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The Rise of “Movie-Set Urbanism”

strongtowns.org

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Re: The Rise of “Movie-Set Urbanism”

#201

Post by PaulDavisThe1st »

PaulDavisThe1st wrote: post #147
atombender wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are absolutely tons of towns like that, but they're old towns that grew organically from villages. Cold Spring, NY, Shelbourne Falls, MA and Santa Fe, NM are some examples that come to mind. What this blog is talking about is really new developments and the gradual transformation of old, previously functioning towns.

I live near Santa Fe, NM and I cannot possibly agree with this characterization. Most modern (i.e. non-tourist) commerce in S.Fe is on Cerrillos Road. While I support this arrangement to a large degree, Cerrillos is a 4 mile long strip mall, in essence. In a car, it's convenient. On foot, it's a nightmare. There is a bus running up and down, but the bus rarely seems to have much ridership. The old core of S.Fe contai…

Need to slightly amend this, to avoid showing my rank ignorance of all things S.Fe. There is, of course, a Whole Foods Market right on the edge of the Rail Yards, which very much would count as "downtown" and "in the core", and it is indeed busy and well used. OTOH, the parking lot is nearly always packed, and I'm not convinced there's a lot of foot traffic there.

Some people might even consider the Trader Joes on Cordova to be within the boundaries of "the core" (along with the Natural Grocer catty-corner opposite), but I think that's pushing it a bit.

Re: The Rise of “Movie-Set Urbanism”

#202

Post by saikit »

CapricornNoble wrote: post #141
saikit wrote: post #105

American Village in Okinawa is exactly like this. Outside of Naha, getting around Okinawa strangely feels like an American suburb.

I blame Okinawa's abysmal public transit situation on: 1. The US administering the island until 1972, while Japan itself was undergoing very effective reconstruction and public works projects post-war. 2. The mainland Japanese government treating the Okinawans almost like unwanted red-headed step-children. And yes, the southern third of the island has the building and traffic density of an urban area with the inconve…

I guess they resolved the heating issue with an even more American institution. Stepping into Aeon Mall Rycom is a like a localized version of my youth in New Jersey.

Re: The Rise of “Movie-Set Urbanism”

#203

Post by mc3 »

shrimp_emoji wrote: post #172
kop316 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hate to tell you, there is a place like this near where I live (Look up The Greene). I assure you, that place is effectively an outdoor mall. I rarely go there due to traffic in and out, I really dislike walking in it (drivers in there are in a hurry to park or leave, and have little concern for pedestrians, there is no "pedestrian only" space), and if I am going to a mall anyways, I would prefer an indoor mall whe…

Isn't what you're describing a symptom of the natural and inevitable crunch into the singularity of digital indoorism? Going outside at all is a hangover of a rapidly departing age. There's nothing out there anymore. Everything's in your home, except for food. Have it delivered, and you're solid. That just leaves commutes. Insofar as they're necessary, I agree with living in dense, hyperurban hive arcologies where ev…

I honestly feel cranky if I have been in the house for too long. I long for a nice walk in nature, which in a city could mean a walk in the park.

I'm not sure how people can live inside all the time, it would be like that Black Mirror episode where all they do is play video games and rack up points to try and get out of it. It would be like prison.

Re: The Rise of “Movie-Set Urbanism”

#204

Post by CalRobert »

msla wrote: post #20
CalRobert wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this is the idea behind culdesac (no private cars or parking in development, on light rail, carshare at periphery) but we'll see how that pans out.

No private cars in the development? OK, that means the housebound can't live there, because people like home health nurses can't be asked to drag equipment and other supplies from the closest parking to wherever the person lives. With many First-World countries looking at aging populations, this is going to limit the appeal of such developments.

Aging populations are exactly a reason to move away from car dependence. Instead they're trapped in suburban homes with no drivers' licence, often alone.

Re: The Rise of “Movie-Set Urbanism”

#205

Post by msla »

CalRobert wrote: post #204
msla wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No private cars in the development? OK, that means the housebound can't live there, because people like home health nurses can't be asked to drag equipment and other supplies from the closest parking to wherever the person lives. With many First-World countries looking at aging populations, this is going to limit the appeal of such developments.

Aging populations are exactly a reason to move away from car dependence. Instead they're trapped in suburban homes with no drivers' licence, often alone.

Old people should be in communities where driving is de-emphasized, I agree. However, home health services promote independence, too, and they depend on cars to practically transport meals, equipment, and people directly to the door, in ways which would be vastly impractical if cars were outright banned.

Re: The Rise of “Movie-Set Urbanism”

#206

Post by derefr »

beamatronic wrote: post #91
dublinben wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The conclusion of the article is that there needs to be less parking altogether, not just fewer surface parking lots. Livable places prioritize people, not cars.

I don’t see how you can reduce parking anywhere in the United States, unless you are also talking about building some street cars or some light rail or some train tracks.

The idea is that, if you have neighbourhoods with many things conveniently nearby, people do less "driving to places" and more "making use of neighbourhood features by walking to them."

Every one of those satisfied-demand pedestrians is one less driver out there taking up parking spots (and therefore generating demand for parking lots.)

Sure, that person might still need to own a car for some things (it's still America, some things will still be very far away); and so they'll still need somewhere near where they live to keep a car. But if they need their car for fewer of their daily-life tasks, then they can leave that car at home more. (Or get closer to a car-sharing service being viable for them; or, in a multi-adult family, get closer to downgrading from needing to own two cars, to only needing one.)

Re: The Rise of “Movie-Set Urbanism”

#209

Post by tapejek »

Existing urbanism makes me stressed. Even a shopping mall visit can bring a lot of negativity. A lot of people and noisy. On the contrary, I want peace, comfort and calm. For me, saving is watching at home with my family a good film about eternal values. I use https://pirateproxy.space/ to find interesting films. It's so good when I can watch a movie in silence and family circle
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