opening presentation explaining why cities of all kinds are struggling financially and how we can work to change things for the better, one block at a time.

What does productive growth look like in a 21st century city?

 

Strong Towns' Chuck Marohn: Why Suburban Growth Is a Ponzi Scheme

Published on Jul 24, 2013

Chuck Marohn cofounded the non-profit Strong Towns in 2009. Since then he has steadily built an audience for his message about the financial folly of car-centric planning and growth. The suburban development pattern that has prevailed since the end of World War II has resulted in what Marohn calls "the growth Ponzi scheme" -- a system that isn't viable in the long run because it cannot bring in enough revenue to cover its costs.

Last year, interest in the Strong Towns message surged and Marohn, in high demand, traveled to towns and cities all over the country delivering "curbside chats" about the need to build places differently. In this Streetfilm we provide an overview of his thinking about street design, land use, and transportation funding. For more Chuck Marohn, visit the Strong Towns blog and check out their podcast.

 

Some Bulletpoints:

=====

+ "we can save 20%, by cutting out the Federal government's involvement in transport issues"

+ A street is a platform for creating value

+ A "stroad" is the worst of a street and a road, and costs too much

=

> see: The Philadelphia Story :

http://www.greenenergyinvestors.com/index.php?showtopic=19729

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The StrongTowns' Message, as told in a Curbside Chat

 

CAN A CITY thrive by making a series of negative-return investments?

 

Curbside-Chat-CF_zpsc5011d48.jpg

 

Facing the long term consequences of short term thinking

 

Curbside Chat in Vancouver (Canada) with Charles Marohn of Strong Towns

Published on Nov 11, 2013

Powerpoint slides providing the full, prepared remarks of Strong Town's Chuck Marohn at Simon Fraser University's Downtown Vancouver campus on 24 October 2013. The duration of this full sample is just under 1 hour 17-minutes, and does not include the questions after the presentation.

(at 31 mins in):
Those who asked: "what's the solution?" really wanted to know:
What can SOMEONE ELSE Change
, so I can go on doing the same?
A: There are no easy solutions, but we can learn from the past:

Back then (when America was thriving), people copied what they knew worked.

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Understanding Brainerd, Part 1: The Grid

 

ADVANTAGES of the Traditional Grid (to modern street layouts)

+ Much more flexibility, allows the exercise of common sense
+ Promotes walking and biking; auto centric = tyranny
+ Cheaper to live, since expensive driving can be reduced
+ Kids can walk to school, promoting self-responsibility for the young
+ Cars can drive slower (with more safety) to cover the shorter distances
+ More self-policing happens in traditional grid neighborhood
+ Accommodates "productive" mass transit (easier to walk to stations)

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Charles Landry - The Urban Futures Think Tank | Festival IN 2013
Published on Jul 8, 2013

Charles Landry - http://www.charleslandry.com/

WARM UP - Festival IN 2013

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In a bizarre departure from Mr Marohn's ideal of a Strong Town...

 

I wonder how many people are aware that a place like this is being created

in Manila, near the main Makati CBD ?

 

MEGAWORLD's The Venice Luxury Residences [7T|28F|mix|res]
@ McKinley Hills, Taguig City, Metro Manila

7975103063_39a6db49db_b.jpg

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venice-rialto.jpg

7.jpg

venice-alfrescoatnight.jpg

 

 

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==

> http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=302340&page=447

=

> see Makati thread : http://www.greenenergyinvestors.com/index.php?showtopic=18811&page=6

 

Is this part of a walkable Strong Town,

or just a sort of liveable Disney-world, designed to attract Tourists and Shoppers

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Does the US and the UK need new policies favoring cycling?

 

BBC News Why do so many Dutch people cycle

 

 

UK Guy: "Cycling's dangerous... If you have any sense, you get off your bike, and use public transport"

 

That option does not exist in the US

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TELLING LIKE IT IS... To the professional engineers

 

First, Chuck did it, here:

 

Can you be an engineer and speak out for reform?

Chuck Marohn talks about the complaint made against him to the state licensing board for speaking out about reforming the engineering profession.

>http://shoutengine.com/StrongTownsPodcast/can-you-be-an-engineer-and-speak-out-for-reform-6957

 

And so, I responded, like this:

 

Chuck, I love your idealism. And I think that my father, and two brothers, who are all Professional Engineers might share it too. But there are far too many people in the professions that are totally selfish - asking for more money, without regard to what is good for the whole of society. That applies to Engineers, Doctors, Teachers (as you have mentioned), and beyond that: to Lawyers and politicians, certainly. And maybe also to almost everyone else, right on to welfare recipients, who take their money from the state.

