I noted some interesting research about Chicago in a previous post, but after this past weekend, I'm compelled to keep up with the topic of the evolution of cities:
Joel Kotkin, Urban Theorist, in an article for SFGate.com , described the "ephemeral city" as, "a kind of city that makes its living selling luxury services." He argues that San Francisco has lost its middle class due to rising land values and job exports, and that once a city of healthy fisheries, industry, and warehousing, it has become a leisure city, afforded by, and lived in by, wealthier types with multiple incomes. With a gorgeous natural setting, liberal politics, and hundreds of cool restaurants and shops, the city has become less a commercial hub than one large white collar neighborhood, with few exceptions.
With an immense interest in the evolution of cities, I've undertaken travel to 5 American cities surfing the new wave of urban renewal over the past year: Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle. Most recently, I was in Portland, a city noted for its progessive urban design, and rightfully so. It is remarkably green, clean, and community oriented. Every neighborhood close-in to the downtown area is witnessing gentrification, and on top of its progressive policies, it is now becoming a city with good architecture, with blogs to boot.
Neighborhoods dangerous by any measure as recently as five years ago have been turned into lively Art Districts, with art this, that, and everything. In the three days I was there, I experienced at least a dozen absolutely wonderful new constructions and/or renovations of older buildings. However, even with all the eye candy, I missed the scent of the bygone Weinhard's Brewery in the middle of town, I missed the gritty port town.
I better watch what I wish for, but dirt and graffiti are good things. They provide layers to experience and understanding once found in abundance, now few and far between.
In the spirit of Projective Architecture, I'd like to think that Portland could make itself into a research hub for urban design, giving the city some substance to go along with its stylish appearance. OHSU is a world-reknowned research facility on the edge of town, and seemingly a good starting point. Having a satellite Architecture program of the University of Oregon already in place, I'd like to see money granted to lure theorists such as Kotkin, and project solutions into creating a hybrid blue and white collar city, call it a "sky blue" city. Blue collar types could feel comfortable living and working within the city, finding a way to coexist with creative types, instead of retreating to outward suburbia.
More later.
4 comments:
i think this is pretty much what we were talking about this weekend and a very serious condition in these "leisure cities". i worry about that shit all the time. when i walk into public transportation from the nw to downtown and see nothing but high class executives and well dressed hipsters riding alongside of me, i feel somewhat cheated. overly safe as if in an enclosed playground. a city should provide options and choices for everyone. i would almost propose that what we're witnessing is the "suburbanizing" of the inner cities (albeit in a much better materialization - and inevitable, as cities grow and densify - and gentrify). a culture of choice - where you can live in the center of the city and yet conciously opt to never experience the street. into your underground garage, into your car, out on the road and into the underground garage at the office......it's a controlled situation with accidental encounters that an urban center provide you with diminishing or becoming less accidental and more controlled. but that's the devil's advocate in me. there is another side. a great side to all of this. but we cannot forget that we're driving the lower class away from the conveniences that afforded them an easier life. i think we need to find a happy medium. urgently. i don't know the answer......older cities like NYC and Rio provide some answers and also some failures. ok, too much for this small square....i need my own damn blog
Marcus
I hear ya Marcus...I don't have enough time or space to write about this one. First, check out The Stranger from this past week. There is a book review on 'Cities Without Cities', can't remember the author but his theory is that the city, suburb and rural areas are one unit rather than opposing entities. The inhabitants will always be in constant flux, thus low income families will go where it is feasible. Due to urban renewal, it is too expensive for low income families to remain in the city. It is difficult to balance a diversity of culture when rapid development is raising land value. I don't know the answer to this than to accept the conditions we are given but not forget our belief in 'the city'.
Vancouver is a perfect example of the 'leisure city'. It's industry is leisure. Unlike a traditional American City, tourism is their #1 money maker, then Hollywood North, then timber exports. Some fantastic qualities of the city is that there are people around all the time. People working in the service industry can hang out during the day on their time off, then office workers are around in the evening while the service industry goes back to work. Tourists are around all the time. What they have is a culture of tourism which in turn creates a cosmopolitian city. However, the unfortunate part about Vancouver is the vertical suburb effect. Vertical gated communities that only the rich can afford and the city feels incredibly manicured. However, outside the downtown core are neighborhoods with the grittier, well lived in feel. Many immigrants, students and lower income families live in these areas which become more diversified than the city. This has happened in Seattle too. Tukwila, Bellevue, Kent and Renton are home to more diversity than I experience on a downtown street. As our cities grow these boundaries will blur more and more and hopefully create spaces and neighborhoods we have never seen before. That is my optimistic take on the matter, but I too lament the loss of diversity in the city.
you guys should check out the links. there's a lot of info there above and beyond the rants.
Moreover, besides criticism, I am a believer in speculation. Offer ideas(even if others think you're a fool), solutions.
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