Ellen Dunham-Jones: Retrofitting suburbia

TL;DR

Retrofitting suburbia presents an opportunity to transform under-performing retail sites into sustainable and vibrant communities, addressing climate change, public health, and affordability concerns.

Transcript

In the last 50 years, we've been building the suburbs with a lot of unintended consequences. And I'm going to talk about some of those consequences and just present a whole bunch of really interesting projects that I think give us tremendous reasons to be really optimistic that the big design and development project of the next 50 years is going to... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏙️ Retrofitting suburbia provides an opportunity to convert under-performing retail sites into more sustainable spaces, redirecting growth into existing communities and reducing the carbon footprint of suburban dwellers.
• 🏭 Suburban development patterns are linked to sedentary lifestyles, obesity, and health issues such as heart disease and diabetes. Retrofitting can promote more active and healthier lifestyles.
• 🚗 Rising gas prices and transportation costs make living in suburbia less affordable, erasing the savings promised by cheap land. Retrofitting can help address affordability issues.
• 👶 Demographic shifts, such as the aging population and the rise of Generation Y, are driving the demand for more urban lifestyles within suburbia. Retrofitting can cater to these changing preferences.
• 🏢 Underperforming properties like dead malls and big-box stores can be re-inhabited or repurposed for community-serving uses, creating vibrant gathering spaces and improving the local economy.
• 🏗️ Retrofitting projects can be incremental or larger-scale, involving densification or redevelopment. Transit, performance of underperforming asphalt, and market demand drive these projects.
• 🌳 Re-greening and restoring local ecology is an important aspect of retrofitting, promoting water quality, habitat, and local economy. It can also be a response to strong markets and address water problems.
• 🏢 Challenges for the future include planning retrofitting at a metropolitan scale, improving architectural design quality, and advocating for more sustainable suburban places through zoning changes, infrastructure improvements, and retrofits.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does retrofitting suburbia contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

Retrofitting suburbia helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by urbanizing these areas, which have a higher carbon footprint due to increased driving and inefficient energy usage in detached buildings. By transforming suburban landscapes into more sustainable places, we can redirect growth to existing communities with better infrastructure, reducing the need for expansion into green spaces and tree removal.

Q: What are the public health implications of suburban development patterns?

Suburban development patterns have been linked to sedentary lifestyles, leading to rising rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. The decline in children walking to school due to development patterns has also contributed to these health concerns. Retrofitting suburbia could provide more walkable communities, promoting physical activity and improving public health outcomes.

Q: How does retrofitting address affordability challenges in suburbia?

Suburban expansion to cheap land was once an affordable housing option, but rising gas prices have made it less economical. Transportation costs can make up a significant portion of household expenses, eroding the affordability promised by cheap land. Retrofitting suburbia presents an opportunity to create more urban lifestyles within suburbia, reducing dependence on cars and transportation expenses, thus improving affordability.

Q: Why is it important to focus on systemic retrofitting at the metropolitan scale?

Planning retrofitting projects at the metropolitan scale allows for targeted re-greening, redevelopment, and re-inhabitation in areas that need it the most. Systemic retrofitting can address water and transit concerns, ensuring that future suburban developments are sustainable and interconnected. By strategically planning at the metropolitan scale, cities can reverse sprawl and create more livable and sustainable suburban environments.

Q: How can architectural design quality be improved in retrofitting projects?

While retrofitting projects have successfully created vibrant communities, there is still a need to improve architectural design quality. Many retrofits suffer from a hybrid appearance, trying to mimic older urban areas but lacking the authenticity. It is important to prioritize architectural design that blends new and old, creates truly urban streetscapes, and enhances the aesthetic appeal of retrofitted areas.

Q: What role can individuals play in supporting suburban retrofitting?

Individuals can support suburban retrofitting by advocating for zoning changes, road diets, infrastructure improvements, and retrofits in their neighborhoods. By demanding more sustainable and livable suburban places, individuals can contribute to the transformation of suburbia into vibrant, walkable, and sustainable communities.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Retrofitting suburbia is the next big design and development project, offering solutions to the unintended consequences of suburban living.

• Suburban areas have a higher carbon footprint, contribute to sedentary lifestyles and health issues, and face affordability challenges due to rising transportation costs.

• Retrofitting projects include redeveloping dying malls, repurposing big-box stores, and restoring wetlands, all aimed at creating more sustainable and livable communities.