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It Comes Down To Words-Thoughts After Another Atlanta Trip

Sign: Get Social
This sign has no words, but I think it symbolizes community. Credit: Flickr user The Waving Cat

I had the pleasure this week of going to Atlanta for work training. I had the opportunity to fly out of my home airport (Piedmont Triad International), ride the MARTA to and from the airport and hotel and stay in the heart of Midtown at the Georgian Terrace.

Before I get into my main story, I want to say again that Atlanta is a pleasant surprise as far as the strides it has taken to be more urban. While the region as a whole is sprawling out of control, those who are fortunate to live in the city proper, especially around MARTA in and north of downtown, have more transit-friendly options. Also, grocery stores, drug stores and even department stores such as Target and IKEA are marking their spot right in the middle of town. What I really loved was seeing houses of faith, trendy bars, furniture boutiques and other trendy stores several blocks around Midtown and witness houses of faith, reuse shops, furniture boutiques and a great variety of restaurants and bars mixed into these big time chains and all in walking distance. MARTA was clean and moved on-time. I’ve written before about Atlanta’s efforts to be more cognizant of TOD. With what we saw with Raquel Nelson, we need to keep working to deal with unsafe intersections, bus stops and train stations, as well as affordability of safe, village-style spaces.

I was also reminded again of how sad things have gotten in the Piedmont Triad (not really international any more) Airport. While they have put up a nice welcome sign similar to what you find at RDU, there were several gates where the chairs were gone, jetways were shut off or non-existant and no airline signage was visible. There were few restaurants and the ticket and baggage areas are very outdated. Thankfully, funding was approved to make improvements at the airport, as well as new companies coming into town to create demand. However, a new airline just went bankrupt at the airport. Only time will tell if the aviation industry as a whole and PTI can be saved.

What I wanted to get to in this trip reflection is the concept of words. I was on the MARTA heading back to the airport on Friday and they announced that at a particular stop, the Main Street Urban Renewal District or something like that was one of the attractions. I thought it was interesting to have those two concepts married together, especially in a city like Atlanta.

I had been thinking about the kinds of labels, words and terminology we use to discuss this discipline. What are we doing? Is it economic development or community development? Urban renewal or new urbanism? Placemaking or mixed-use development? All these things have different meanings, different feelings and different levels of effectiveness in conversations.

No matter what term is used, care should be taken to portray what we do as positive as possible. We should work to broaden mutual understanding of the sense of place, not narrow it so that only the select few can understand.

Some of my favorite words/phrases to describe the movement are placemaking,the return to Main Street or the return to the village. I feel these words get to the core of what we try to do when we do things like new urbanism, TOD, or even just open up a community center. This work is sorely needed now with the economy closing opportunities for the individual, but strengthening group opportunities such as co-ops, farmers markets, libraries and other places where people can share resources and build social capital.

What about everyone else? What are words that stick out to you to describe this concept? How do we use the right words?

Traveling as An Urbanist

Live from CityWorks(X)po

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Well, I’ve been home in Greensboro for a few hours now and really, just marinating on what I learned. From the power of seeing Nikki Giovanni in the flesh and feeling a kindred spirit. Also, getting the question answered on how she drives inspiration from being in a place like the Roanoke Valley. From watching Theaster Gates keep it real and make a few folks squirm, yet remembering having a chance to have drinks and pick his brain a little the night before. And of course, scaring Jim Kuntsler a bit by snapping a now missing photo and really praying that we find something to at least keep the Internet going, when the other non-renewable resources die.

I am thankful for Ed Walker and Co. for allowing me to see the value of the small city. My mind begins to forget some of the afternoon speakers, because I was too busy cooking up my own big idea. Plus, some of the best presentations will be on YouTube and I was ready to go out and create. I also want to give a shout out to all the folks I had intimate conversations with, who were not officially on the conference program. I wish I could have had a few more dinners, another sleepover party and another concert to hang out with you at. Good thing is, most of you are local to Roanoke and the rest of you give me an excuse to visit other areas of the county.

I’ve written down my big ideas in my most private journal, because I’m not ready to launch them quite yet. I’m not sure I’m in the right phase of my life, or have enough local support. I’m also creating some of the plotlines in my head as I speak.

