All posts by Kristen Jeffers

Greensboro, Issues and Ideas, Raleigh

The Urban Hierarchy is Dead

3 Comments

The urbanist blogosphere has been on fire again over this idea of an urban hierarchy . I love Aaron Renn’s commentary as a whole he’s traditionally highlighted small cities. I also believe that he’s only digging deeper into what others have already said, namely Richard Florida, on the state of our cities.

However, I believe that we err when we stick with this idea that cities are in a rigid hierarchy. We are learning that rigid hierarchies don’t always work well in the corporate and even the governmental sectors. Why do we still lean on them for our cities? Also, why leave out farmland, dense suburbs, watersheds and even outer space? Are we not influenced by these places as well? Do these places not contribute to the growth and prosperity of the inhabitants of Earth?

Kenan Friki over at the New Republic has a similar response to mine. He even gives a shoutout to my current hometown and my adopted one as well, for different reasons. Based on two different, but popular sets of city rankings (export capacity and patent filings) Greensboro and Raleigh are in the top ten. None of the other articles even address North Carolina and its growing popularity as a place to go to college, retire or start businesses. Let us not forget there are also growing placemaking movements here.

The point is, we are no longer in a rigid, true hierarchy of urban areas. Yes, media outlets, the federal government, stock traders, car companies and film stars may concentrate in certain areas, but these areas are more concentrations and gatherings than they are true indicators of influence.

We are a network of places. Some are smaller than others. Some have higher concentrations of different people than others. However, at the end of the day, if one of these network nodes fell off, then we’d all be hurt. For some this hurt would be nothing more than a pinch. Others would be dead. However, there should not be pain, not in a world that still has creativity and innovation despite its dwindling amount of natural resources.

The key to this network of places is first the internet. A dancing pig eating chicken could influence the entire world in seconds. I wrote this post in my childhood bedroom in a mid-sized Southeastern US city that’s had its economy shaken and that people can’t always point out on a map. Unless the power shuts completely off, constant connectivity of myself and that dancing pig is a given.

Secondly, expenses notwithstanding, there are multiple, working transportation technologies to get people around the world. A person can be on the other side of the world within 36 hours. During this trip, they only change timezones, but fail to lose connectivity to information for long periods of time thanks to airport wi-fi if they choose to travel that way.

What makes this connectivity and collaboration shaky is not the rankings of cities, but first the inability to truly respect diversity of thought, person or style. We also have forgotten how to build communities so that the private and the public exist, but don’t overpower each other. We have ceded financial control over to too few entities and we let these entities stop us from expressing our true role as a citzen-driven democracy, at least in the United States. Too many people live in poverty worldwide. We are letting far too many people devolve into stupidity.

I am no longer driven by this urban hierarchy. Especially since so many rankings have poor margins of error and hardly any external validity. I am concerned more about what happens when too many nodes go dark. A whole dark region of nodes or even all the nodes but two (NY or DC) going dark is still a problem. Let’s think about what we all bring to the table as PLACES and PEOPLE.

After all when the lights go out, that’s all that’s left.

Guest Post, Issues and Ideas, Staunton

GUEST POST: Does Rural Urbanism = “White”?

1 Comment

Today I am sharing my space with Katie McCaskey of Urban Escapee. She and I are examining different shades of the words “rural urbanism”. Below she examines the racial element and on her blog I explore the place-related element. Enjoy!

Our rural urbanism captured my attention when I moved from New York City to Staunton, Virginia (pop. 22,000) and started an independent business.

Paradoxically, it was “rural” Staunton’s urbanism which attracted me back to it. The “Main Street” downtown is intentionally dedicated to independent businesses, and, the walkable infrastructure, free city trolley, and Amtrak access are all appealing lifestyle amenities. In fact, the infrastructure itself influenced the decision to start a neighborhood grocery; there had been such a thing at the turn of the last century and coming from New York my husband and I were spoiled by the walkable convenience of neighborhood shops. That resulted in George Bowers Grocery, which expanded last year to include a cafe/beer garden.

I’m very excited about what these pockets of “rural urbanism” can offer for our futures. In fact, I got so excited I wrote the “Micropolitan Manifesto” about the opportunities and possibilities present, especially when you factor in building your own business. But, one thing worries me:

Is it just for white people?

Of course, I don’t think so, But, I’m white, and, admittedly it didn’t cross my mind until a black friend from New York pointed out that the title of my blog and upcoming book (“Urban Escapee”) sounded like, well, “white flight”. The unspoken assumption: “By ‘urban’, don’t you mean ‘black’? And, aren’t small towns, especially small towns in the South, filled mostly with white people?” Who would build a business there?

