The Changing Landscape of Urban Communities
by
Abigail Lundy
Keynote speaker Majora Carter.
November 16, 2009
Chris Leinberger (Metropolitan Land Strategist & Developer currently with The Brookings Institution and the University of Michigan) was the first of two keynote speakers at this morning's opening plenary. Using clips from popular TV shows, as well as hard data, he explained the change in suburban development over the past 60 years. Take for instance, the single family homes featured on "I Love Lucy," compared with the apartment living seen on more recent shows, like "Friends." This is indicative of a societal shift that is creating a market for walkable urban and suburban communities.
He also noted the consistent tendency of cities and regions to have a "favored quarter" where most of the wealthy white people settle, leading to mall developers and employers wanting to locate there, leading to more highways there, making property values rise and more wealthy white people, malls, and jobs locating there. According to Leinberger, Washington, D.C. is model for moving past this "favored quarter" mentality because it's created a redeveloped, integrated, and walkable region.
Next up was Majora Carter, founder of the Majora Carter Group, whose mission it is to address both environmental and economic issues that disproportionately impact poorer communities. Born and raised in the South Bronx, Majora is dedicated to improving her home community's quality of life, as well as that in other, similar localities around the country. Beginning in the South Bronx, she's pioneered green job training and placement to decrease unemployment and improve the environmental landscape. You can learn more at http://www.majoracartergroup.com/.
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