Nevertheless, every city should do this, take time and convene all it’s change agents, historians, placemakers and the like and talk about how we can make a difference. I may submit my ideas here, but in the meantime, I’ll be coming back here more often to keep these conversations of diversity in placemaking going.

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Welcome again from Roanoke this Saturday morning. 24 hours from now, I expect to be somewhat sad because I will no longer be in the company of such wonderful people and ideas. Then I remember that for many of you, this blog and the press coverage and the Facebook and the various other media outlets are your only door into the action in the convention hall. Well in light of that, here are some of yesterday’s highlights

  • Toni Blackmon opened us up with thoughts, dance and a wonderful video of her Sisters of the Circle art collective for young girls. Another program housed under the umbrella of the Jefferson Center, this program helps refugee and immigrant girls, as well as a few local girls, become more confident. Also, Toni spit out some freestyle and got the crowd going with a few fun volunteers
  • Kennedy Smith! Amazing how a cute idea to start a downtown soap opera has turned into a career of presenting great ideas for downtowns, many of which she showcased for over an hour yesterday afternoon, keeping us riveted and inspired to do more.
  • Then after Kennedy’s morning presentation, we had the queen of biking in America, Mia Birk. She’s a great example of how someone who did not have the benefit of growing up in a big city, took something a simple as biking(which she began as a gift from her brother) and turned it into a national model, beginning in Portland and now in DC, Boston and other areas considering bikeshare systems. I was especially moved when she talked about her stepfather coming over to the bike crowd.
  • Katherine Walker’s account of “civil disobedience” or “performance art” made me think of the recent articles on criminalizing the homeless and how the bad economy and the Occupy movement are helping folks see how dumb it is to limit the impact of public space.
  • Ben Hewitt has become the darling of agriculture. He may not know much about urban ag, but he knows a thing or two about making the land pay like it used to and it’s reaching all of the foodies and new ag acolytes through his books. According to him, local food shall:
    • Feed the locals
    • Be circular
    • Be based on sunshine
    • And offer viability to producers

The rest of the afternoon ran long, but was full of great ideas, from Ken Farmer’s dispatch from the Project for Public Spaces on the power of 10, Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper and the notion that no movement can do it alone and Danielle Morrison with the play deficit and Stewart Mease with his unserviced workforce(that would be me square in that demographic), we had a boatload of inspiration.

The party then moved out and across the streets. I took in a great exhibit at the Taubmann Center, of Nick Cave’s work. this man creates these amazing neo-tribal costumes in Chicago, then has people dance in them and be photographed in them. You can take pics in the exhibit, but just Google him and see what I’m talking about.

We then all ended up at the Walker’s beautiful apartment, after a few stops at Freeze, a cool vintage clothing store/coffee shop and Lucky, a swanky soul food joint that lights up and extracts the citrus oil in its cocktails. Apparently, Ed thought up the conference sitting right there at that bar, so it was cool that we went to the nucleus of the party.

I’ve also gotten network with great leaders, past, present and future and look forward to another day of fun. I’m going to include the pictures tomorrow in one big swoop. Also, if you are concerned about me in the snow, there is none here, just a nice cold rain :(. I’m still tweeting here and there @blackurbanist. Check that out for my in the room thoughts. Also, Roanoke Valley locals, check out http://envisionroanoke.com/

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Good morning from Roanoke. Internet was spotty in places, so I’m just now getting back to recaping the first day. We heard a lot of great inspiring ideas, some of which I’m including below (in paraphrase)

Ed Walker- People are doing sophisticated things in big cities, but no more sophisticated than what’s going on in Roanoke

Bob Lambert- Some of this information may change the course of your career. Less and less the size of the city makes a difference. If you can’t be a leader, make sure you are the first follower and one of the best supporters

Nicco Mele- I think we are near the end of big. I herald the return of craft in America.

Also, we heard from Ruth Milligan, who showed a great video of how TEDx is creating ideashare around the world and opening up communities. I hope to bring either at TEDx or PechaKucha to Greensboro soon and this inspired me. We also heard music from 13-year old guitar prodigy Gabe Moralis, were treated to a private show by blues/jazz/justdarngoodmusic singer Megan McCormick, and great local gormet barbeque from a local vendor who’s name escapes me right now. I’m about to rush off to breakfast, but stay tuned to pictures from yesterday shortly.

