Urban Planning, Differentiate between Urbanization and Sub-Urbanization - Essay Example

PUP 301: Introduction to Urban Planning Urban Planning Questions Qn Differentiate between Urbanization and sub-urbanization (pay particular attention to graphs we discussed in class.) There are different conceptions from people regarding the model of urbanisation and what it entails. On one hand, there is a conception that urbanisation is the increasing of the area of land being developed for urban use, which is the notion of urbanisation under the physical sense; while another conception of the term urbanisation is in regard to a social process in which people adopt attitudes and behaviours that were similar to the conventional behaviour practiced in cities notwithstanding the place they could be living. According to Tisdale (1942), “Urbanisation is a process of population concentration. It proceeds in two ways: the multiplication of the points of concentration and the increase in size of the concentrations” (qtd. in Champion 144). This phenomenon is evident in some of the major cities in the world such as London and Paris, which have a high degree of urban concentration. On the other hand, suburbanisation is a term that has come to be viewed in regard to the decentralisation of urban places or metropolitans since it is a reflection of the “shift in patterns of development from the mainly lateral expansion of the city’s built-up core to much deeper penetration of house building into an extensive commuting hinterland or ring” (Champion 149). Simply put, suburbanisation is a description of the fringe areas of major cities resulting to areas called suburbs, which have various meanings depending on their definition in various places around the world. Nonetheless, the convention definition of suburbs implies that they are residential areas located in the fringe areas of a large city within a commuting distant to the city with some having political autonomy while the population density of these areas vary from one place to another. Qn. 2: Explain some of the major reasons for sub-urbanization in the United States, as discussed in class. (Pay special attention to the 1950s and beyond) Suburbanization is the process where cities grow peripherally; starting by movement of people, trade and facilities from densely populated urban cores to, to less populated human settlements. Among the reasons were expansion in transport, crowded urban areas, industrial growth and immigration and Levittown played a crucial role in development of suburbs from the 1950’s and beyond (Marshall). The automobile age, which was after the Second World War, witnessed the return of many servicemen. They were all entitled to education and housing benefits. New bachelors’ degrees were issued and it created a professional class. The veterans that opted for vocational education filled the service sector. The two classes started having children that became baby boomers. This required cheap housing. Despite, the backing from the federal government in terms of home loans, a post-war housing shortage proved to be a challenge. Sub urban living was the best solution to this problem since transportation no longer was a problem. Families, especially those men drawing army pay and women from war industry plants, had tidy nest eggs. It gave them plenty to acquire a house and buy the first or even the second car. This eased commuting of the breadwinners to and fro the suburban areas (Marshall). Despite the demand for houses, shortage prevailed. Enterprising real estate, Levitt’s, stepped in and built houses that would house more than 80,000 people. It integrated swimming pools and parks, and buildings for churches and schools. Thus, the “Levittown” was hatched. The demand for the houses was massive. Other developers followed suit and more “Levittowns” were developed outside other American urban areas. This saw population in the suburbs grow great numbers. Thus, working people desiring a chance to get out of the congestion, thousands of cars on the streets and pollution of the cities moved to Levittown (Marshall). Qn. 3: Why is planning important as discussed in the textbook and in class (Political aspects, roles, types and styles, local agencies, strong mayor, weak mayor, etc.) In the contemporary society, it is evident that most of the master plans within an urban area have not been properly implemented with others gathering dust in town halls’ shelves, which consequently puts into scrutiny the role played by planning. According to the UN-HABITAT, urban planning is a term in which the government and the private sector come into partnership in order to develop a master plan for an urban centre (18). In most cases, urban areas take a sectorial approach to urban planning with a group of professionals being assigned the responsibility of developing a master plan for the area’s housing system, another is assigned the responsibility for the city’s transport, another group is responsible for the water and sewerage system, and another group is responsible for the management of the city’s urban land. In effect, the assignment of these responsibilities to a group of professionals ensures that there is specialisation by each group with each group’s proposal improving the outlook of the city following the implementation of the urban plan. Planning ensures the consideration of the input of all stakeholders, which effectively promotes the successful implementation of a master plan that addresses an urban area’s most important critical (UN-HABITAT 19). In this case, planning ensures that important amenities such as roads, schools, hospitals, and other important amenities such as recreational parks are assigned to neighbourhood according to important elements such as population size. Consequently, this ensures that there is no discrimination and each area gets its fair share of these important amenities. Qn. 4: Understanding of Kevin Lynch’s design ideas. How do planners use this? Kevin Lynch design ideas have revolutionised planning operations. He propounded place legibility, that the ease with which people comprehends the layout of a place. Isolating distinct features of a city to know what makes it so vibrant, and attractive. It begins with a mental map that is made of unique elements. Lynch defines them as a network of paths which are channels of movements of travel.  