charles r. wolfe, attorney at law evolving shoreline: six urbanism themes for 2012 considerations in...

Charles R. Wolfe, Attorney at LawCharles R. Wolfe, Attorney at Law

Evolving Shoreline:Evolving Shoreline:Six Urbanism Themes for Six Urbanism Themes for

20122012Considerations in Continuing to Envision the Considerations in Continuing to Envision the

Livable CityLivable City

Charles R. WolfeCharles R. Wolfe1420 Fifth Avenue, Suite 22001420 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2200

Seattle, WA 98101Seattle, WA 98101206-274-5145206-274-5145

[email protected]@crwolfelaw.comComprehensive Plan Speaker SeriesComprehensive Plan Speaker Series

Shoreline, Washington, January 25, 2012Shoreline, Washington, January 25, 2012


Photo by Burton HolmesFlinders Street Station, Melbourne , 1917

The InspirationThe Inspiration


Practice Backdrop, Big Practice Backdrop, Big PicturePicture


Policy/Market Goals and a Policy/Market Goals and a QuestionQuestion

Compact, less auto-reliant, Compact, less auto-reliant, multimodal (transit, safely walkable, multimodal (transit, safely walkable, bikeable), live-work proximity, bikeable), live-work proximity, creative, honor environmental creative, honor environmental systems, vibrant street life, mixed systems, vibrant street life, mixed use, affordable, carbon-neutral…use, affordable, carbon-neutral…

How many of you grew up on a cul-How many of you grew up on a cul-de-sac?de-sac?


BackgroundBackgroundWhat's something that most people just don't What's something that most people just don't understand about your area of expertise?understand about your area of expertise?

““That lawyers are more than hired-gun That lawyers are more than hired-gun advocates. In both client and community work, advocates. In both client and community work, they can be creative strategists in eliminating they can be creative strategists in eliminating barriers to sustainable development practices.”barriers to sustainable development practices.”

””9 ½ Questions”, 10/3/11: 9 ½ Questions”, 10/3/11: http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/10/a-conversation-with-charles-r-wolfe-environmental-lawyer/246015/


Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

History and Law: Power of PrecedentHistory and Law: Power of Precedent Planning: Power of Market Planning: Power of Market

Intervention, and Power of PlaceIntervention, and Power of Place Evolution of Professions and EducationEvolution of Professions and Education


Public v. PrivatePublic v. Private

Much discussion about the Much discussion about the sustainable city requires an evolved sustainable city requires an evolved perception of public v. private perception of public v. private property as we attempt to property as we attempt to reallocate where people live, work reallocate where people live, work and travel. The street is key.and travel. The street is key.

””Discovery of the Street”, 9/20/11: Discovery of the Street”, 9/20/11: http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/city-life-revisiting-jb-jacksons-the-discovery-of-the-street/245284/


UrbanismUrbanism

Is the best urbanism the urbanism Is the best urbanism the urbanism we already have? we already have? Consider “alley movie night”Consider “alley movie night”

””Urbanism Without Effort”, 9/14/11: Urbanism Without Effort”, 9/14/11: http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/is-urbanism-without-effort-the-best-urbanism-of-all/244965/


The Virtue of PerspectiveThe Virtue of Perspective Things are changingThings are changing Maybe not fast enoughMaybe not fast enough Remember Remember Battlestar GalacticaBattlestar Galactica::

““This has happened before, and it will This has happened before, and it will happen again.”happen again.”

””Lessons from Matera, the Sustainable City of Stone”, Lessons from Matera, the Sustainable City of Stone”, 9/7/11:9/7/11:http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/lessons-from-italys-matera-the-sustainable-city-of-stone/244622/

““Reclaiming the Urban Memory”, 6/28/11:Reclaiming the Urban Memory”, 6/28/11:http://www.grist.org/cities/2011-06-28-the-continued-relevance-of-reclaiming-the-urban-memory


Place-Making in PracticePlace-Making in Practice


Be TolerantBe Tolerant

Are cul-de-sac and SUV values Are cul-de-sac and SUV values your business?your business?There will always be carsThere will always be cars

Even in Frejus, 6/7/09: Even in Frejus, 6/7/09: http://blog.seattlepi.com/chuckwolfe/2009/06/07/what-can-new-urbanism-learn-from-battlestar-galactica-french-edition/