 

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Got to Roanoke safely and found a nice place I’ll term “mountain urbanism”. With all these peaks, even the box stores have to behave better. Hotels a bit too far of a walk to the exhibit hall, and there are no sidewalks, but looking forward to parking downtown and exploring. Pictures to come…
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I’m honored to dust off the pixels of this site to file some live blog and coverage of the inaugural CityWorks(X)po, beginning today and running through Saturday in Roanoke, VA.

I’m looking forward to a weekend of collaboration, good food and good ideas on cities. Come here to this post over the weekend as I update it with notes, pictures, and maybe interviews of conference participants.

Greensboro, Issues and Ideas

The American Expat, In America

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Luggage

Like this luggage, sometimes I linger in the sunset at the crossroads of whether or not it’s worth picking up the baggage and moving on. (Credit: Flickr user: C.M. Keiner)

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my post graduate school place of residence. There are days that I would like to spend that time in Greensboro around my many friends. However, on other days I feel like my talents could be better used elsewhere. I would set sail on the high seas and I’ll never look back here save visiting family. But many other days I’m in the middle. Should stay in Greensboro and keep working with the system to make changes or leave Greensboro and go be an ambassador for the cause of building Greensboro?

This last sentence is an idea that’s been bandied around by Aaron Renn and several others. Renn’s version is the cultivation, sometimes by the original city’s chamber of commerce, of alumni groups for cities. The idea goes something like this. Say I went to DC. I would get together with the Greensboro Former Residents Group. We would dine on Stamey’s Barbecue, fight over Tobbaco Road bragging rights and take special trips home for the Wyndham Championship golf tournament. We would get tickets for the ACC tournament at the Verizon Center. Most importantly, we would have a special fund for scholarships for Greensboro resident high school students to go to college in DC and we would help recruit businesses to Greensboro. With this being a DC club, we’d probably have political sway too.Your alumni group would and should look and feel different.

I brought this idea of American expats up to say that its ok. Boosterism only goes so far if you can’t get a job in your hometown. Right now, I have my schooling and a nice job with a nonprofit to hold on to. However, if things change or a better offer comes somewhere else, I’ll once again leave my hometown and go to where that opportunity is.

I asked my Twitter and Facebook friends about this idea and got a lot of shout outs along with couple of serious answers.

Asa Yoel(@asayoel) is a student at UNC-Charlotte, but reps Staten Island. He told me via a DM that he felt he couldn’t do what he was doing in Charlotte in Jersey. That something being studying transportation and urban affairs at UNC-Charlotte. Fortunately, Whitney Muse (@arieswym) gave me lots of positive answers about her hometown. Originally from Philly, she moved to Jersey to Rutgers for college, home for a while to work with the Obama campaign, and is now doing grad school in DC and hoping to do international affairs. She has nothing but love from Philly and believes she could have achieved her dreams there. However, with a full-ride to Rutgers, she was taking that and running with it.

The Pew American Mobility report has stated that 50% of Americans do not live in their hometown.  I say this to caution anyone who wants to slam their hometown, either for no opportunities or slam others for not staying in a place. I find that entrepreneurs can make it anywhere, while those who need the structure of an office are at the whim of where the jobs are.

I am not sure where I am on that yet. Meanwhile, if I ever decide or get an opportunity to leave, I would. However, I’ll be proudly carrying a case of Natty Greene’s beer and talking to anyone who will listen about the opportunity to go to a wonderful city in NC with five universities, cheap office space and nice homes and history.

Issues and Ideas, Traveling as An Urbanist

Are We Missing Major Place-Making Opportunities With Our Airports?

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Terminal 2, RDU

Yes, this looks cool, but I think I’ve seen this airport before…(Image Credit Flickr user: Evil Jess

Floating through airports over the summer, I have noticed how remarkably similar they are. I would think  an international building with the ability to showcase the local culture would in fact be that showcase. Instead, I’m seeing  the same generic architecture. I feel that the airport, as the million (and lately billion) dollar showpiece of your town , should be unique in not only architecture, but in the content that it sells and displays.