Uh, no.

I was talking about “escaping” the constraints of big city living and, later, escaping from the notions of what is/isn’t possible in our country’s smallest urban pockets. Yet, it continued. Another reader ranted about the use of the word “pilgrim” in a quote used to describe adventurous entrepreneurship in our micropolitans.

So what’s the real problem?

I see two big issues that contribute to social misconceptions about our smallest urban centers, aka, micropolitans:

1) Diversity. Diversity has always been a part of “small town America”, but, its an identity only recently openly and honestly explored… one example is the identity series of Appalachia at TheHillville.com. Mass media culture has meant mass storytelling about our diverse geography and a bland retelling of who lives where. Only now is a wider range of experience and perspective being shared and discussed.

Moreover, at the same time our country as a whole is becoming more diversified—and this is a trend is present in micropolitans, too. See the book: “Small, Gritty, Green: The Promise of America’s Smaller Industrial Cities in a Low-Carbon World” by Catherine Tumber, concerning immigrant patterns moving to smaller cities, not larger ones.

2) Opportunity. There is legitimate concern about the future of work in our smallest urban centers. Will limited jobs just go to the wealthiest and most educated? Will the telecommuting elite push out the work opportunities for those without these advantages? Or will it create jobs unattainable for current residents?

Real issue: rural gentrification?

Perhaps the fear that urbanism in its smallest (micropolitan) form is really a fear about displacement; a fear about loss. I’m in no position to speak about the loss many minority populations experienced during the “urban renewal” policies of the sixties. Yet, I’ve witnessed white populations fearfully anticipate shifts that might displace them…shifts that have to do with the changing nature of work as much as cities themselves. For example, there is much anxiety that the “come here’s” will boot out the “been here’s” when it comes to downtowns. That fear isn’t cut along racial lines as much as between socio-economic classes.

As we move into the “urban century” as Neal Peirce calls it, we need to remember two things about our micropolitans: they are increasingly diverse and their social and physical landscapes will inevitably change as does the geography of work on simultaneously global and local levels.

Katie McCaskey writes about indie entrepreneurship in micropolitan cities. Her book, “Urban Escapee: How to Ditch the Commute, Build a Business, and Revitalize Main Street” will be out later this year. Be notified about the book and micropolitan topics by subscribing here, and join the discussion on Facebook.

Durham, Photospiration

Photospiration: Find Your Cool In Durham

 

What is cool? There’s a new book about that, but it’s focused primarly on African-Americans. What about everyone else? What makes something cool? Why are people coming back downtown? This sign on the back of a building in Durham invites people to come to their main street and find it.

I just look at the buildings and think about how cool the mural itself is. Every time someone comes to the Durham Performing Arts Center, The American Tobbaco Complex, the Durham County Courthouse or Beyu Cafe they see this banner.

So I don’t know when I’ll get a chance to come back to this sign, but I know I’ll be  cool nonetheless.

Photopiration. Commentary. News you can use. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for more.

Issues and Ideas

For Trayvon, With Love

2 Comments

You’re probably watching me type this right now. Or actually, I hope you are living out some of your dreams in heaven. However, it would be so much better if you were still down here on Earth.

I started this site because my dad and I used to walk around our neighborhoods too. There was a corner store around the corner from our suburban-style house and we used to go up there and get candy and soda too. Sometimes our neighbors would be outside and we would say hi and get the updates on how they were doing. Sure, some of our neighbors were engaged in illegal activites, but no one ever chased us, called the police on us or felt like it was a crime for us to walk the streets. Not even the white ones.

Yet, you know all too well, that in many neighborhoods, walking is a crime. Either people attack you, so you don’t feel safe going outside or in your case, people think you are a threat, so they follow you and steal your life away.

I know you’ve seen how sad your family is, but also how so many people around the world that never knew them, nor you have stood up and called for justice for your killer. You know your killer is now fearing for his own life and no longer terrorizes that street that you were only visiting for a short period of time. However, he may never get due justice for his twisted thoughts and you have been cheated of time on this Earth.

Yet, all things do happen for a reason, even the tragedies like yours. Once again, we have a reason to think about how we judge people. How they dress, what color they are, what they do in front of their homes.

Most of all, we have an obligation to tell people that it’s not a crime to walk around the neighborhood. We have an obligation to those who do walk around and follow too closely in cars to tell them to stop and ask them to get to know people. To meet their basic needs in ways besides stealing, raping and harrassing other people. To watch over the neighborhood in ways everyone agrees upon, not take it upon themselves to be the viliglante, where there is no real danger.

