We've forgotten that walking to most of the places you needed to go used to be more common. We're rediscovering the importance of walkability and community. Unfortunately, many of the best known examples of New Urbanism are very expensive places to live. Everyone should have an opportunity to move into a liveable neighbourhood with a functioning community. And we know how to design and build them. What's lacking is the political will and support. In New Zealand (where I live) there is still an attachment to the 'quarter acre pavlova paradise' — a detached, single family home on fairly large plot of land. Moves by the central government to encourage and facilitate medium rise, medium density neighbourhoods (think of the West end of Vancouver, or the older streets on central Montreal) have met with a lot resistance from established (usually older) home-owners.
Thank you for posting that. It's a wonderful story. I'm sure that her military, and especially her combat experience, has given her as you said, "a clear outlook on new urbanism that even wonks don't necessarily have." Something tells me, that those wonks wouldn't survive the first night of boot camp. The ones I know, definitely would not!
Being retired military myself, I can definitely appreciate walkability and its affect on mental health. Walking is about the best exercise you can do, and being in shape is great for your mental health. Mind and body definitely go together.
You get used to being on a military base, which is a perfect example of new urbanism. Yes, you can drive on a military base; most bases have speed limits of 15 or 25 mph, and many have 5 mph speed limits in the housing areas. Besides the housing areas, there are work areas, recreation and physical fitness areas, places to eat, places to shop, and in some stateside and most overseas bases, DOD schools. You can walk to most places, and there are usually shuttle buses if you need to get to the other side of the base. A base is basically a self-contained, new urbanism city. Take a base like Joint Base Anacostia, where I was stationed for 24 years. It's a city within a city, Washington, DC. So is the Navy Yard. So is the Marine Barracks. There are also shuttle buses that connect the various cities within the city, during duty hours.
I have rural family members and friends that would disagree, but those are their opinions not mine. I find walking or riding my bicycle in the city, to be very relaxing. My rural family members claim that their car is their freedom. Anytime I can travel without my car conveniently, is my freedom from my car.
As far as your friend: Thank you for your service. I look forward to reading your viewpoints.
I love this idea of a military base, ironically, being a good example of urbanist design! You’ve got a mixed-use environment (albeit often sprawly) and no interstates or 5-lane arterials blasting through it.
Coincidentally I’m staying this week in San Diego near “Liberty Station,” a decommissioned navy training site that’s been repurposed as an upscale mixed-use neighborhood. When the base closed in the 1990s, they did a fantastic job of giving new life to the gorgeous dessert-colored mission style buildings, converting barracks and offices into grocery stores, shops, artisan stalls and restaurants. The Liberty Public Market, a bustling food hall, was packed this evening as we had dinner there. (Pretty much every society has a version of a food hall, right? So universally popular.)
People crave the connection they get spaces from like this. So glad that the author found solace through a physical environment that enabled walking and reconnecting with those around her.
Well, Joint Base Anacostia, formerly Bolling Air Force Base when I was stationed there, has I-295 right outside the gate. So does Metro, with regular and late night bus service to the Anacostia and Congress Heights Metro stops. There is more bus service to the base than there was when I was there. I retired in 2003.
Yes, it is ironic that a military base is a good example of a completely self-contained, functioning New Urbanist community. The irony is most urbanists would never consider a career in the military. Everything is provided by the government and rank has its privileges. Isn't that they way they want society to be?
Somewhat similar. Imagine a chow hall and the large, open seating layout. But each food line is a separate mini-restaurant in a food stall format, maybe selling only 1-2 items that they specialize in. Throw in a pub/beer hall, some exposed brick, steel beams, Edison lights -- and you’ve got the hip industrial former-warehouse vibe that’s pretty common for food hall spaces.