When I arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on the way to the CNU 19 in Madison, WI,  my first response was a series of oohs and ahhs. The arches, the glass elevators, the pre-security Starbucks and sandwich shop, the big windows, I was amazed. Then I started thinking, somehow this all looks very familiar. The baggage claim with the ticketing floor terrace was Baltimore. Same with the security tables between the restaurants. The arches I’ve seen in Detroit, Indianapolis, Charlotte. Everybody has windows.  Even in Madison, without the arches, there were windows, beige and the feel of the constricted and shed-like RDU Terminal 1. Great, I’m thinking now, we have always had an airport plan that’s bland and adds nothing to the character. Yes, the art is different and cool, but when did big arches come to symbolize air travel?

At this point you can go ahead and ask why I should care? It’s just the airport. You come in and you go out and you are only there as long as it takes to get on a plane. However, we all know you can spend a minimum of two hours preparing to get on a plane, 30 minutes getting into flight, the time of the flight, then about 30-45 minutes to exit. This of course assumes that there is no layover. If that’s the case, you are stuck in a building with processed food, stale air, overpriced wi-fi and horribly uncomfortable chairs. You might be able to pay to access an airline lounge, but it’s not worth the expense.

So what do I think airport authorities should encourage out of their architects? What kind of experience do I want in the airport?

First of all, I like the Tampa model for architecture. Tampa’s main building has a nice mid-century modern, golden age of passenger air travel feel in their main terminal. Once you go upstairs, you are then invited into the 21st century, through people movers that take you to one of five spoked terminals, each of which reflects a different tone and character. There are still windows so you can see the planes, but it doesn’t all look the same. Also we could add chairs at the gate that don’t have the bars, in case people do in fact need to sleep at the airport.

For what’s sold in the airport, the airport needs to reflect Austin’s model, with a ban on chain restaurants. RDU is about half and half. Still, my true home airport of Greensboro only has one restaurant and I assume it’s locally owned, but even it may be controlled by that airport franchising company . Same with the stores. Outside of a few duty-free and magazine shops, having a store like the Motown store in Detroit is excellent for establishing the meaning of a place.

One last amenity that should be offered is a family wing. Similar to the USO lounge for soldiers and families, maybe around Christmas and other major holidays, one of the airline lounges can become a family area, so that families can calm their children down and keep them from being loud  on planes or tired young professionals can catch a few hours of sleep on the way home from visiting parents.

But I digress, what do you think your home airport should have or look like? How can we make our airports better places?

The Thursday List

Four Ways Old Malls and Strip Centers Are Coming Back to Life

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North Hills Mall Plaza from the Roof of Renaissance

Yes, I know North Hills Raleigh is a great retrofit of an old mall. But it’s still mostly retail. Read below and find out more about other rebirth options. (Image credit: Flickr user radellaf).

I know in my last post I came down pretty hard on the lifestyle center trend. However, living up the street from an enclosed mall that regularly gets business makes me wonder if it’s the form of the mall that matters as much as the function.  Still, economics does matter in many cases and malls do fail. Our second enclosed mall died a slow death partially for being near a landfill, while the “lifestyle center” was one of the first major outdoor strip malls in the state of NC. It had been written off when the enclosed malls opened and now it has it’s own addition and all of the “upscale” stores. Then there are the two major bigbox thoroughfares.  It’s all in the perception of a place. Which leads me to list four ways that malls can and have come back to life:

Schools: In Florida, a school building looks nothing now like the Kmart that once embodied it.

Churches: Here in Greensboro, a Kmart still bears it’s marks, but inside the place is clearly an arena-style worship center. It’s one situation where the large parking lot is full at least once a week as if it was Christmas.

Hosptials: In Nashville, TN, this mall now houses over 20 health clinics as well as some of the remaining stores.

Daycares: This California center has even gained a second story.

While some of these are technically big box retrofits, the idea of reforming old, once vibrant, shopping strips and enclosed areas is alive and well. Notice how these are general community uses, not commercial stores that may fall out of favor with shoppers. What are some other examples of good mall and strip center retrofits?