 

We can change it. We must change it. And the way to do that is to TAKE THE HIGH ROAD, and make an argument for change with facts, figures, and arguments. As you did. Your opponent, the fellow of the professional engineers association, did not do that. He never mounted any sort of decent argument for his position. He was selfish and sloppy, just like the organization he represents. It is embarrassing (for his organization), and sad too.

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(from the intro to one of KMO's private "vault" podcasts):

 

Vault_Cover132.jpg

A Velocipede.

Ivan Illich rejected the notion that the industrialized nations face an “energy crisis.” He argued that a society and landscape shaped by high-energy and high-speed transport distorted the human experience of time and space in unhelpful ways and exacerbated social inequalities. The capitalist and the socialist agree that abundant, non-polluting energy devoted to move more people over longer distances in a shorter time will improve people’s live. Illich thought that the more energy spent on velocity the more people trade true initiative and mobility for frustration and impotence.

 

> http://c-realm.com/

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In a bizarre departure from Mr Marohn's ideal of a Strong Town...

 

I wonder how many people are aware that a place like this is being created

in Manila, near the main Makati CBD ?

 

=

> see Makati thread : http://www.greenenergyinvestors.com/index.php?showtopic=18811&page=6

 

Is this part of a walkable Strong Town,

or just a sort of liveable Disney-world, designed to attract Tourists and Shoppers

I think you have answered your own question there! People attracted to mickey mouse theme park meccas posing as the new urbanism are not the same people attracted to 'strong towns' IMHO. I think there surely has to be a good mix of people with different skills and pockets yet grounded in a common understanding/ethos-not simply a few landlords who want to extract a good investment yield.

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Yeah, it does look like an artificial Disney land.

 

But it is possible it might work as a place to visit, and even to live.

Next time I'm in the Philippines, I will have a look around

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Some interesting thoughts on Gentrification - it can save a community, from sliding into concentrated poverty

 

Joe Cortright on Gentrification

MP3 : http://shoutengine.com/StrongTownsPodcast/StrongTownsPodcast-0206-joe-cortright-on-gentrification-7108.mp3

3cdcb7cb14e180158c1b31a1b483626a.jpg
Charles Marohn published on Feb 19, 2015 11:00AM

Joe Cortright of City Observatory talks about their report -- Lost in Place -- explaining why consistent and concentrated poverty -- not gentrification -- is America's biggest urban challenge.

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I made a pitch to a charitable group to give some finance to ST,

because I like what it does.

 

StrongTowns_zpsell6zkit.jpg

 

An Alternative and Practical approach: StrongTowns

There was plenty of "good heart" shown by those who spoke in this latest podcast Meeting with the Ambassador. But if you are like me, you may have been unsatisfied. It was almost as if people were trying to attract funding to their various worthy projects, by putting their good intentions on display. Nothing wrong with that. But is it really sufficient? I think there might be a better way, than merely explaining one's mission with positive phrases. The numbers and practical demonstrations of what can be achieved matter too.

 

I want to ask you to listen to Chuck Marohn, in this recent podcast, Loose Ends, from his Strong Towns (dot) org website. He connects the various "dots" in his podcast in a way that shows his positive intentions, and his desire to build stronger and more humane communities (Believe it or not, he manages to connect sustainable engineering with Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan.) He also "walks the walk." He already runs an organization which travels around the country, explaining to people in clear phrases and practical terms, how their communities can be made more sustainable In economic terms, but also more livable in human terms. If you review the material on his website, and listen to the podcasts there, you will see that ST is loaded with a wealth of practical information. He also has a budget, and can discuss in detail his past results and his plans too.

 

I think TVOP should offer support to StrongTowns. This might be through a 3 year interest-free loan for ST to purchase office accommodation, that would help them to lock-in their premises costs. After 3 years, they could repay by selling the premises, or by refinancing with a bank. This would help this worthy organization to stay ontrack with its present mission and growth path. Many communities around American would benefit from that.

 

A different approach than many on TVOP? Yes, it is. But no less worthy. And it has already proven its practical value.

=== ===

Podcast : Episode 212 : Loose Ends

Link : http://shoutengine.com/StrongTownsPodcast/loose-ends-8216

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The Millennials Drive Property prices : Go West has been replaced by GO EAST

 

"They no longer want the suburbs." (Who does! Who wants to live in a cultural desert? - DrB)

"They cannot afford San Francisco, NYC, etc...

