Work Experience: A Whole Lot of Reality Wrapped in One Little Gift

When I finished my Bachelor degree in Canada I refused to consider returning to school for a Masters. I was quite over school, having gone straight from high school to university, I craved to know a life outside of libraries, lectures and essays. University fills you with these exciting ideas and makes you feel like you can solve global problems. That first step into the working world put me in my place. A young early twenty something fresh out of university is not going to be taken seriously nor is she going to be given much responsibility! Wow, did I ever learn and fast. Not having any internship/ work experience opportunities during my degree, I was thrown into professional life where expectations were just as high but took on a different form. Instead of pulling an A+ paper out of your head, you had to mingle with building owners, and deliver the lines they wanted to hear in a reassuring manner even though you didn’t agree with those lines.

I am referring to municipal policies on the environment. While studying in school I rolled my eyes at the useless legislation Alberta and the City of Edmonton were coming out with. They used the latest terms like “Smart Growth,” “Sustainability,” and “Eating Local” but their “frameworks” for actually living that way were so fake. Please note that  I am not picking on Edmonton or Alberta, EVERY city and state does this including Sydney and New South Wales. I am merely using Edmonton and Alberta as an example because I know it well. It was quite ironic that one year I was sitting in class commenting about how useless the City of Edmonton’s latest Municipal Plan was and then bam! The next year I was working for the City of Edmonton in their long-term sustainability department explaining to university business students the merits of heritage conservation and it’s role in the long-term sustainability of Edmonton!!!!!

The point I am making here, in a round-about way, is that work experience gave me that reality check to understand urban planning and design as it actually functions in practice. Politics and money shape what policies cities develop and how effective they are. That is the bottom line. The planning department may have all the answers to a sprawling and drab city such as Edmonton, but if the money doesn’t support those plans, and the politicians (guided by public support) do not get on board with these plans, they will not happen!

Anyway, to make a long story short I see the benefits of my two years spent in the work force, one year working for a municipality and another year working in administration of a global oilfield manufacturing company. I saw first hand how politics and economics ran both sectors. And frankly, they were both incredibly limited by those factors. While sitting in all of my lectures: Design, Law, Economics and Sustainability I rely on my work experience to analyze the theories and concepts being discussed. It is a huge relief that my Human Geography degree has covered ALL of these topics and laid the foundation theories were are discussing now in classes.

Everyday reminds me that I found my passion, and that I refuse to give up on that dreamer of a little girl who walked into the City of Edmonton’s heritage department expecting to turn them upside down! I have the toolbox; as I ranted about in the above post, so let’s use it to really do good. Cities can grow in a healthy, and responsible way, the technology is waiting for us. We need to kick our politicians in the bum and wring a little more money out of global investors, who already have too much money, and we can do it!

Okay, I’m stepping down from my soapbox… Thank you for listening.

Statistic Planning vs. Design-based Planning: Can We Compromise?

Paying an arm and a leg for a Masters degree doesn’t seem like an ideal way to enter the world of consumer debt, but I guess it’s a start… and at least I’m spending money on something that I enjoy immensely, that challenges me… and frustrates me to no end. If I didn’t care so much about making cities better places to live than I wouldn’t let it bother me so much, right?! Well, each week ends with me shaking my head and rolling my eyes. As much as I need this degree to carry me into the career of my dreams… I see the redundancies in research. My Law, Economics and Sustainability courses all preach fancy “frameworks” and rules to live by as a planner. Nevertheless, there are always exceptions to those rules. ALWAYS! So why use the rule in the first place if you’re just going to break it along the way? In a world where we strive for efficiency in everything, making rules and theories that we just break and invalidate seems like such a waste of time.

It’s only week 3 of the semester and I am already filling my “Planner Toolkit,” as they call it, with things like urban economics: understanding supply and demand; government regulation pros and cons; the emergence and role of environmental law; where to find said laws; how to read and make sense of said laws; urban structural form; urban consolidation for dummies, etc. It is nice to see my money paying for this lovely little box of tricks, but how useful are these tools really. The readings on urban structural form emphasize that it is one way of categorizing built form in cities and analyzing urban metabolism, increase green space, and increase density of housing stock, etc. Too often do policy makers and planners rely only on these tools without actually going outside and viewing the area in question?!