Durham, Greensboro, Issues and Ideas

Shopping Malls and Strip Centers Are Not Dead Yet

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Queen's Square Shopping Mall, Yokohama

Image Credit: flickr user steven.y

As much as we hate them, I still do believe there is life in our traditional enclosed shopping malls and strip shopping centers. When these facilities opened, they were bright, shiny, air-conditioned and convenient. Supermarkets offered everything imaginable under one roof. Some even had lounges for spouses and kids, so harried housewives could shop in peace. They had tall smiling Santa’s and community Christmas trees. They invited the community in not only to shop, but to watch movies, jam at concerts and walk around for exercise.

Yet, we fast forward to the present day and many are  blighted. Others aren’t dead yet, but have been pushed aside as unsustainable, uncool or dirty. I do agree that  many were built with a few too many unsustainable stores. However for others, you have to admit the crowd inside didn’t suit your fancy, so you pushed for a more upscale shopping experience. You moved up in the world and  your money and the stores followed. The owner stopped cleaning and lighting the property. Big time developers no longer want to clean and air-condition spaces, so they created these fake main streets that the elements can hose down and clean off. Of course there are the Circuit Cities, Linens and Things and K-Marts that just sit empty, because of those chains poor management of money.

Yet, I also see a different story. Story #1 is my mom. She gets up early on the days she doesn’t go to work or go to the doctor and walks around our nearby enclosed mall. If she wanted to, she could walk there in about 15, but she drives there in less than five. Story #2 is the Fanta City International Center in Greensboro. While not as shiny and occupied as it was when it first started, it’s goal has been to create a marketplace for our many refugee and immigrant communities. It’s a strip mall without a known anchor, but with it’s Super G Market, does a great job of being a Wal-Mart for foreigners. Lastly, there’s that mall in Cleveland that turned it’s enclosed mall into a greenhouse.

As I said before,many of the so called new urbanist “lifestyle centers” take a facade of a main street, but space the stores way too far apart in the name of parking. Also, these “main streets” are just as much private industry as the malls, meaning no loitering, photography or even legit public gathering after certain hours. Don’t get fooled by the planters and benches in the middle of the parking lot. And oh, isn’t that a Macy’s in one corner and a Nordstrom way across two faux streets? These centers aren’t new urbanism as much as they are corporate greenwashing and anchors for a lifestyle that’s not so sustainable anymore due to inability for families and even working single professionals to afford their wares.

Hence why I say that people aren’t killing the mall. Often it’s shop-owners who want a certain clientele and the developers who want to save money and make big bucks. Once these two people have wielded their muscle, its then the community that often says, hey, I don’t want to shop there anymore. For those of you who say it’s gangs killing off malls, I’ve noticed groups of young people of all types hanging out at both facilities. A man was killed in 2008 at an Old Navy at one of our lifestyle centers in Greensboro. This was after a person was shot in the 2006 at the traditional enclosed mall at the Baby Gap. Both of these cases were private disputes that came to the mall, not a protracted effort for people to come to the mall and shoot and harass people. There have been other cases, but I count those on one finger and once again, not a conspiracy to kill mall shoppers.

To close my thoughts today, If the mall is dying, then it’s dying not because of the tired “people want to shop at lifestyle centers and they want to be able to walk around and shop” meme. There is a need for adaptive reuse of the existing dead mall structures. You can blend the enclosed mall with a main street feel, case in point, the Streets of Southpoint in nearby Durham. It provides a good weather and bad weather shopping experience. Also, these places are still not public third space, but cities and towns can buy them up and create third spaces inside and around them. Older strips can be re-facaded and parking structures and homes can be added to the wide swaths of asphalt that surround them.

So what do you think, is the mall really dead? Are lifestyle centers faux-urbanism?

