I know it’s a bit of fun, but it does beg the question “How can we make suburbia better?”. A lot of followers of this blog are probably big fans of city life and hate the very idea of suburbia, but seeing as the majority of people in cities like Auckland actually live in suburbia and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future, shouldn’t we be focusing on how we can improve things for them?
Yeah fixing suburbia is a big part of the job. Basically making it walkable with its own more intense and varied centres, and connecting those well [not just by private car] to other centres as well as the big centre. No more monotony.
Think if Pakuranga TC was getting a few apartment towers [like New Lynn just has], or other more intensive dwelling options, and a proper Rapid Transit Station [ditto] instead of a flyover, then it could attract more employment and services and variety of retail, and start to be a place worth staying at or visiting [Recently it has started those cool night markets].
It’s basically its placemaking the same as in the Big Centre, but right sized. Especially important to try to fix the walkability, the connectivity, reduce the separation by automobile.
New Lynn is an attempt, but still it has way way too much parking and nowhere near enough people, I’m hopeful it will get there; it’s getting the bones for it.
In my view increasing density is the key to fixing suburbia and it doesn’t have to be massive increases either. It needs to be enough to justify additional amenities like local cafes within walking distance etc. It needs to be enough to make the town centres hum like Patrick mentions. Enough that higher frequency PT can be justified etc.
Also need to fix connections, bust out a few cul de sacs to improve walking and cycling access etc
Fully agree with Patrick. The suburbs *are* parts of the city – people living in them work in jobs downtown or in industrial parks, go to centres to shop and play, and interact with other people throughout the city. Suburbs aren’t small towns – people living in them might want a bit more space than your average inner-city fixie-riding hipster, but they also want to have opportunities to do a range of interesting urban things.
Why not give the people what they want? To my mind, we should think of the changes made in the Auckland city centre over the last decade – shared spaces, opportunities to live near where you work, PT network development, etc, etc – as one big demonstration project for everywhere else in the city. For the first time since the 1940s, Aucklanders have been able to experience a real urban place, firsthand and on a daily or weekly basis. The question now should be: Why aren’t we doing this everywhere?
Of course suburbia is hell and boring. They are like islands isolate in the middle of know where with only a single connection between them. A connection that is expensive and does not really promote that freedom Michael Woodhouse MP purports.
Lets make those islands themselves less boring so people can do things in their local while improving those connections between those suburbia islands so we do have the actual freedom to move between them. In other words how about some love and attention to our ten metropolitan centres then work out from there…
High quality Transit is a prerequisite but is not by itself sufficient for the fix. As both New Lynn and Panmure will show. Its a really good start, and will be even better when the service frequency improves, but now the fine grain streetscape and residential density-done-well needs to arrive. And both those places suffer from terrible amounts of roading and road severance and separation.
In June 2010, the Board of Supervisors adopted a Comprehensive Plan Amendment ( Areawide Recommendations, District Recommendations). for Tysons Corner Urban Center. Virginia law requires each local government to prepare a Comprehensive Plan for the physical development of the territory within its jurisdiction. The Board of Supervisors also adopted twenty follow-on-motions to the Comprehensive Plan Amendment at the time of it’s approval.
The Plan was designed to take advantage of the four new Metro stations coming to Tysons in 2014. By 2050 Tysons will be transformed into a walkable, green urban center. It will be home to up to 100,000 residents and 200,000 jobs in that year. Tysons is envisioned as Fairfax County’s “downtown,” or a 24-hour urban center where people live, work and play. Three-quarters of future growth will be within a half mile of the stations. Many offices and homes will be a three to six minute walk from the stations, allowing people to get around on foot, bicycle, bus or subway.
The Tysons Plan was developed over several years through an inclusive process of County staff working with a team of consultants, as well as with appointed officials, citizens and other stakeholders. The Plan was also created based on economic, transportation and fiscal analyses.
Background and History of the Development of the Plan
The Tysons Plan received the 2011 Daniel Burnham Award from the American Planning Association. This prestigious award is granted to only one urban plan in the nation each year, for advancing the science and art of planning. Key features of the plan include:
Land Use – Transit Oriented Development Transportation – Transforming the Existing System Environmental Stewardship – Green Buildings Parks and Open Space – Green Network Public Facilities – Urban Models Urban Design – Creating a Sense of Place The Board authorized an amendment in 2013 that will reconcile the Tysons plan text and maps with the studies and planning activities that have been completed since 2010. Additional information regarding the Tysons Comprehensive Plan Amendment can be found here.
This Google auto complete query is more based on high number of searches that have been performed included that specific “keyword”, in this case “suburbia” and “city life”. Type in “why auckland” and see what majority of the people have researched using the phrase. Remember 80% searches conducted are long tail keywords, that’s why Google introduced humming bird algo updat to understand long tail search queries much better and now you are starting to see more instant results for generic search results, some are funny though 🙂
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I know it’s a bit of fun, but it does beg the question “How can we make suburbia better?”. A lot of followers of this blog are probably big fans of city life and hate the very idea of suburbia, but seeing as the majority of people in cities like Auckland actually live in suburbia and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future, shouldn’t we be focusing on how we can improve things for them?
Lots of work happening in that space. Google “sprawl repair”.
Yeah fixing suburbia is a big part of the job. Basically making it walkable with its own more intense and varied centres, and connecting those well [not just by private car] to other centres as well as the big centre. No more monotony.
