I spent some time this morning
participating in an exercise identifying elements of downtown living
for the Gehl Studio and DDA.
About 30 of us first discussed what we
thought were distinctive parts of images from around the world.
Photos of all types, taken of generally urban scenes, can give subtle
clues to what people like (or dislike) about public spaces. By
identifying which of these desirable parts we like, they can then be
compared to those sites in Lexington which have them or really need
them.
It did not strike me as odd that the
common activity areas were delineated, nor that these will probably
be surveyed further for more detailed responses. What was missing
was the failure to question why other parts of our city may lack what
we apparently desire. In other words, how do we direct street
activity, both retail and pedestrian, to the “dead zones” of
urbanity.
In my mind, such urban dead zones can
be the usual surface parking which has commonly replaced the former
fabric of downtown structures lost to neglect. They may also be the
missing civic elements of neighborhoods where vast swaths of nearly
identical housing limit the availability of many desirable elements
identified above. If desirable elements attract activity, how can
the encourage them where they are lacking?
I hope that much more can come out of
this and that there is more community involvement in the coming
months. I will be keeping an eye on the progress.
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