That is the danger I sense when looking around at the 30-40 other students in my classes. Do not fall into the trap of the faceless bureaucrat sitting at your desk in a windowless cubicle, typing out grand plans for your city’s downtown while not even strolling through the very place you plan to alter so drastically. The toolbox is useful, yes, but it is not the only answer. Please, every planner in my program and developer for that matter – please take one design class and understand that your most important tool is your observation and experience. Experience is the only way the people living in cities understand their city. It is the only way they relate to what planners, developers and architects [etc.] do. The key to a healthy and vibrant world city such as Sydney is not in your textbook; it is by walking down the street and viewing the site in question.

…How we can include an “observation is key” tattoo field trip into the curriculum? Course title: all who wish to graduate as planners must get this phrase tattooed on their forehead… Bad idea? Just a thought! :)

Transportation: The Single Most Important Thing for a City

 Transportation. When you think about how big cities form you rather struggle with the whole Chicken and the Egg concept. What came first? While reading studying Chicago and how it came to be, the general the formation of “the city” (any city) became clear. The Industrial Revolution does seem to be the single most important event in social-economic human history. In my opinion at least, I am by no means an expert in this field, obviously. Besides capital actually funding city development throughout the Industrial Era, transportation is the single most important facet of how cities develop for a planner.

Transportation of goods and people. Transportation of raw materials for manufacturing; transporting goods to market; transporting people to market to buy the goods; transporting people to their jobs; transporting money and credit to fund this cycle of supply and demand. Although transportation now takes many forms: foot, cycle, wagon, bus, car, truck (lorry), plane, train, boat, internet, telephone, wire transfer. It is the single most important factor in sustaining the city and it’s economy.

Then why does transportation seem to be so undervalued as infrastructure? Yes, the car is big commodity now, but what about those who want to use alternative forms? Or have no other option but to use other forms of transport? Sydney has a well connected bus system, but its inner-city train is limited. Inter-city trains are quite efficient… Or so I would think if I didn’t open the Sydney Morning Herald to read about the latest delay during peak-hours that stranded thousands of passengers at train stations. On the other hand, had I not read in a travel book about Australia how during the upgrades to the rail system before the Olympics the monorail “spontaneously burst into flames (Bryson 2001)." I am not making this up.

So let us stop all this drama and invest in mass transit. Cities like Melbourne, Sydney and Edmonton (and many others) had it right at the beginning of the 20^th century when trams shared the roads with vehicles. I know in the Post-war Era Edmonton ripped up all the tram tracks in the city to build bigger roads. Ironically, it is now planning to resurrect the tram concept to connect the suburbs with the inner city… I am shaking my head. That infrastructure existed years ago; it was ripped out and is now being put back in!!! How inefficient is that!?

Now cities like Sydney have a handful of urban issues to deal with such as urban consolidation, the ridiculously out of control housing market (that I am still shocked by), water quality, etc etc. Transportation needs to be a priority. It is key to making the rest of the city function. For example urban consolidation, and housing affordability: how can you bring more people into the CBD or other suburban CBDs to live and work if you can’t even put them on a train/bus that can get them to where they need to go in a timely manner! Of course they want to take their car, but oh wait there’s nowhere to park downtown, so why would one live in the CBD if they have no choice but to keep their car and there is nowhere to park it? On the other hand, one cannot pay for a car AND pay for an outrageously priced one-bedroom apartment downtown! Are you kidding! As a result, people choose to live out in the suburbs where they offset their commuting costs by cheaper house prices (not much though). Are you seeing the point? I am trying to be clear: People put their transportation needs above everything else!

I am quite amazed at this conclusion; I honestly was not sure the direction my rant about transportation was going to take… Wow, what an idea.

Reference used:

Bill Bryson. 2001. In a Sunburned Country. Toronto: Anchor Canada.

Disclaimer: Writing

On a completely unrelated topic: Thank you for your patience with my writing. It is so rusty since I’ve been out of university for two years. I’m certainly using this blog to help improve my writing, grammar, etc. Again, your patience is greatly appreciated. I know I am annoyed with poor grammar, spelling, etc so I strive to set a better example.

