16 Jun
2002
16 Jun
'02
10:57 a.m.
Ed -
Perhaps my point of view will become clearer if you see the entire
Brief, which is attached. Unlike you, most "smart growth" and
anti-automobile crusaders refuse to accept the implications of the
trends revealed by the 2000 census. You would understand what I mean if
you took part (as I do) in some of the other forums devoted to "smart
growth" and anti-automobile proselytizing, such as CNU (Congress of New
Urbanism), STPP and TLC-net. Unfortunately, many "smart growth" and
anti-auto zealots are not as reasonable and clear thinking as you. They
do not let facts interfere with their ideology.
Regards,
Ken Orski
----------------
Ed Herlihy wrote:
Ken:
As one of those who happens to support the Smart Growth movement you can
rest assured that I was not at all "surprised" by the new data in the Year
2000 Census. Most of us who follow these things, even casually, knew full
well that the aggregate trends were (and are) still going in the "wrong"
direction. Lets remember, the Smart Growth movement is just a "babe in the
woods" and it may take decades for the message to take hold.
Perhaps the message of Smart Growth will not take hold and perhaps there are
some land speculators who still expect to derive huge profits from sprawl
and the proliferation of large lot McMansions. So be it.
But it is not the job of the "new Census data" to send us a message that all
of the Smart Growth ideas are a "failure". And it was never the message
from the Smart Growth folks that the car was going to be obsolete at any
time in the future.
It is the job of planners to seek out solutions that best serve our
communities. And, as we dig into the census data, we will most likely find
some exceptions to the overall trends that will tell a good story about
Smart Growth and its benefits.
Ed Herlihy
Reston, VA
PS. OK, I fully agree the CTPP may not the best list to start a discussion
about the merits of Smart Growth. If the list moderators have a suggestion,
I will be glad to move the discussion to a more appropriate forum, if there
is one. Any suggestions?