Contact me at kyleezell@geturban.com and visit www.geturban.com for more information.
I love cities. I love America. But in general, Americans don’t share my passion.
I thought I could make a difference as a city planner and work in a field that matched my interest for growing cities properly. But for 12 years, I heard the following as a public sector city planner too many times to count:
”Kyle, people wouldn’t be caught dead on a city bus…Kyle, Americans don’t walk so we’re not building walkable anything…Kyle, our customers want three-car garages, not fruity scooters…Our customers are staying home if there’s not convenient parking so of course I’m going to knock down the buildings…” [and other comments like this].
Meanwhile, most city neighborhoods outside of the glitzy cities died slow, agonizing deaths. Businesses followed their customers to the exurbs. And cities, especially in Heartland America, wonder if they are still relevant in today’s anti-city culture. After all, people voted with their feet, and the vast majority of our cities lost, and lost big.
It hit me one day: If Americans don’t come to appreciate cities and willingly engage in behaviors en masse that will encourage quality urban development, city planners are wasting their time. So I decided to quit my cushy job and embark on what seemed like a ridiculous notion: to go out and teach Americans how to live in cities so our cities can properly grow. This is my life’s mission. I hope you’ll join me- or at least take a course.
Content found here is based on the fact that until people in the USA appreciate and want to live in cities (and behave appropriately) planners, neighborhood groups, politicians, and businesses can’t expect too much. I will not be not be discussing “new urbanism” (and oxymoron in my view), nor “smart growth” or the typical “planning gas” rhetoric that you can read on countless blogs. This is about the heart of the matter– Americans generally hate cities– and how to change this. Until then, a sustainable market for city living will never occur. I intend on trying to shed light on this issue and help the cities I adore grow back.
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