Be HumbleBe Humble

Beware of expert syndromeBeware of expert syndrome In a time of scarce resources In a time of scarce resources community and NGO’s have an community and NGO’s have an increasing roleincreasing role Some may do your job betterSome may do your job better

““Steve Jobs as Land Use Advocate”, 10/6/11: Steve Jobs as Land Use Advocate”, 10/6/11: http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/10/steve-jobs-as-land-use-advocate/246255/


Do Not Forget Do Not Forget Remember the fundamentals, Remember the fundamentals, forest from the treesforest from the trees First principlesFirst principles Tanzania learning: shelter and the Tanzania learning: shelter and the wheelwheel““How Temporary Spaces Can Define City Life”, 10/3/11: How Temporary Spaces Can Define City Life”, 10/3/11: http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/10/how-temporary-and-simple-event-spaces-can-help-define-city-life/246010/““Keeping Cities Simple: Shelter and the Wheel”, 4/6/11: Keeping Cities Simple: Shelter and the Wheel”, 4/6/11: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-r-wolfe/shelter-and-the-wheel-bac_b_844698.html


Be Civil Amid Conflicting Be Civil Amid Conflicting InterestsInterests

Can advocacy seek consensus?Can advocacy seek consensus? Role of planner, role of lawyerRole of planner, role of lawyer Alternatives to lawAlternatives to law Consider the fact patterns of the Consider the fact patterns of the future and how best to handlefuture and how best to handle

Limits on single family housingLimits on single family housing Mixed usesMixed uses New public spacesNew public spaces Restrictions on automobileRestrictions on automobile


Shoreline is Well UnderwayShoreline is Well Underway


Noted, livable “first tier suburb”Noted, livable “first tier suburb” Citizens value place, services, schools, Citizens value place, services, schools,

parksparks Aurora “complete street”Aurora “complete street” Town Center and City HallTown Center and City Hall Integrated transitIntegrated transit Spirit of reinventionSpirit of reinvention

The Evolving BaselineThe Evolving Baseline


Comprehensive Plan: More Comprehensive Plan: More visioning and perspective on the visioning and perspective on the “city”“city”

Not here to prescribe, because....Not here to prescribe, because....

The All-Important ContextThe All-Important Context


Who Decides? You Do.Who Decides? You Do.


Preface to the Urbanist Preface to the Urbanist ThemesThemes

““Experts may help assemble data, specialists Experts may help assemble data, specialists may organize it, professionals may offer may organize it, professionals may offer theories to explain it. But none of these can theories to explain it. But none of these can substitute for each person’s own leap into substitute for each person’s own leap into the dark, jumping in to draw his or her own the dark, jumping in to draw his or her own conclusionsconclusions..””

- - Grady Clay, 1973Grady Clay, 1973

“Defining a Meaningful Space”, 1/16/12: http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/01/defining-meaningful-space/960/


The Big Picture IIThe Big Picture II


The PremiseThe Premise Summary of articles as they reappeared in Summary of articles as they reappeared in

PlanetizenPlanetizen in 2011, after original appearance in: in 2011, after original appearance in: myurbanistmyurbanist The AtlanticThe Atlantic The Atlantic CitiesThe Atlantic Cities The Huffington PostThe Huffington Post GristGrist Sustainable Cities CollectiveSustainable Cities Collective CrosscutCrosscut

Indicative of key themesIndicative of key themeshttp

://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/01/six-urbanist-themes-2012/842/


More Roles for Social More Roles for Social MediaMedia

Evolving communication technology has forever Evolving communication technology has forever changed how we analyze and discuss the citychanged how we analyze and discuss the city

Social media demands straightforward and Social media demands straightforward and sometimes trite efficiencysometimes trite efficiency

Yet it provides for mainstream discussion of topics Yet it provides for mainstream discussion of topics which were once the arcane domain of the legal, which were once the arcane domain of the legal, design and public policy professionsdesign and public policy professions

““Even more so” is a safe bet for 2012Even more so” is a safe bet for 2012

““Communicating Urbanism’--Make No Little Plans, Updated’”, 3/6/11:Communicating Urbanism’--Make No Little Plans, Updated’”, 3/6/11:http://www.myurbanist.com/archives/5832


The RomanticThe Romantic


Renewed Attention to the Renewed Attention to the Romantic CityRomantic City

If we walk between the towns of the If we walk between the towns of the Cinque Terre in Italy, then why not capture Cinque Terre in Italy, then why not capture this “essence of urbanism” at home? this “essence of urbanism” at home?

