In a precautionary essay about moving to another place, Chuck Wolfe explains tensions between simple and practical community life and newcomers’ arguably gentrification-laced expectations.
Wolfe writes that an evolving understanding of time and place must be based on the premise that every newcomer must respond humbly to land other than their own — even if it means abandoning expectations imported from elsewhere.
He illustrates his story through Johnny, a mover whose family has been in the area since Santa Fe’s founding in 1610, with repeated experiences with those who visit Santa Fe on vacation, fall in love with its surface beauty and promptly decide to relocate to the “City Different” with an imported NIMBY (not in my backyard) point-of-view:
His grandparents—in their mid-80s— live in a neighborhood his family has called home for generations. Increasingly, they find themselves surrounded by newcomers who express discomfort with their long-standing ways.
Something as simple as front yard parking—a practice that predates zoning laws and, to some, is simple and practical community life—has become a point of contention. Johnny explained that these new neighbors often arrive with rigid preconceptions of how a historic neighborhood “should look,” missing that his grandparents have maintained the practice for years.
In conclusion, he underscores what should be a first principle for today's planners: Genuine appreciation and administration of a place require a deeper understanding and respect for its complex and intermingled ecosystems (built, natural, and cultural) and a responsibility to approach them as thoughtful participants in a continuing story.
FULL STORY: About Roots: The Importance of Newbie Humility
How Cities Are Resisting State Efforts To Increase Density
Cities are attempting to wrest back local control over land use and zoning via some ingenious—and sometimes disingenuous—strategies.
Commentary: A New ‘Grand Bargain’ for American Housing
For decades, many U,S, neighborhoods successfully resisted change at the expense of a few neighborhoods sacrificed to mass development. Is there a better way?
Philly Residents Push Back on New Historic Preservation District
Some residents of Philadelphia’s newly designated Washington Square West Historic District say the community was left out of the decision-making process that could impact housing costs and building requirements.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.
California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.
Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship
In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland