Density: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!
May 19, 2012
Panel moderated by Mary Lydon, Executive Director, the Urban Land Institute: Howard Blackson, Director of Planning, PlaceMakers; Eric Naslund, Chairman, the San Diego Planning Commission; Frank Wolden, architect, Carrier Johnson + Culture; and Albert Einstein, member, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton*
Urban density calls to mind inadequate infrastructure, depleted services, obstructed sunlight, glutted traffic, dangerous pollution … But how many of these negatives are legitimately ascribed to density? Is population really the culprit? Are we being malinfluenced by headcounts? To what degree are negative perceptions of density actually caused by our reaction – conscious or subconscious – to poor design?
Our distinguished panel will discuss these questions, as well as whether or not the specter of Pruitt-Igoe haunts any mention of density and impairs our ability to create livable communities, whether or not urban planning has been influenced by “Tea Party politics,” and whether or not there is any validity in “the numbers game.”
Einstein, whom one does not associate with density, remarked, “Not all things that can be counted, count. And not all things that count can be counted.” Come to the FSDA’s May meeting and see if the panel thinks he might have been onto something.
* In absentia
The annual Harriet Gill Award will also be announced at this meeting!