Can an architect and a lawyer from Can an architect and a lawyer from politically diverse countries (and who have politically diverse countries (and who have never met) together envision a never met) together envision a collaborative professional approach which collaborative professional approach which captures universal ways to read the captures universal ways to read the evolution of urban places?evolution of urban places?


Renewed Attention to the Renewed Attention to the Romantic CityRomantic City

Compelling, illustrated ideas will Compelling, illustrated ideas will always have a place in the urbanist always have a place in the urbanist agenda, including next yearagenda, including next year

““Rethinking the Essence of Urbanism”, 3/3/11:Rethinking the Essence of Urbanism”, 3/3/11:http://

www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-r-wolfe/rethinking-the-essence-of_b_830898.html?ir=World

““Reading the Evolution of Places”, 4/24/11:Reading the Evolution of Places”, 4/24/11:http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/

chuck-wolfe/24197/reading-evolution-places


The CounterintuitiveThe Counterintuitive


Counterintuitive Solutions:Counterintuitive Solutions:Infrastructure, Economic Infrastructure, Economic

DevelopmentDevelopment Even “the humble pothole” is eligible for rethinking and Even “the humble pothole” is eligible for rethinking and reshuffling in the city of 2012. (c.f. guerrilla urbanism)reshuffling in the city of 2012. (c.f. guerrilla urbanism)

Never-ending possibilities for innovation abound, e.g. a zip Never-ending possibilities for innovation abound, e.g. a zip line between hill towns, taking romantic setting to a new line between hill towns, taking romantic setting to a new perception of possibilities of place.perception of possibilities of place.

With governmental shortfalls still in the picture, creativity, With governmental shortfalls still in the picture, creativity, analysis of privatization and related discussions will continue analysis of privatization and related discussions will continue

““In Praise of the Humble Pothole”, 12/14/11:In Praise of the Humble Pothole”, 12/14/11:http://grist.org/urbanism/2011-12-13-in-praise-of-the-humble-pothole/

““Reinventing Cities With Zip Lines”, 12/12/11:Reinventing Cities With Zip Lines”, 12/12/11:http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2011/12/re

inventing-cities-zip-lines/703/


The NewThe New


New Types of Regulation New Types of Regulation and Urban Placesand Urban Places

Seattle: Roundtable recommend land use Seattle: Roundtable recommend land use regulatory reform focused on market regulatory reform focused on market flexibility and job creation, both needed foci flexibility and job creation, both needed foci for 2012. (Seattle City Council to consider for 2012. (Seattle City Council to consider the associated ordinances shortly)the associated ordinances shortly)

With Borders’ bookstores nationwide, should With Borders’ bookstores nationwide, should cities assure “no net loss” for “third places”?cities assure “no net loss” for “third places”?

Consider the potential of the “pop-up” ice Consider the potential of the “pop-up” ice cream laundromat--a “fusion business”--cream laundromat--a “fusion business”--increasingly a symbol of the evolving increasingly a symbol of the evolving shareable-space cityshareable-space city


New Types of Regulation New Types of Regulation and Urban Placesand Urban Places

Consider the Urban Land Institute’s cutting edge Consider the Urban Land Institute’s cutting edge “What’s Next?” report“What’s Next?” report Cities will reshape and evolve over the next Cities will reshape and evolve over the next

decade, decade, Converging, multiple socioeconomic forcesConverging, multiple socioeconomic forces

””Writing Code for More Sustainable Neighborhoods”, 7/18/11:Writing Code for More Sustainable Neighborhoods”, 7/18/11:http://crosscut.com/2011/07/18/seattle-city-hall/21103/Writing-code-for-more-sustainable-neighborhoods/

““Assuring Sustainable Third Places in the City”, 7/24/11:Assuring Sustainable Third Places in the City”, 7/24/11:

http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/chuck-wolfe/27526/assuring-sustainable-third-places-city