And finally, so people can use their own two feet to get where they need to go. So they don’t feel inadequate because they can’t afford their own cars. So they don’t feel too young to go places and contribute to society. So they will run errands for little brothers and sisters. So we can stop walling ourselves out from the real world and stop trusting each other.

I’m going to keep this space going precisely to tell people how to engage in their communities again from the inside and out.

So that you are the only one who will serve as a martyr for those who wish to walk and walk while young, black, male and INNOCENT.

Love,

Kristen, a young black woman who is even more compelled today to create real community.

Uncategorized

Support The Black Urbanist in the Knight News Challenge

1 Comment

Readers , Family and  Friends:

As I wrote a few weeks ago, I want to expand the reach of this site. I believe there are many voices in placemaking, community development and cultural awarness that need to be heard together.   The recent neighborhood shooting in Florida and the rising gas prices make this type of commentary even more vital to everyday Americans.

I hope to use funding provided by the Knight News Challenge to bring all online voices engaged in placemaking side by side with voices who empower various cultures and demographic groups. My vision is taking all of our work and creating a Huffington Post for placemaking that considers both the technological and sociological sides of placemaking. All I need you to do is the following to support this vision:

If you are a Tumblr user- click here to reblog and favorite/heart  my post.

If you are a not a Tumblr user- click here to sign up for an account. Note- url means your username on the site.  Then follow the directions above. Tumblr is free to join. Also, once the finalists are annouced, I will let everyone know and you can cancel your account if you feel the need.

Please share this link via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, email and any other on and offline social networks.

Thank you all for being loyal readers, supportive friends and family and for helping take this project to the next level! Please comment on this site or the grant application on Tumblr with feedback, ideas and if you are interested in helping with this greater project in some way.

Durham, Issues and Ideas

Durham, The City As A Bull

2 Comments

I couldn’t talk about Raleigh without talking about Durham. Durham is known locally as the Bull City. Looking at the logic I applied to Raleigh, I found that Durham has community characteristics that resemble it’s nickname. These characteristics are not so much in how the city is shaped, but how the city has been shaped by it’s people.

First, the city has a lot of spunk. From the early days of being the Black Wall Street and a tobacco and textile capital, to the current start-up culture brewing downtown, Durham has been a trendsetter and a city of spunk.

Secondly, the city has a lot of fight. For years, especially after neighborhoods were destroyed to build the Durham Freeway, the city has had to fight to maintain a good image. Major crime activity and the image that created loomed over the city for years. Now, Durham is turning around, with neighborhoods all over the city regaining prominence and new companies looking to Durham as the place that the want to start.

Finally, the city has a heart. People wrote Durham off for years. However, it didn’t mean that people that loved the city didn’t stay and make it better. While there’s a lot of attention coming to the start-ups and business opportunities, historians such as John Hope Franklin were able to base their life’s work there and build pillars of history, along with the people of Hayti, who never stopped believing and organizing their communities.

And come to think of it, if you take a look at the map again. There is kind of a bull shape in there. Using the Durham Freeway as the arch of it’s back, RTP as a tail, Downtown as a heart and Duke and NC Central as horns(partially symbolizing brains too) along with Northgate, Ninth Street, Southpoint and South Square as legs, we have a rough bull shape in the geography.

But then again, it’s really what’s inside that makes Durham bullish and ready to seize the day.

Durhamians (I don’t like the other term, it sounds like we are parasites), new, old and somewhere in between. Tell me what you think. Be sure to join me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. I’m also going to be in Chapel Hill on April 21st speaking on a panel on the reverse migration of African-Americans. Find out more about where I’m going and speaking this spring.

Greensboro, Photospiration

Photospiration: Foust Building on the Campus of UNC-Greensboro

The academy. That place where scholars go to learn and grow and thrive.

This picture reflects an image that represents  my second round in the academy. Many people believe that state universities only have mid-century modern, ill-designed buildings. Yet, they’ve never visited either of my alma maters, among a number of the other 16 campuses in the UNC system.  It is in the shadow of buildings like this where I live livability. It’s in this particular shadow where the seed for this very site was born.

And for that, I am grateful.

Photospiration. Me taking time to reflect on the places I’ve been, the places that make me, visions I have that affect my practice. Also, don’t forget to mark your calendars to see me and tell me what you think of the site. Also, join me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter if you haven’t already. Unless specified, all photos are shot by myself.

