Can successful places be driven by key metrics in the same way Billy Beane assembled the 2002 Oakland As? Guest Shaker Michael Hathorne proposes a little Moneyball for cities.
"Since the beginning of the year I have spent numerous hours studying the book and movie Moneyball. Both the book and the movie resonate with me. I grew up playing baseball. I played baseball in college. The sport of baseball appeals to my cerebral nature. It also resonates with me because I see parallels in the story of Moneyball to what is presently taking place in how I believe our built environment is starting to be weighed and measured."
"I believe there are parallels to how our built environment is measured. I believe there are 'Sabermetric' standards by which urbanism can and should be measured. I believe there is a fear of the shift that will come as these metrics are identified because it means an end to how many have done things and a potential end to their livelihood unless they accept the paradigm shift that we are in the midst of."
Michael Hathorne goes on to discuss what some of those metrics might be, starting with generalist categories keyed to Physical, Social, Environmental, and Economic choices within development patterns. He then discusses methods to properly weight the metrics so as to not overly prescribe and hinder the art of creativity.
FULL STORY: Identifying the “Sabermetrics” of Urbanism
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research