Can we transform the Suburbs to become sustainable communities?

First you must ask, what is a sustainable community?  One that generates its own Energy? Its own Water? Its own Food? Has all its transportation needs met environmentally?   Or is it one that can claim a carbon neutral or negative foot print?

What we have today in the suburbs is a place called home that you can drive to and from your friends and every other activity you need to do.  It is the “drive by” community. This all started in Levittown, NY, a town on Long Island that was built right after WWII.  It was built to house the veterans who were anxious to get a home out side the city and start their new life.  The mass housing development became the template for thousands of sub divisions everywhere.

With the massive shift away from City centers came an explosion of expressways and the downfall of trains and street cars. Strip malls replaced neighborhood city shops.  Uncontrolled, unregulated expansion occurred everywhere, versus deliberate city and community planning.

This led to a suburb that has no sole no character, no sense of community..  The density is not there to allow for efficient public transport systems, infrastructure, and community services.  But the real loss was the closeness of people and community that cares about itself and its residents.

Suburban US has one big problem;  the lack of a center for people. An area where they can shop, dine, entertain, live and experience the neighborhood all on foot. A school system, parks and community services that are all within reach.   All that is walk-able and bike-able. Park the car and walk or use public transport. This is one big first step that is needed to create a  sustainability.  Interesting to note that in the NY Times this weekend, the rating of a town walk-ability index has become a good indicator of potential real estate value.

We know how to generate energy and make more efficient each house.  We know how to collect and use gray water and rain water.  We know how to develop natural waste water systems.  We know how to build electric street car systems.  We know how to grow food locally, and we know how to build very clean energy efficient public transport systems.  Basically there is nothing stopping any developer to build a new sustainable town.

What is missing from the existing suburbs today is the density of housing.   A sustainable community needs the right density. Dense enough so the residents haves easy access to all the businesses, retailers, services, schools, parks, and opportunities.  The public utility infrastructure is also best served by this moderate density.  It can be deployed and maintained at a fraction of the cost of traditional suburban Sprawl.  People feel connected and part of something “the Community.”  Right around the town are parks and agriculture and what ever facilities that require open land such as sports fields recreational parks.  The model small towns of Europe are organized this way.

So how do we go forward to build that community in the suburbs.  Many challenges exist. Some experts say it is not possible, that we must bulldoze many of the suburbs.  But there are a few models that we can follow, that have been tried out in several towns in and around the country. Which I will elaborate on in the coming posts.  These are ideas that need to be flushed out and tried as we get a grip on our energy, water, food  resources and build communities that matter.

Great article in the Sunday New York Times last month that express in economic terms what is really going on with our environmental challenges.

“Flaw in Free Markets: Humans,” by ROBERT H. FRANK Published: September 13, 2009

“The former Fed chairman relied on the theory of the invisible hand, but that assumes people are rational and wise. They aren’t.”

This insightful article touches on so many of the the economic and environmental issues we face today.   ” People focus on penalties and rewards that are both immediate and certain. Delayed or uncertain payoffs often get short shift. ”

But professor Frank adds that is due to how  we have evolved as a species. ” Immediate threats to survival were pervasive , those who didn’t seize short term advantage, often didn’t survive.”

And this applies to getting ahead relatively,  visa via our neighbors, our company competitors, our housing, our ability to justify almost any short term action because if you don’t, then someone else will almost regardless of the long term effects.

So how do we begin to change our behavior towards making long term and lasting decision even when the short term is a hardship.  Postponing the rewards for the future or future generations.   This is the big question we must face.  Do we have what it takes to create a system or society for the common good for the future?