An Afternoon at Coogee Beach

Coogee Beach

…The Beach. A unique space: natural and public (sometimes, Coogee is). It doesn’t require much infrastructure to support beach goers, besides easy ways to access it, perhaps a lifeguard stand as well. But then it can be added to: a lifesaving centre, first aid and washroom facilities, food outlets, walking trails and lighting for at night, benches, safety railings along steep ledges. The opportunities are endless. If one so desired, they could have a beach built completely from nothing.

Beaches can also be tourist destinations, not many parks can be tourist destinations… Unless they’re well-known like Central Park, which in theory isn’t really that impressive it’s just a massive park built in an otherwise concrete space. One doesn’t realize how important green space is until there isn’t any. I never really noticed natural landscapes or the beauty of a cluster of blooming trees in the middle of a park until I surrounded myself by the built environment. Now, I notice big beautiful trees. What a strange little concept, but something to appreciate anyway…

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One Thought on “Sustainability”

Made a trip to the Central Business District or the “CBD” to George Street. I enjoy being surrounded by tall buildings. It is comforting to me. I honestly thought that was what Sydney would be… Coming from suburban Canada, I like the idea of living in high-density areas. My rational is that you don’t need large living spaces if you have access to everything you need outside of your living quarters. For example: you can live in a tiny apartment on the 22^nd floor in the middle of a concrete downtown and you will never miss out on “space” and fresh air because all of those are available in the form of public space like parks and botanical gardens. After owning a car and all the costs that come with it, I would give anything to be able to live without a car. Access to efficient transit, or a bike could make getting around town just as easy with a car and you don’t have to worry about parking fees, insurance, gas, etc! Many cities around the world offer this luxury and Sydney is working towards that too.

What next? High density living and environmental conservation. Both big fancy words, but cities are major polluters of the environment. Water run-off is one of MANY forms of pollutions cities amplify, but there are ways good planning can address this. Cities are concrete jungles covering most of its footprint with concrete, infrastructure such as storm sewers carry large volumes of rainwater from the streets into the rivers quickly and efficiently. This causes massive erosion of riverbeds, and interferes with the water cycle (among other things). Rainwater should seep into the ground to replenish ground water supplies, instead of washing directly into rivers and ocean. Simple changes to landscaping guidelines can address this issue with little fuss. Porous concrete allows water to flow through it into the ground; concrete islands in parking lots and along roadways can become catchment basins for rainwater and so on.

Environmentally supportive infrastructure is a design opportunity. Take for example a concrete island in the middle of a roadway or a parking lot. It is a low maintenance ditch that catches water. Most of the examples have flowers or trees in them. To keep them low maintenance, fill them with native plants… or weeds even… These can be unique works of public art all the while serving its original purpose just put a little imagination into them!

This was the topic of my Sustainability and Habitability class and it stayed with me after, so I wanted to make a little note on here. There are so many fun ideas I’d love to explore on here… if only I had more time! 

Here is a blog on just this topic: http://landscapeandurbanism.blogspot.com.au/2008/02/green-infrastructure.html

Examples of catchment ditches. (Image curtesy of the above blog)

Professional Planner VS The Public

Jane Jacobs was an observer and writer; she was not a professional of the built environment. I remember working for my city (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) as a heritage planner and listening to people complaining about an affordable housing unit proposed for their area, or a medium-rise apartment complex invading a primarily low-density neighbourhood. The public always had something bad to say about the project, and generally did not trust the planner’s explanation as to why it was important. I saw the public as a major roadblock to good planning; leave the planning to the professionals!

Although there are many cases in the heritage sector when magnificent old buildings slated for demolition are saved by public lobbying. One particular example of this is of Whyte Avenue in Edmonton. It was part of a plan in the 1980s to become a massive freeway connecting the suburbs to the downtown. The district around the avenue was over a hundred years old, it was the main street of a small town that grew around the first railway to enter the region. Citizen groups in the area lobbied against the plans and saved their beloved district. It is now the very popular nightlife district of Edmonton, and the entire city is very proud of this area.