Nodes like a popular city centre and Landmarks which are external physical objects acting as a point of reference. The elements, if placed in good form, increases human ability to see and remember patterns. This makes it easy to learn. This has been implemented globally in planning either in a city formation or upgrade Sundilson. Lynch argued that cities must not only be just orderly and well-organized but also be intense with variations in texture and in an exclusive stimuli that was visual (“Kevin Lynch”). The planners use it in various ways. One of them is in the application of cognitive mapping. Due to Lynch’s emphasis of image and perception has essential in quest for postmodern spatial representation. Thus takes into account plurality of ways that citizens perceive urban space. Thus, cognitive mapping is used by planners to serve as a progressive practise that takes into consideration the needs of diverse citizenry. Popular ideologies regarding urban space contribute to shaping the environment. Therefore, Lynch’s design ideas correlate with the spatial theory which has tangible and concrete which match the ways that human experience urban space whether it is one of segregation, access to resources or empowerment solely depends on the epistemological framework (“Kelvin Lynch”). In this case mapping comes in handy. In conclusion, it is clear that Kevin Lynch’s ideas have redefined the way planners conduct their operations in a relevant manner. Thus, his ideas in planning and design have proved invaluable. Qn. 5: 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in planning history (lecture and in the textbook) The current urban planning systems are based on historical events that contributed heavily to modern day construction of infrastructure. In this case, the contemporary world has borrowed much of its planning from historical events with the World’s Columbian Exposition being one event that has contributed to the current infrastructure that is evident in modern society. The World’s Columbian Exposition was organized by the US Congress in order to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s discovery of the New World, which is the United States (Bolotin and Laing 2). Although many cities fought to have the exposition held at their place due to the exposure and history attached to it, Chicago emerged as the winner to organise and hold the exposition and what followed was a marvel that not only influenced American history, but also played a significant role in the field of modern day architecture and urban planning. The scope and grandeur of the World’s Columbian Exposition had a major impact on the planning systems in the country as it consisted of magnificent buildings that could stretch for more than a third of a mile long. In addition, the exposition is responsible for the construction of the first amusement park in world history, which is the plan that contributed to modern day planning of such parks. In another of firsts, the exposition gave modern-day architecture the plans to construct “the world’s first Ferris Wheel – with cars the sizes of buses” (Bolotin and Laing 2). Some of these first plans have become influential in modern-day architecture and they are an important part of urban planning. Qn. 6: Social aspects of planning and why are they important to the planning process. New Urbanism encompasses both neo-traditional development and traditional neighbourhood designs. There is a firm belief in the ability of the built environment to bring about a sense of community. Social aspects of planning are aimed at addressing the question of community formation (Talen). Thus, unlike other aspects of planning that focuses on the environment and physical features. The main concern here is about the people. This came up after a period where the main focus of planning did not involve the social aspects. Real cities have complex structures that comprise of many relationships. However, the fashion in which cities are planned to have self-contained neighbourhoods or single districts oversimplifies the city model. Thus, it lacks understanding of the social aspects. The social aspects span to issues like housing, health care and the environment. It is noteworthy that various campaigns have been fought with some people even risking their lives for the sake of protection of physical environments. Later, people come to love. Thus, the planning process at large touches on social life (Talen). It is very important to incorporate social aspects in urban planning process. It is very clear that manipulation of the physical environment has various effects on human welfare. Thus, it leads to social problems. Thus, when planners involve social aspects at the planning stage they will properly understand and assess the social effects expected. Thus, be able to work in a way that will mitigate the impacts or avoid totally if they are severe. Furthermore, urban planning deals with towns that people live. This has a socio-political impact. Thus, this must also be taken to consideration by the planners to avoid negative consequences (Talen). To conclude, the explanations above point to the fact that town planning may be presumed a physical aspect. At the end, it is for social purposes that improve the quality of life. Thus, since that is the primary goal the social aspect of planning should be given priority just like the other aspects in the planning process. Qn. 7: Way Stations Modern city transport requires proper and efficient planning in order to ensure smooth flow of traffic and easy movement of people from one point to another while engaging in various activities in economic production. Based on this, trains are one of the most effective approaches through which people move from one point to another within a city and with a region. In fact, some regions in the world have ensured the smooth transit between countries, which has opened up the transport system of a country and ensuring that it is on a path towards economic prosperity as essential is crucial in the mobility of the important factors of production. Based on the importance of fulfilling the transportation needs of an