““Fusion Businesses and the Cities of TomorFusion Businesses and the Cities of Tomorrow”, 7/17/11:ow”, 7/17/11:http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/chuck-wolfe/27252/fusion-businesses-and-http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/chuck-wolfe/27252/fusion-businesses-and-

cities-tomorrowcities-tomorrow““Resetting Urban Land Use: What’s Next?, 11/18/11:Resetting Urban Land Use: What’s Next?, 11/18/11:http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2011/11/resetting-urban-http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2011/11/resetting-urban-

land-use/524/land-use/524/


Without EffortWithout Effort


Ongoing Importance of Ongoing Importance of Urbanism Without EffortUrbanism Without Effort

There will be no shortage of continuing There will be no shortage of continuing discussion of placemaking in 2012 discussion of placemaking in 2012

Yet “alley movie night” showed that Yet “alley movie night” showed that sometimes, we already have what we sometimes, we already have what we seek, and urbanism without effort is the seek, and urbanism without effort is the best urbanism of allbest urbanism of all

””Urbanism Without Effort”, 9/14/11: Urbanism Without Effort”, 9/14/11: http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/is-urbanism-without-http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/is-urbanism-without-

effort-the-best-urbanism-of-all/244965/effort-the-best-urbanism-of-all/244965/


Additional Ways to Additional Ways to Conceive of Urban Conceive of Urban

OpportunityOpportunity A dialogue that may never endA dialogue that may never end 2011 was a year of protest in public 2011 was a year of protest in public

places, which reinvigorated what will be places, which reinvigorated what will be a continued interest in urban gathering a continued interest in urban gathering places, such as classic squares and city places, such as classic squares and city centers centers

Other ways to conceive of the city also Other ways to conceive of the city also show potentialshow potential


The NightThe Night



OpportunityOpportunity As examples: As examples: Historic role of street corners around the worldHistoric role of street corners around the world Is city vitality best measured—by five qualities—Is city vitality best measured—by five qualities—

at nightat night And a lingering, important considerationAnd a lingering, important consideration

Not everyone lives in cities, nor is urban life a Not everyone lives in cities, nor is urban life a foregone conclusionforegone conclusion

Consider Lumana, a Seattle-based micro-lending Consider Lumana, a Seattle-based micro-lending and economic development organization focused and economic development organization focused on Ghana’s countrysideon Ghana’s countryside

Should we be more focused on rural than urban Should we be more focused on rural than urban areas in the developing world?areas in the developing world?



OpportunityOpportunity““Corners as the Baseline for Urbanism’, 6/12/11:Corners as the Baseline for Urbanism’, 6/12/11:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-r-wolfe/corners-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-r-wolfe/corners-as-baseline-for-u_b_875489.htmlas-baseline-for-u_b_875489.html

““Exploring Success of the Nighttime City”, 9/26/11:Exploring Success of the Nighttime City”, 9/26/11:

http://www.myurbanist.com/archives/7301http://www.myurbanist.com/archives/7301

““Should the Creative Class Be More Rural in the Should the Creative Class Be More Rural in the Developing World?’, 10/27/11:Developing World?’, 10/27/11:

http://www.myurbanist.com/archives/7683http://www.myurbanist.com/archives/7683


Be Careful What You Wish Be Careful What You Wish ForFor


You Think You’ve Got You Think You’ve Got Problems?Problems?


ResourcesResources


For an Urban Point of For an Urban Point of ViewView

www.urbanpointofview.comwww.urbanpointofview.com


Express, Explore, Bridge Express, Explore, Bridge and Reinterpretand Reinterpret

www.myurbanist.comwww.myurbanist.comhttp://www.theatlantic.com/charles-r-wolfehttp://www.theatlantic.com/charles-r-wolfe

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/charles-r-wolfehttp://www.theatlanticcities.com/charles-r-wolfehttp://www.grist.org/people/Charles+R.+Wolfehttp://www.grist.org/people/Charles+R.+Wolfehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-r-wolfehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-r-wolfe

http://crosscut.com/account/ChuckWolfe/http://crosscut.com/account/ChuckWolfe/http://blog.seattlepi.com/chuckwolfe/http://blog.seattlepi.com/chuckwolfe/

charles r. wolfe, attorney at law evolving shoreline: six urbanism themes for 2012 considerations in...

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