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Overview
"In Redesigning Cities, Jonathan Barnett explains the five essentials of urban design: fostering a sense of community, creating livable neighborhoods and workplaces, reducing traffic congestion and providing parking that complements rather than undermines urban living, encouraging social equity, and achieving sustainability by preserving and restoring the natural environment." Of course, to be influential, design must be incorporated into the everyday routines of urban development. Barnett explains how to create institutions - both inside and outside of government - that will help make the "designed metropolis" a reality. He also reveals techniques, materials, and technologies that should be known (but often aren't) to planners, public officials, concerned citizens, and others involved in the business of development.Synopsis
This book is recommended reading for planners preparing to take the AICP exam. Too often, no one is happy with new development: Public officials must choose among unappealing alternatives, developers are frustrated and the public is angry. But growing political support for urban design, developers' interest in community building and successful examples of redesigned cities all over the U.S. are hopeful signs of change. Barnett explains how design can reshape suburban growth patterns, revitalize older cities, and retrofit metropolitan areas where earlier development decisions went wrong. He describes in detail specific techniques, materials, and technologies that should be known (but often aren't) to planners, public officials, concerned citizens, and others involved in development.