Modern Tactical Urbanism
I believe Crawford's approach to urban planning and design, particularly with adaptive reuse projects, holds a significant importance in prioritizing the users needs, encouraging community engagement, and protecting cultural and historical values of buildings. I regard adaptive reuse as one of the most impactful and influential strategies in responding to the rapidly changing dynamics of urban environments and reflecting the idea of "everyday urbanism." These initiatives often rely heavily on community involvement to understand how a building can be properly revitalized, discover who it serves, and while functions best address the diverse needs and desires of the community. A notorious example of such an adaptive reuse projects is the High Line in NYC. Facing potential demolition after sitting unused for decades, the elevated rail line was transformed into a luscious green space offering community gardens, walking paths, sitting areas, and flexibility for art installations, group events, and more. This example exemplifies the several core principles advocated by Crawford: the preservation of historical significance that echoes the distinct past experience of the neighborhood and its residents, the empowerment and involvement of local stakeholders including organizations, donors, governmental bodies, and residents, increasing economic value by attracting new visitors and vendors, and pushing the boundaries of urban design by providing something both highly innovative and extremely useful for the public.
Unfortunately, it seems inevitable that this approach leads to gentrification and sanitized public space. The Highline transformed a neighborhood of post-industrial bohemia into the most expensive stretch of Manhattan. To the south, the Highline terminates at the Whitney Museum, a private collection of art. To the north, Hudson Yards, the most expensive NYC development in the last half century. Walking along the once-abandoned train tracks, one cannot help but question the necessity or the utility of both the greenspace (much of which is inaccessible) and the vendors hawking $12 frozen ice. The historical significance the Highline has preserved hardly serves the ghosts of the neighborhood's past.
ReplyDeleteConnor I found this a really interesting reflection. It seems fairly easy to connect our discussions on affordable housing to everyday urbanism, but there are so many different types of development we can find it in. Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of public spaces like the Highline have this effect, and I personally have trouble seeing an easy solution on how to create these spaces without resulting gentrification.
DeleteIn response to your comment Connor, I really don't know if there is a good solution to this result of gentrification. As many of these projects like this one as you indicated do lead to such outcomes. I think in order to do our best to "prevent" such instances from occurring is for start to get the community involved with projects very early on. We must constantly stay in touch with our context to make sure they will be warmly welcome. Its unfortunate projects as such lead to increase of property costs but I think the best way to approach this situation is to try and make the project something that will be welcome by the community.
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