Think if Pakuranga TC was getting a few apartment towers [like New Lynn just has], or other more intensive dwelling options, and a proper Rapid Transit Station [ditto] instead of a flyover, then it could attract more employment and services and variety of retail, and start to be a place worth staying at or visiting [Recently it has started those cool night markets].
It’s basically its placemaking the same as in the Big Centre, but right sized. Especially important to try to fix the walkability, the connectivity, reduce the separation by automobile.
New Lynn is an attempt, but still it has way way too much parking and nowhere near enough people, I’m hopeful it will get there; it’s getting the bones for it.
In my view increasing density is the key to fixing suburbia and it doesn’t have to be massive increases either. It needs to be enough to justify additional amenities like local cafes within walking distance etc. It needs to be enough to make the town centres hum like Patrick mentions. Enough that higher frequency PT can be justified etc.
Also need to fix connections, bust out a few cul de sacs to improve walking and cycling access etc
Spot on Nick. This would be a great way to start:
http://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/making-a-1960s-street-grid-fit-for-the-21st-century/
http://gyazo.com/beaa28eee07f85f3e9d5b04fe1ea6c47
“auckland is in which state”
What O.o
The City State of Auckland with Len Brown as Praetor. Just that Parliament doesn’t know it just yet 😉
Fully agree with Patrick. The suburbs *are* parts of the city – people living in them work in jobs downtown or in industrial parks, go to centres to shop and play, and interact with other people throughout the city. Suburbs aren’t small towns – people living in them might want a bit more space than your average inner-city fixie-riding hipster, but they also want to have opportunities to do a range of interesting urban things.
Why not give the people what they want? To my mind, we should think of the changes made in the Auckland city centre over the last decade – shared spaces, opportunities to live near where you work, PT network development, etc, etc – as one big demonstration project for everywhere else in the city. For the first time since the 1940s, Aucklanders have been able to experience a real urban place, firsthand and on a daily or weekly basis. The question now should be: Why aren’t we doing this everywhere?
Of course suburbia is hell and boring. They are like islands isolate in the middle of know where with only a single connection between them. A connection that is expensive and does not really promote that freedom Michael Woodhouse MP purports.
So we need some sprawl repair. I like this website for ideas: http://www.sprawlrepair.com/
Lets make those islands themselves less boring so people can do things in their local while improving those connections between those suburbia islands so we do have the actual freedom to move between them.
In other words how about some love and attention to our ten metropolitan centres then work out from there…
The mother of all sprawl repair jobs is beginning at the hell-on-earth that is Tyson’s Corner: http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/06/the-colossal-expectations-of-dcs-newest-metro-line/372423/
High quality Transit is a prerequisite but is not by itself sufficient for the fix. As both New Lynn and Panmure will show. Its a really good start, and will be even better when the service frequency improves, but now the fine grain streetscape and residential density-done-well needs to arrive. And both those places suffer from terrible amounts of roading and road severance and separation.
Here’s the Comprehensive Plan summary:
In June 2010, the Board of Supervisors adopted a Comprehensive Plan Amendment ( Areawide Recommendations, District Recommendations). for Tysons Corner Urban Center. Virginia law requires each local government to prepare a Comprehensive Plan for the physical development of the territory within its jurisdiction. The Board of Supervisors also adopted twenty follow-on-motions to the Comprehensive Plan Amendment at the time of it’s approval.
The Plan was designed to take advantage of the four new Metro stations coming to Tysons in 2014. By 2050 Tysons will be transformed into a walkable, green urban center. It will be home to up to 100,000 residents and 200,000 jobs in that year. Tysons is envisioned as Fairfax County’s “downtown,” or a 24-hour urban center where people live, work and play. Three-quarters of future growth will be within a half mile of the stations. Many offices and homes will be a three to six minute walk from the stations, allowing people to get around on foot, bicycle, bus or subway.
The Tysons Plan was developed over several years through an inclusive process of County staff working with a team of consultants, as well as with appointed officials, citizens and other stakeholders. The Plan was also created based on economic, transportation and fiscal analyses.
Background and History of the Development of the Plan
The Tysons Plan received the 2011 Daniel Burnham Award from the American Planning Association. This prestigious award is granted to only one urban plan in the nation each year, for advancing the science and art of planning. Key features of the plan include:
Land Use – Transit Oriented Development
Transportation – Transforming the Existing System
Environmental Stewardship – Green Buildings
Parks and Open Space – Green Network
Public Facilities – Urban Models
Urban Design – Creating a Sense of Place
The Board authorized an amendment in 2013 that will reconcile the Tysons plan text and maps with the studies and planning activities that have been completed since 2010. Additional information regarding the Tysons Comprehensive Plan Amendment can be found here.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/tysons/comprehensiveplan/
That looks like a great plan for Albany. It already has the busway station.
+1
Try typing in “Politicians are”
“Cars are… powered by dinosaurs.” In a way they are.
I often refer to petrol as “Finest dead-dinosaur juice.”
Oh dear. I just tried “Cyclists are”. Not good.
This Google auto complete query is more based on high number of searches that have been performed included that specific “keyword”, in this case “suburbia” and “city life”. Type in “why auckland” and see what majority of the people have researched using the phrase. Remember 80% searches conducted are long tail keywords, that’s why Google introduced humming bird algo updat to understand long tail search queries much better and now you are starting to see more instant results for generic search results, some are funny though 🙂
“Why Melbourne” is a little over the top, but “Why Adelaide” is hilarious.