We've forgotten that walking to most of the places you needed to go used to be more common. We're rediscovering the importance of walkability and community. Unfortunately, many of the best known examples of New Urbanism are very expensive places to live. Everyone should have an opportunity to move into a liveable neighbourhood with a functioning community. And we know how to design and build them. What's lacking is the political will and support. In New Zealand (where I live) there is still an attachment to the 'quarter acre pavlova paradise' — a detached, single family home on fairly large plot of land. Moves by the central government to encourage and facilitate medium rise, medium density neighbourhoods (think of the West end of Vancouver, or the older streets on central Montreal) have met with a lot resistance from established (usually older) home-owners.
What a beautiful story!
I can't wait for more people to hear directly from her. She's got such a clear outlook on new urbanism that even wonks don't necessarily have.
Thank you for posting that. It's a wonderful story. I'm sure that her military, and especially her combat experience, has given her as you said, "a clear outlook on new urbanism that even wonks don't necessarily have." Something tells me, that those wonks wouldn't survive the first night of boot camp. The ones I know, definitely would not!
Being retired military myself, I can definitely appreciate walkability and its affect on mental health. Walking is about the best exercise you can do, and being in shape is great for your mental health. Mind and body definitely go together.
You get used to being on a military base, which is a perfect example of new urbanism. Yes, you can drive on a military base; most bases have speed limits of 15 or 25 mph, and many have 5 mph speed limits in the housing areas. Besides the housing areas, there are work areas, recreation and physical fitness areas, places to eat, places to shop, and in some stateside and most overseas bases, DOD schools. You can walk to most places, and there are usually shuttle buses if you need to get to the other side of the base. A base is basically a self-contained, new urbanism city. Take a base like Joint Base Anacostia, where I was stationed for 24 years. It's a city within a city, Washington, DC. So is the Navy Yard. So is the Marine Barracks. There are also shuttle buses that connect the various cities within the city, during duty hours.
I have rural family members and friends that would disagree, but those are their opinions not mine. I find walking or riding my bicycle in the city, to be very relaxing. My rural family members claim that their car is their freedom. Anytime I can travel without my car conveniently, is my freedom from my car.
As far as your friend: Thank you for your service. I look forward to reading your viewpoints.
I love this idea of a military base, ironically, being a good example of urbanist design! You’ve got a mixed-use environment (albeit often sprawly) and no interstates or 5-lane arterials blasting through it.
Coincidentally I’m staying this week in San Diego near “Liberty Station,” a decommissioned navy training site that’s been repurposed as an upscale mixed-use neighborhood. When the base closed in the 1990s, they did a fantastic job of giving new life to the gorgeous dessert-colored mission style buildings, converting barracks and offices into grocery stores, shops, artisan stalls and restaurants. The Liberty Public Market, a bustling food hall, was packed this evening as we had dinner there. (Pretty much every society has a version of a food hall, right? So universally popular.)
People crave the connection they get spaces from like this. So glad that the author found solace through a physical environment that enabled walking and reconnecting with those around her.
Well, Joint Base Anacostia, formerly Bolling Air Force Base when I was stationed there, has I-295 right outside the gate. So does Metro, with regular and late night bus service to the Anacostia and Congress Heights Metro stops. There is more bus service to the base than there was when I was there. I retired in 2003.
Yes, it is ironic that a military base is a good example of a completely self-contained, functioning New Urbanist community. The irony is most urbanists would never consider a career in the military. Everything is provided by the government and rank has its privileges. Isn't that they way they want society to be?
Food halls are underrated by planners. Teens and parents of young kids know what's up!
I've never been to a food hall. I don't even know what they are. I remember the chow hall from when I was in the Air Force. It is similar?
Somewhat similar. Imagine a chow hall and the large, open seating layout. But each food line is a separate mini-restaurant in a food stall format, maybe selling only 1-2 items that they specialize in. Throw in a pub/beer hall, some exposed brick, steel beams, Edison lights -- and you’ve got the hip industrial former-warehouse vibe that’s pretty common for food hall spaces.
Food courts at the mall. Cafeteria style.
Juliet, I have many thoughts about all this. Send me an email: andy at urbanismspeakeasy dot com.