Greensboro, The Thursday List

Five Ways You Can Be a Grassroots Planner

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downtown greensboro during 2009 Fun Fourth
Street festivals are great examples of Grassroots Planning, bringing vibrancy to the street and exposing people to businesses and parks they may not know about. (Image Credit, Myself)

I know many of my readers are like myself. They can’t draw buildings or maps. However, they may have the time and money to go out and organize the community.  The  passion for the city is still there, but in a different way. So how can these people contribute to urban planning? Here are five ways:

  • Run for office– I know in Greensboro, 75% of the issues that come before council are related to property and zoning issues. If you don’t have the stomach for a campaign, try to get appointed to the zoning commission or the board of adjustments. You can also do like I am doing and volunteer your services for someone with this gift.
  • Join your neighborhood association. I’ve discussed the need for neighborhoods to have a neighborhood driven, low-fee group to air community concerns and provide community entertainment. If your neighborhood association is too structured (managed by an outside group that has no clue what the real needs of the neighborhood are), or non-existent, see how you can get one going.
  • Join me in the blogosphere. If you are reading this and thinking about sharing your ideas on urban planning, go ahead. The more citizen voices that exist, then more decision-makers can understand the true reach of the market for certain activities and living areas.
  • Start a business in an underused area. I’d prefer that it would be a green business, but any business that treats employees fairly or adds life to an inner city area that appears to be lifeless is good. Encourage your employees and supporters to give back to the community as well.
  • Read the Tactical Urbanism guide and get a project started– There are so many great projects in this book. Although these are mostly temporary projects, some that  have become permanent. Also, you don’t need a license or talent  just a will to see the project through and a few friends who do have the talent or license. The idea is that urbanism is not just for those with large, sweeping multi-block or acre city plans, but  plans that are smaller and cheaper and still transform and create great places.

However, because we are talking about grassroots strategies, there are plenty more ways one can get involved. Share with me your ways of getting involved in planning and urban development, besides drawing the plans themselves.

Greensboro, Issues and Ideas

How I Find Meaning as The Black Urbanist

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Can I really make a difference for urbanism with just my keyboard? (Image Credit Sharon McMillan)

It really did all start with a map. I’ve told my story before, but I wanted to revisit it again this week as we will be talking about grassroots planning.

This week also marks the launch of my new weekly e-newsletter, the Blackurbanpaper. Be sure to use the purple box on the top right to subscribe so you don’t miss an issue. If you already subscribe to my posts via email, you are all set to receive the newsletter.

Anyway, back to the story. Lately I’ve been feeling a little lost. I don’t exactly want to draw plans (although I like sketching in my notebook) as a career. Also, I’ve never pounded the pavement to save my neighborhood either. Never had to really. I’ve always lived in stable environments, but had a hunger for making less sustainable and stable communities better. After wrestling over this question in the middle of the night, at CNU and in the middle of downtown Greensboro, I’ve determined that there’s not really a need to put a label on what I do. Well, besides the one that adorns the top of this page. So what do I think makes me qualified to be an urbanist? Here are my reasons:

  • I love my city and I want to see it grow.
  • I never stopped believing in the idea of the city, even as I’m forced by economics to live in more suburban terrain.
  • I think we can solve a few social problems with improved urban and suburban forms that promote connectivity.
  • As a person of color, many of us found opportunity and then lost it in the urban form. I think we can regain opportunity in this new smart city framework, as well as regain the connectivity and community my elders speak of.
  • I have no problems using the city bus, riding a bike AND driving a car, when appropriate.
  • I believe community goes beyond, but is strengthened by a positive built environment.

Even though I made my decision to become a writer and public relations guru for great causes and companies, I feel like I still need to tell this story. The story of the city. The story of the community.  The story of life.

I know I don’t have all the answers. I’m not the expert (yet). I know that my definition doesn’t match perfectly the Charter of New Urbanism or even popular opinion on what a city is. However, I’m going to keep doing what I can to make my community better. Even if some days it’s just putting up another post on this blog. Hopefully someone will read it and know how important it is to make their community a better place.

The Thursday List

The Thursday List: 5 Ways to Bring Schools and the Community Together

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This week I’m adding something new to the blog, a more in-depth, quick facts way to start applying principles I discuss on the blog directly back into the community. This week’s theme was education, so I’m revisiting  steps we need  to bridge the gap between our schools and the community. Here are five of those steps:

Host Community Events Free of Charge

School lunchrooms, auditoriums, gymnasiums and classrooms are perfect event spaces. If need be, bring in food and supplies to offset rental and staffing costs.