Issues and Ideas

The Great Placemaking Thing About Starbucks

4 Comments

I know I have readers that are completely anti-Starbucks.  The vitriol is spewed along with  the hate of chain stores, fatty food, sprawl, cars and everything else a good Charter-believing New Urbanist is supposed to hate.

I used to be you. Then I found out the place sold really good tea and cold drinks. My dumb very young professional self thought the only thing Starbucks sold was gourmet coffee. This drove an ex boss of mine crazy. I was working in  start-up culture, why didn’t I like Starbucks?

Well, it’s been four years and as I type this in Starbucks, where I also meet with another boss of mine on certain mornings, I can’t help but think about what a salvation this place has been. Because of Starbucks, I feel ok going into other coffee shops, ordering other non-coffee drinks and getting work done. The Starbucks I regularly frequent is on the side of town that is mostly black and mostly low-income or solid middle class. Yet, thanks to a location near a highway, it’s both convenient for the farmers, the road-warriors, the Walmart shoppers and the “boys from the hood” nearby.

Starbucks is really a beacon in the sky in many neighborhoods without a coffee shop culture. In some places, the tipping point for local, green-oriented commerce has not swung back the other way. Starbucks serves a a greener version of McDonald’s for those of us who have to swing through multiple towns on a regular basis.

Yet, I know there are better options. However, sometimes you have to start at zero. Be happy there’s at least some place to go where you can grab a hot or cold beverage, a piece of cake and sit with a book vibing to soft jazz music. A place where we can just go talk to our neighbors without being chased out after three hours.

A town square, despite it’s shape and form.

Hate Starbucks? Want to tell me more about your favorite local coffee shop(I love those too!) Or just want to join in on the ongoing conversation? Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Or join me in person at one of these upcoming events.

Greensboro, Photospiration

Photospiration: The Lincoln National Building in Downtown Greensboro

If I had to pick one building to cite as my inspiration to write about cities, it’s the one above. For those of you who read this story, you know that the one thing I missed the most when sick with the chicken pox was the site of this building. All I had to do as a child was get on my bike and ride up to the corner, push down my kickstand, and there it was, shining in pure glory.

The photo above was taken a few months ago. I can’t remember exactly where I was going. My many community activities bring me to Downtown Greensboro often. I do know that I had a few extra moments alone and decided to shoot a few photos. I’m a block south, the International Civil Rights Museum is to my immediate right outside the frame. Governmental Plaza is on the left.

There’s nothing like 28 stories to overwhelm someone on the ground. You may look at that number and laugh. It’s ok, I’ve been to New York, I know that number is a drop in the pan. However, one must stop and think about the feat of putting homes, offices, schools, stores and the like in sequence one after another, nearly as high as the sky.

Anyway, I would like for you to meet Photospiration. Me taking time to reflect on the places I’ve been, the places that make me, visions I have that affect my practice. Also, don’t forget to mark your calendars to see me and tell me what you think of the site. Also, join me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter if you haven’t already. Unless specified, all photos are shot by myself.

Issues and Ideas

The Black Urbanist Spring 2012 Appearance Schedule and Reader Survey

As I promised in my last post on Thursday, I am now releasing my reader’s survey and also my event schedule for the spring. At the latter two events I am on the program and at the Urban Design Conference I’ll be in the crowd and liveblogging.

Also, if you want me to come speak on something or if you have something you want to share in this space, fill out the survey and let me know.

For those of you on mobile devices, the plain text of my schedule and the survey questions is below, followed by the Google plugins for those of you on slightly more powerful devices. You can either leave your answers in the comments or email me at theblackurbanist(at)gmail.com

Thanks in advance for filling out the survey and I hope to see you at one of these upcoming events.

Schedule of Events
March 17th- NCSU Urban Design Conference in Raleigh- liveblogging and networking
April 20th- UNC Global South Conference- Speaking on the reverse migration of African-Americans
May 9-12- CNU 20 in West Palm Beach- Speaking on Killing the Urban Inferiority Complex and live blogging on Next American City

Survey Questions
-How do you interact with the Black Urbanist?(Facebook, Twitter, in-person,RSS, website, mobile devices, laptop/desktop)
-What types of content do you enjoy the most?
-What would you like for me to talk more about(specific issues, initiatives, personal stories, etc.)?
-Would you like to be featured via a 5 Questions Segment on the blog?
-Would you like to guest post on the blog?
-Would you like for me to speak at your event?
-Would you be willing to donate to keep the Black Urbanist going?