Hotel Vegas
New Urbanism? Not So Much
RECEIVED Thu., Feb. 15, 2007
Dear Editor,
With all due respect, I have to wonder if Katherine Gregor is living in an alternative universe. It is not my experience at all that neighborhood groups are supporters of New Urbanism [“Developing Stories,” News, Feb. 16]. My experience, both with my local neighborhood association (Bouldin) and the Austin Neighborhoods Council, is that “New Urbanism” is usually spat out like a swear word. Those of us who support New Urbanism and walkable and transit-oriented neighborhoods are often attacked personally as “being in bed with developers” or receive nasty offline flames. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love it if Responsible Growth for Northcross is the beginning of a sea change in attitudes, but remember Crestview is perhaps more responsible than any other neighborhood for killing light rail, and this is the same city that killed Kirk Watson’s New Urbanist Smart Growth policies. Austin spends a lot of energy telling people how “green” and “progressive” it is. Implementing green and progressive policies? Not so much.
With all due respect, I have to wonder if Katherine Gregor is living in an alternative universe. It is not my experience at all that neighborhood groups are supporters of New Urbanism [“Developing Stories,” News, Feb. 16]. My experience, both with my local neighborhood association (Bouldin) and the Austin Neighborhoods Council, is that “New Urbanism” is usually spat out like a swear word. Those of us who support New Urbanism and walkable and transit-oriented neighborhoods are often attacked personally as “being in bed with developers” or receive nasty offline flames. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love it if Responsible Growth for Northcross is the beginning of a sea change in attitudes, but remember Crestview is perhaps more responsible than any other neighborhood for killing light rail, and this is the same city that killed Kirk Watson’s New Urbanist Smart Growth policies. Austin spends a lot of energy telling people how “green” and “progressive” it is. Implementing green and progressive policies? Not so much.
Chris Cosart
[Katherine Gregor responds: I don't disagree. As noted in the column, "New" Urbanism is now at least 15 years ago; only now is public thinking in Austin evolving to the point of sophistication where density is being (grudgingly) understood and embraced. But Austin is growing up fast, and attitudes are changing apace. The imperative for swift action to avert global warming, and the new Austin Climate Protection Plan, makes it equally imperative that intellectually honest green-and-progressive types champion the sustainable virtues of density over sprawl.]