Use The Yard Space(If You Have It) For Community Gardens

Most schools gladly use their yards for sporting events. While this is a great release for kids sometimes, how much better would it be to teach kids how to grow their own food  and even run their own small business by using a community garden.

Establish Apprenticeship and Internship Programs with Students as Young as Middle School Age.

Go ahead and build brand loyalty, as well as introducing kids to a sure career path. They will be more motivated to do well in school and pick a college or trade school that gets them exactly where they need to go. Then they can come back and build up communities themselves by repeating the cycle. Also consider becoming a Big Sibling

Create a Carpool/Bikepool/Walking Group

In my neighborhood, the kids could walk to school with one or two adults in tow. If the schools a little further away in your neighborhood, but the streets are safe, get a bike group together. And if walking is dangerous or the school is across town, get a carpool together. Also, the school bus works too, but not every district pays for busing all students to school. Also, what if your child is in a charter or private school, where busing is optional.

Sponsor and Donate to the School.

Lastly, unless the district has established a district-wide endowment, donate to the closest, most needy school you can find. This can be your time or your money. However, keep in mind that the school you think may not give the ROI you expect may be the most grateful. If you want to get your feet wet, check out a few projects on Donors Choose.

Greensboro, Issues and Ideas

Urban Design Must Have Heart and Soul

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We must be careful that the Southside neighborhood and others like it, not fall back into the darkness at the expense of other vibrant neighborhoods, such as our traditional downtown (Image Credit: Unknown Flickr user via CityBoi at Skyscraper City Forums)

Recently the national-award winning, Duany Plater-Zyberk designed community of Southside in Greensboro lost a key tenant, Vintage 301. Outside of Manny’s Universal Café, this was the only restaurant in the neighborhood and only consistent draw of people outside of the small neighborhood inside. While there are a few hair salons and other small businesses left, the neighborhood has gradually gone from mixed use back to urban-esque suburbia.

I say this to deal with the idea that is at the core of much of new urbanism:

If you build it they will come + a cleaner urban form= success despite our economic and social failures

Yet, at the end of the day, many of us have no disposable income. We can’t sell our houses or afford to buy new ones. Some of us can’t even afford to rent homes, rent or buy cars or even eat. We want to start businesses, but you need money to do that too. Some existing business and homes are getting choked by the increased tax values. Cities are not working carefully with small businesses to deal with tax liabilities (yet continually give breaks to big ones who can more than afford to pay).

So what does one do in a situation like this? What does this mean for urbanism (and suburbanism and ruralism)? I’m not sure of all the answers, but it starts in one place, working together.

When we lose money and get poor, we often retract into the worse of ourselves. We hoard, we covet, we criticize. The fear of losing our identity swells far and above our own minds and makes us create false stories about our friends, family, colleagues and leaders. With this negativity, we find it hard to go on in our present state and we spend time over-analyzing how others seem to be getting along.

I think this negativity is at the root of where we stand as a country right now. However, I recently learned that no matter what, it’s better to be grateful for what does exist. Even though I can’t rent a house, I am able to live with my mom and help her with things at our house. The bus still runs from 5 AM to 11PM here in Greensboro and 24 hours in some places. I could ride a bike. And at the basic level, I’m breathing, seeing, walking and talking and writing this post.

To bring this tangent back to a close, we have to look past the built environment for a minute and work on restoring the souls of our fellow community members. We have to have hard conversations and ask hard questions. We have to make hard demands. Yet, I don’t know of a person who has some means, yet is complaining about lost of livelihood, that doesn’t have something they can share. Maybe it’s a shoulder to cry on, an extra shirt, an extra plate or a ride to work.

Still, we will not be able to fill our communities and embrace a density until we desire to live in harmony again. A harmony that looks past differences in matters of the heart and makes sure people can have the freedom to wake up and live comfortably.

Just like I called on DC residents on Twitter to do, it’s not about race-baiting, it’s not about keeping improvements off the streets, it’s about getting our city economics back on track, and remembering all legal business is good business. Even if it’s just an upscale wing joint that moves into the old Vintage 301 space.

A Black Queer Feminist Urbanist Resource created and curated by Kristen E. Jeffers