For the first time in history, we are a truly urbanized world, with more than 55% of the world’s population residing in cities. These increasingly critical urban areas are being redefined by technology, but also by inherent human needs, which sparks the new term “livability” that Tom Dallessio, president and CEO of Next City, referred to as the new code word in his presentation at the Builder Sustainability Forum.
Dallessio describes livability to include urban environments, walkable/bikeable neighborhoods, smart cities, inclusive, affordable, green/blue and interesting. This final attribute, interesting, has a high level of importance. These urban areas have a strong foundation, they have good bones, so they offer good opportunities to port into the future. So now the question becomes: how are we re-imagining them so that they are livable?
Livability may inherently mean that transportation shouldn’t be frustrating. Dallessio cites Pope Francis in Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home: “The quality of life in cities has as much to do with systems of transport, which are often a source of much suffering for those who use them.” New York City is suffering from more congestion than ever before, according to the New York Post.
In this presentation, Dallessio and Doug Farr, author, Sustainable Urbanism and President, Farr Associates, each present how transportation will need to evolve with their view on the paradigm shift from location, location, location to now being about access, access, access. Because that access is a critical element to the livability of any urban area.
Dallessio and Farr spoke about design ideas that would respond to the critical planning needs for urban areas. For instance, in some areas, parking garages are becoming civic spaces and unused road lanes can morph into recreational paths. Farr suggests that designers need to anticipate a low-car future by designing parking facilities to be redevelopment-ready.
The highly congested New York streets are one prime example of change in livability design. The Post said the city is taking measures to make congestion so bad that it forces people into public transportation or walking. The city has made the following efforts:
• Designed pedestrian plazas that have cut off entire lanes of traffic.
• Protected bike lanes on major avenues that eat up a traffic lane.
• Forbade turns on cross streets on nearly all avenues.
• Revamped the traffic lights so that drivers need to wait for green arrows to turn.
Farr also shares some data—100% of housing downtown is attached, 80% in town is attached and 45% in the outskirts is attached. So, the data shows that American’s want attached housing, the American dream may not be limited to detached housing. Designers need to incorporate attached housing in ways that contribute to that belief, which will also create communities where all services are in reach. And, remember, this will become more and more relevant because attached housing is also attainable.
Farr promotes diversity in housing that would offer great neighborhoods for workers of all incomes, plus integrating coach houses that would welcome single and small families. Then, there is the new trend of micro unit housing, which can exist in any two-hour market. Listen to the presentation to discover additional design insights.