Anyway, I am starting to see the value of public input in planning. After the Jane Jacobs reading this week I noticed that planners get caught up in the latest development trend and forget about the experience of the area. How people using the area experience it. The conclusion I came out of class with was that the planner reaches for his textbook to tell him how to remedy a declining downtown (for example), but often that general solution is not what that area needs. Studying the declining downtown, and leaving the planner’s toolbox/textbook in the office, allows the planner to see what everyone else sees and decide what to do based on experience.

Here is an image of Whyte Avenue located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I also attached a website of the district, it provides the history behind the area and how it was saved. Enjoy!

(image curtesy of: http://apps.business.ualberta.ca/photogallery/aboutus/livinginedmonton/default.html)

Website: http://oldstrathcona.ca/explore-the-ave

Book mentioned:

Jacobs, J. (2000). The death and life of great American cities. London: Pimlico.

First Impressions

On my second day in Sydney, (21 February 2013) I ventured off to the Royal Randwick Shopping Centre on Belmore Road in Randwick. I needed bath towels, bedding, groceries, etc. to set myself up in my apartment. Having just arrived and incredibly jet-lagged I had no idea where to start looking for places to shop... let alone hunting down affordable places to suit my student budget! Luckily, I met a resident in the building who's lived here for a few years and he pointed me to "Randwick."

I hopped a bus to Randwick and nervously watched out the window for my stop. The bus turned off High Street down a short, little back lane. As it turned the corner and basically took up the entire lane the Woolworths sign stood directly in front of the bus! A little Halleluiah song went off in my head as I sat back relieved that I arrived at my destination. I hopped off the bus, still getting used to the hot blast of air that greats you when you leave the air conditioning and find myself on this cute little street. Shops line both sides of the street for blocks all underneath sturdy awnings that project constant shade. The shops are topped with two storeys of (at one point) residential or office space. On one side of the street, an entire two storey shopping centre functions inside what looks like lower-level shopping and little flats above the shops.

I walk up and down the street peaking in all the shop windows trying to figure out what they were, but all the time observing the little outdoor cafes, the open doors on all the shops, people milling about the street, traffic beeping and rumbling in the background. This didn’t feel like a suburban shopping centre, like the big-box centres I am used to at home in Canada. It felt like the main street in a small town on a Thursday afternoon. Two big supermarkets thrive here: Woolworths and Coles, but among them bakeries, chemists, cafes, textile shops and even a butcher also operate! It is hard to believe this little area sits on the edge of a massive university campus, bustling hospital, and a horse racing track. On the street, you don’t feel swallowed up my massive buildings or carparks. It feels like Belmore Road is meant for people only, cars and buses only force themselves through the area because they can! With my shopping done and weighed down by plastic bags, I walk by a bus stop that lists many buses that go through the area, connecting it to the rest of Sydney and make the short walk back to my residence down the street.

Since that first shopping trip 3 weeks ago, Belmore Road has helped me set up a bank account, get a local sim card for my cell phone and fills my fridge with fresh groceries regularly. As it is the only area I am familiar with (so far), I plan my evening runs around there, knowing it’s safe enough and I will know how to get home!

Now with this assignment to study the street, I look forward to many hours spent in the various cafes observing and people watching. I don’t normally get excited about school work, but this is something I would do anyway!

Photo Already Taken

Sunday 10 March 2013

Here is a photo taken while shopping at the Royal Randwick Shopping Centre. Funny enough, this photo was taken to show people back home the torrential rain! Though not a very good photo showing the street, this photo will start off my study... trust me, the photos will get better!

Belmore Road in Randwick

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"Your assignment 007..."

Course: History and Theory of Urban Development and Design

The assignment:
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT – LIVE ‘DIGITAL JOURNAL’ OF CITY DESIGN
Keep a daily ‘digital journal’ of your learning about cities, their design, and how to improve the city, sustainably and equitably. Alternatively, it may be a hard copy diary or journal (notebook). Make at least three entries weekly, each week of the semester except mid-semester break. Your choice of medium: Youtube video feeds, web site, blog, social media (not twitter – it is too short), etc. Create a separate account for this assignment, different from your other social media accounts. This is to be your understanding and synthesis (original work). Do not re-post the work of others, or cut-and-paste the work of others into your own. The intent is to evolve over the semester your own viewpoint on cities – originally and uniquely you!

Worth 20% of the course grade. Let's get started!