So they (eventually) look for a city the offers most of what they want, and they CAN still afford"

 

Johnny Sanphillippo of Granola Shotgun talks about why old urbanism is better and easier, why "Go West" is being replaced by "Go East" and the upside of failure. Johnny is a long time supporter of Strong Towns and a regular contributor to the blog.

 

THIS trend, and the large college population in Philly is helping to absorb

the "excess capacity" that exists in Philadelphia.

They don't mention Philly, but they do mention, eh, Baltimore

==

> http://shoutengine.com/StrongTownsPodcast/johnny-sanphillippo-at-cnu-23-8680

 

Baltimore-Riots.jpg

A very passionate example of how to treat cars, and those who demand privilege for drivers?

As acted out by people who cannot afford a car of their own (and feel disenfranchised)

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About LEAN URBANISM

Lean Urbanism: An Introduction – Andrés Duany

Published on Apr 3, 2014

Andrés Duany explains the need for Lean Urbanism. Hosted by CNU-ATL.

 

CNU 22: Monetizing Lean Urbanism

 

Published on Dec 8, 2014

Despite the well-documented effectiveness of lean/tactical approaches to planning and economic development, monetization remains challenging. Most funding mechanisms are scaled only to support expensive, high-risk projects. In this session, Amanda Popken, a partner in Dallas-based ASH+LIME Strategies, will discuss her firm’s emerging model, designed to enable practitioners to dedicate their full time and energy to incremental initiatives.

 

(reviving "Zombie subdivisions"):

 

CNU 22: New Town With a Lot of Life & Value From Birth

 

Published on Dec 8, 2014

The 2008 financial crisis left a wave of stalled developments that are now ripe for redevelopment. How can New Urbanists take advantage of this opportunity to create walkable mixed-use? Learn from several case studies.

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His mission has been CHANGE, Positive Change

 

"We have destroyed our cities, and consumed our Nature"

 

FUTURE MAN - Andrés Duany Gives the Lecture of a Lifetime

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1ijh9pQGE8

Published on Nov 17, 2014

Andrés Duany, architect, urban designer, planner and author, has dedicated over three decades to pioneering a vision for sustainable urban development and its implementation. He has influenced planners and designers worldwide, redirected government policies in the U.S. and abroad, and produced plans for hundreds of new and renewed communities of enduring value.

When Andrés isn’t actively changing the world, he smokes cigars, speaks the truth, and is just an all around badass.

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  • 2 months later...
James Howard Kunstler - Too Much Magic

 

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Getting it... with a "hook" within just 2-3 minutes... thru S.T. Videos

 

Strong Towns is now producing a series of short Videos to get across the Strong Towns message

 

A one-hour presentation has been cut down into nice bite-size segments

 

The Curbside Chat - Introduction

OUR VISION

We seek an America where our cities, towns and neighborhoods are financially strong and resilient.

There is no shortcut to that kind of enduring prosperity. It must be built, block by block, day after day, by people who care about the places they live in.

"Building productive places is not rocket science...

Ordinary people did it, bit-by-bit."

 

Trailer - #1 in the Strong Towns Curbside Chat Video Series

 

Auto-oriented development - #2 in the Strong Towns Curbside Chat Video Series

 

Gracen Johnson talks about the intent behind the Videos

 

MP-3 : http://shoutengine.com/StrongTownsPodcast/StrongTownsPodcast-5002-gracen-johnson-10358.mp3

 

> http://shoutengine.com/StrongTownsPodcast/gracen-johnson-10358

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Wasting money on Roads (and Stroads) is oh-so-American

 

The Illusion of Wealth - #3 in the Strong Towns Curbside Chat Video Series

2015年6月18日

 

"A lot of this country will never breakeven financially,

unless we take a different approach to development

 

 

Wasting money on Roads (and Stroads) is oh-so-American

 

As this other ST video shows:

 

A few motorist complaints about delays of a few seconds may have triggered $9 million

spent on widening the road. How much of that did the complaining motorists pay?

Meantime, walking students were subjected to a more dangerous walk across the wide road.

My do the concerns of motorists count more than those of pedestrians?

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"We know how to do this!"

 

Productive Growth - #4 in the Strong Towns Curbside Chat Video Series

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  • 4 weeks later...
The suburbs are dying, so let's create a new American Dream: Leigh Gallagher at TEDxMidAtlantic

Published on Apr 22, 2014

Leigh Gallagher is an Assistant Managing Editor at Fortune magazine

(2)

Leigh Gallagher at Google, talking about the End of the Suburbs

 

 

"I got a lot less hate mail than I thought I would"

(the interviewer sounds like an apologist for Suburbia)

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