urban area, an effective train system is achieved by appropriate structuring and planning of the way stations. In this regard, way stations are stations located between principal stations of a railway route, which is usually on what is known as a railroad (Robinson, 74). In this case, they are an important part of the railroad system since they ensure that people located in between principal stations on a railroad are served efficiently by the system in order to ensure their ease in movement, safe passage, and mobility from one point to another. During the construction and planning of a way station, it is crucial to point out that its design and location on a “street iterates that the way station is not a terminal, (Robinson 76) which highlights the importance of ensuring that the planning of the way station does not affect much of a city’s space during the planning stage. Qn. 8: Describe NIMBY phenomenon. NIMBY is a phenomenon that borrows from an acronym that stands for "Not in My Backyard” (Schively 256). It commonly applies to planning and research practice following its emergence in the early 1980’s. It depicts social response to unwanted facilities, which at times is dubbed locally unwanted land uses (LULUs), and both have a negative impression. Thus, Planners are always on the look out to address the NIMBY responses, which are always faced with challenges in responding to public opposition, involvement in project review at, assistance of the developers and at times challenges in gathering evidence for development proposals. It puts planners in a tight corner. However, it can be beneficial if the causative reasons are taken to consideration. A reason for NIMBY can root from the negative health and environmental impacts. This may be in the form of industrial waste or facilities. Drug treatment centres, detention centres, affordable housing, homeless centres or mental health facilities. It is believed, it may be argued that the facility is not required in that vicinity, it might have harmful impacts or procedures of operation insufficient (Schively 256). In addition, there might be other presumptions and arguments like overburdening of the tight budget and community service and decline in the reputation of the community because of the facilities due to unpleasant image. The aesthetic state of the facilities may be imagined to be low thus rendering it undesirable. The community might think or have ideas on better land uses: therefore, the one proposed seems undesirable once sited. The general quality of life may have declined due to noise or even due to the decline in the value of the property (Schively 257). The approach that planners use to respond to NIMBY will influence the viability of the activities of those who oppose the propositions and may even contribute to their success in decision making. However, it is essential that address the concerns of opposition prudently through their involvement in various roles. These roles include assessing the effects of the facilities and explaining to the community members, providing sufficient information to those participating in the process and ensuring the community is involved in the development process. Qn. 9: Home Rule gives cities and municipalities greater independence According to Feldstein and Fabozzi, the role of home rule is to ensure “restrictions on special commissions, special laws, and unfunded mandates limit the ability of the state governments to disrupt or impose upon local government” (19). This is not however to indicate that local governments have the capacity to act on their own without focusing on efficient planning and following the law. Nonetheless, home rules are an effective tool of ensuring that cities and municipalities have a great independence in making plans regarding their cities and improving the important features that will improve the appearance and the living conditions of the dwellers. It is important to point out that home rules were implemented to empower large cities although the practice later on evolved to include municipalities with some states also empowering their counties through home rules. Home rules provide cities and municipalities with the two powers of immunity and initiative (Feldstein and Fabozzi 19). Consequently, it is the initiative power that provides cities and local governments with the power and ability to undertake major development plans without necessarily going to the state government to obtain the permission and mandate to undertake any project that is aimed at developing their municipality or their city. Conversely, the immunity power protects the municipality or city from the power of the city to overrule any of its actions. Hence, this form of autonomy allows the city or municipality to implement programs that enhance its urban planning without relying on the city for the implementation and planning of its programmes. Works Cited Bolotin, Norm, and Christine Laing. The Worlds Columbian Exposition: the Chicago Worlds Fair of 1893. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2002. Print. Champion, Tony. Urbanization, Suburbanization, Counterurbanization and Reurbanization. Handbook of urban studies. Ed. Ronan Paddison. London: SAGE, 2001. 143-161. Print. Fabozzi, Frank J., and Sylvan G. Feldstein. The handbook of municipal bonds. Unabridged. ed. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2013. Print. “Kevin Lynch – Shaping the Future of the City.” Macaulay Honors College -. Ryan Baxter, 2 Sept. 2010. Web. 5 Mar. 2014. . Marshall, Gordon. "Suburbanization." Encyclopedia.com. HighBeam Research, 1 Jan. 2003. Web. 5 Mar. 2014. . Robinson, Charles Mulford. Early Urban Planning. Volume 3. London: Routledge/Thoemmes Press, 2004. Print. Schively, Carissa. Understanding the NIMBY and LULU phenomena: Reassessing our knowledge base and informing future research. Journal of planning literature 21.3 (2007): 255-266. Talen, Emily. Sense Of Community And Neighbourhood Form: An Assessment Of The Social Doctrine of New Urbanism. Urban Studies 36.8 (1999): 1361-1379. SAGE Journals. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. UN-HABITAT. Planning Sustainable Cities: Global report on human settlements 2009. London: Earthscan : for UN-HABITAT, 2009. Print. Read More