Problems of CBDs

Posted on August 26, 2020 by Rashid Faridi

The CBD’s of cities throughout the world experience many problems, some of which are outlined below:

Congestion: Many Cities still have street plans that were laid down hundreds of years ago. The roads cannot cope with the ever-increasing numbers of cars and other vehicles. This can cause massive congestion problems, especially at “rush hour”.

Solutions to the problems have included improving public transport ; introducing park and ride schemes ; pedestrianization ; encouraging people to share cars into work and building ring roads .

In Athens (Greece) they have tried an extreme form of control by only allowing cars with odd numbers on their number plates into the city on one day, and then cars with even numbers the next day. Unfortunately this has led many people to own two cars, one with an odd number and one with an even one!

Lack of Space: CBD’s are limited in their outwards growth by the fact that the city encompasses them, and due to the fact that businesses want to locate as close to the centre as they possibly can. This has led to land prices rising to astronomical amounts. The only solution seen by most businesses is to build upwards, which is why CBD’s can be characterised by the presence of skyscrapers.

Pollution: The major pollution seen in urban areas is air pollution, or smog. This pollution is mainly caused by the fumes given off by traffic and industry.

The most famous example of where this pollution haze can be seen is over Los Angeles, but most of the large cities of the world experience it too. Poor air quality can lead to an increase in the cases of asthma and bronchitis.Asian cities are heavily in the grip of this. An innovative way of tackling this problem is to manage urban space properly.

Air is not the only thing polluted in cities. Water can be badly polluted, and so has to be carefully treated before being drunk. It’s a horrible thought, but most of the water that you drink in London has already been drunk by 7 other people!

Solutions to pollution problems include: banning heavy vehicles from CBD’s; developing cleaner fuels, and providing more litter bins in CBD’s.

Some cities have encouraged the growth of out-of-town shopping centres to help traffic, land price and pollution problems, by taking some of the focus away from the CBD. However this can also have the negative effect of causing the CBD to decline.

Source(s):

S-Cool

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Planning reforms flow from a market utopian view of housing and raise concerns about impacts for society and the environment

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Rashid Faridi

RGS-IBG Managing Editor: Academic Publications's avatarGeography Directions

By Ben Clifford, UCL

Radical reforms proposed to the planning system in England seek to deliver more housing by reducing ‘planning risk’, the uncertainty associated with navigating the regulatory process to gain permission for development. These proposals, made by the UK government in awhite paperpublished in August 2020, would alter most elements of the current approach, including how plans are made, decision-making on consenting individual proposals, and engagement opportunities for stakeholders. These reforms could have significant implications for our built and natural environments, as well as for local democracy, and so should be of interest to many.

Although the planning system deals with much more than just housing, the driver for making significant changes to the planning system comes from the so-called ‘housing crisis’ in England (planning is adevolved issuein the UK). Thehousing crisisis actually a multi-faceted issue, involving issues of demand for, and…

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Pocket Parks: An Innovative Way to Use Small Urban Open Space

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Rashid Faridi

Pocket parks, also known as minipark or vest-pocket parks, are urban open space at
the very small scale. Usually only a few house lots in size or smaller, pocket parks can
be tucked into and scattered throughout the urban fabric where they serve the immediately local population.

Pocket parks can be urban, suburban or rural, and can be on public or private land. Although they are too small for physical activities, pocket parks provide greenery, a place to sit outdoors, and sometimes a children’s playground. They may be created around a monument, historic marker or art project.

In highly urbanized areas, particularly downtowns where land is very expensive, pocket parks are the only option for creating new public spaces without large-scale redevelopment. In inner-city areas, pocket parks are often part of urban regeneration plans and provide areas where wildlife such as birds can establish a foothold. Unlike larger parks, pocket parks are sometimes designed to be fenced and locked when not in use.


These diminutive parks tend to act as scaled-down neighborhood parks, but still often
try to meet a variety of needs. Functions can include small event space, play areas for
children, spaces for relaxing or meeting friends, taking lunch breaks. etc. They can be
a refuge from the bustle of surrounding urban life and offer opportunities for rest and relaxation. However, because space is restricted and user needs are both diverse and vary throughout the day, conflicts can sometimes arise between different groups. Thus, in organizing pocket parks, designers must often work out a delicate balancing act so
that all groups can use the space in peaceful co-existence.


One of the unique and exciting characteristics of pocket parks is that they may be created out of vacant lots or otherwise forgotten spaces. Many pocket parks are the result of community groups, private entities or foundations reclaiming these spaces for the benefit of the local neighborhood. Unfortunately, they are sometimes easier to create than to maintain because without functional design, community support, use and maintenance, they may fall into disrepair.


The ecological functions of pocket parks are probably limited as they are typically designed for heavy use by people and because they are typically located in dense urban
areas. However, they do present opportunities for increasing the amount of permeable
surfaces throughout the city and could also function as patches for some animals,
particularly birds.

Source(s):

Urban Parks

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Salient Features of an Adaptive City

Posted on August 21, 2020 by Rashid Faridi

ADAPTIVE CITIES REUSE HISTORIC BUILDINGS 

In the past, buildings were often reused for economic reasons, but today more citizens and developers are interested in historic preservation. The preservation of historically significant buildings in an adaptive city adds social value. It allows people to come together and share a common bond over the love of a place, and it spurs rediscovery of the city and its culture.

ADAPTIVE CITIES REPURPOSE INFRASTRUCTURE 

The word “infrastructure” tends to conjure up images of dull concrete highways or ugly, dark alleyways. But imagine if, instead of avoiding these places, we intentionally travelled to them to hang out with friends, to participate in an event or to observe something beautiful. Reimagining everyday urban infrastructure sheds light on underused or overlooked places in the city. With some new ideas, everyday spaces can make our cities look and feel safer.

ADAPTIVE CITIES USE TECHNOLOGY TO CONNECT PEOPLE AND SERVICES

Retrofitted with technology, cities can shift resources and behaviors according to demand. Technology can also make city life easier for residents. For example: getting train arrival times on your smartphone or requesting city services . These technological features are hallmark of smart city.

ADAPTIVE CITIES SURPRISE AND DELIGHT

Cities are increasingly being shaped by citizen-led projects that help us imagine what could be. Spontaneous projects like miniature parks and temporary art displays interrupt our everyday routines and engage us and redefine urban space. They reaffirm our reasons for living in a densely populated city and help us make meaningful connections with other people and democratise the existing urban space.

ADAPTIVE CITIES EMPOWER CITIZENS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS 

By removing barriers that prevent experimentation, adaptive cities enable people to become creative seeds in their communities and revitalise urban fabric. With more flexible ordinances and codes, new businesses and entrepreneurs can create amenities and spaces that promote the exchange of ideas and resources. With this type of flexibility, cities become labs that help people solve urban design challenges.

Source(s):CAC

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