sprawltalk

Philip Langdon on Autodependency

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:16:27 +0000

“Surplus wealth enables people to persist in building wasteful, inadequate communities and then compensate for the communities’ failings by buying private vehicles and driving all over the metropolitan area in search of what ought to be available close to home”

-Philip Langdon, A Better Place to Live (1994)

Cul-De-Sacs Restricted In Virginia

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:29:35 +0000

In an effort to mend the state’s traffic and financial issues Virginia has implemented a policy effectively banning the development of new cul-de-sacs. Subdivisions will be required to have multiple entrances and through streets, connecting them to neighboring communities, schools and shopping areas.

With only one entrance to subdivisions, suburban cul-de-sacs create networks of high traffic roadways as private dead-end roads funnel directly into overburdened arterial roads. The current system “forces drivers to enter these traffic-choked roads to go even 50 yards or so to the neighborhood coffeehouse or elementary school.” Over the next few years this new policy will dramatically change Virginia’s suburban landscape, minimizing stress on existing roadways, cutting costs of government services, increasing density, and likely increasing walkability in the suburbs.

Full Story: In Va., Vision of Suburbia at a Crossroads

The New York Times Recognizes Virginia’s Cul-De-Sac Ban as one of the Top Ideas of 2009

Big Box Reuse

admin — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:46:20 +0000

Because of the cheap and hasty nature of one story suburban commercial architecture, retailers choose to abandon big box stores and build new larger stores rather than expanding or adding on to existing buildings. This practice has left many vacant commercial structures behind, causing inefficient land use and, in many cases, an unkempt landscape. Big Box Reuse by Julia Christensen highlights efforts by creative developers, businesses and even local governments to reuse and re-inhabit these abandoned boxes.

Related Article: “Expanding Retailers Begin to Look at Big-Box Spaces“

Dana Hargrove – ‘Mediated Landscapes’

admin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:50:01 +0000

In her recent work Dana Hargrove explores images of highway on-ramps through a series of circular paintings. These repeated images of high traffic intersections represent one of suburban sprawl’s major causes as the status quo for the American landscape.

From her website:

“‘Mediated Landscapes’, Dana Hargrove’s Solo Exhibition as the 2009 winner of the 10th Annual Young Painters Competition will take place from Dec 16, 2009 – Jan 26, 2010, with the reception and lecture on Friday, Jan 22, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.”