what I left for college my folks lived on the end of a long dirt road right
on the end of a long dirt road right
on the end of a long dirt road right next the Everglades in South Florida and
next the Everglades in South Florida and
next the Everglades in South Florida and when I came back from college all the
when I came back from college all the
when I came back from college all the farms surrounding that house had been
farms surrounding that house had been
farms surrounding that house had been gobbled up by sprawl and gated
gobbled up by sprawl and gated
gobbled up by sprawl and gated subdivisions and I wondered why so then
subdivisions and I wondered why so then
subdivisions and I wondered why so then I went lived in Rome and experienced a
I went lived in Rome and experienced a
I went lived in Rome and experienced a walkable vibrant neighborhood and what
walkable vibrant neighborhood and what
walkable vibrant neighborhood and what the life was like there and when I
the life was like there and when I
the life was like there and when I returned to the States
returned to the States
returned to the States I became incredibly depressed about how
I became incredibly depressed about how
I became incredibly depressed about how we were building our country and I
we were building our country and I
we were building our country and I wanted to that sent me on this path to
wanted to that sent me on this path to
wanted to that sent me on this path to discover how do we create really vibrant
discover how do we create really vibrant
discover how do we create really vibrant cities and authentic places and it comes
cities and authentic places and it comes
cities and authentic places and it comes down to a few things but in 2010 a group
down to a few things but in 2010 a group
down to a few things but in 2010 a group of us coined the term tactical urbanism
of us coined the term tactical urbanism
of us coined the term tactical urbanism and it was really about providing tools
and it was really about providing tools
and it was really about providing tools to normal people thousands of normal
to normal people thousands of normal
to normal people thousands of normal people now have used these tools to
people now have used these tools to
people now have used these tools to create really wonderful places improve
create really wonderful places improve
create really wonderful places improve their neighborhoods in real time but for
their neighborhoods in real time but for
their neighborhoods in real time but for me it comes down to two things that
me it comes down to two things that
me it comes down to two things that we’ve learned that people passionate
we’ve learned that people passionate
we’ve learned that people passionate people actually create these places we
people actually create these places we
people actually create these places we have to give them the tools to do that
have to give them the tools to do that
have to give them the tools to do that and the second part is that there’s
and the second part is that there’s
and the second part is that there’s always a compelling reason to be there
always a compelling reason to be there
always a compelling reason to be there and if you give them the right tools a
and if you give them the right tools a
and if you give them the right tools a normal generic parking lot can be made
normal generic parking lot can be made
normal generic parking lot can be made into a wonderful Plaza but what we’ve
into a wonderful Plaza but what we’ve
into a wonderful Plaza but what we’ve also found is that over time those
also found is that over time those
also found is that over time those projects continue to iterate but
projects continue to iterate but
projects continue to iterate but eventually they run into a problem where
eventually they run into a problem where
eventually they run into a problem where they experience existing regulations
they experience existing regulations
they experience existing regulations most often zoning codes and this stops
most often zoning codes and this stops
most often zoning codes and this stops progress so I think our zoning codes and
progress so I think our zoning codes and
progress so I think our zoning codes and these existing stupid regulations are no
these existing stupid regulations are no
these existing stupid regulations are no longer serving the purpose that they
longer serving the purpose that they
longer serving the purpose that they originally intended which was to protect
originally intended which was to protect
originally intended which was to protect the health safety and welfare of our
the health safety and welfare of our
the health safety and welfare of our citizens so we know that the the street
citizens so we know that the the street
citizens so we know that the the street on the left is more vibrant socially and
on the left is more vibrant socially and
on the left is more vibrant socially and economically but our zoning codes are
economically but our zoning codes are
economically but our zoning codes are creating very generic places like the
creating very generic places like the
creating very generic places like the street on the right and it can be
street on the right and it can be
street on the right and it can be anywhere but what we really want is
anywhere but what we really want is
anywhere but what we really want is local we want local experiences and
local we want local experiences and
local we want local experiences and those places that have meaning to us
those places that have meaning to us
those places that have meaning to us so these zoning codes they’re spreading
so these zoning codes they’re spreading
so these zoning codes they’re spreading out our communities resulting in us
out our communities resulting in us
out our communities resulting in us being fatter and less happy
being fatter and less happy
being fatter and less happy and this sedentary lifestyle that most
and this sedentary lifestyle that most
and this sedentary lifestyle that most people don’t really get to choose
people don’t really get to choose
people don’t really get to choose is really affecting our public health in
is really affecting our public health in
is really affecting our public health in a staggering way it also results in
a staggering way it also results in
a staggering way it also results in wider roads and faster than automobiles
wider roads and faster than automobiles
wider roads and faster than automobiles which has more death in the form that a
which has more death in the form that a
which has more death in the form that a lot of these zoning codes create results
lot of these zoning codes create results
lot of these zoning codes create results in families having less money walking is
in families having less money walking is
in families having less money walking is free but in most places you need a car
free but in most places you need a car
free but in most places you need a car sometimes to just to live and we know
sometimes to just to live and we know
sometimes to just to live and we know that walkable places are the solution to
that walkable places are the solution to
that walkable places are the solution to a number of these problems but what we
a number of these problems but what we
a number of these problems but what we often forget is that that existing
often forget is that that existing
often forget is that that existing zoning is not changing itself it’s hard
zoning is not changing itself it’s hard
zoning is not changing itself it’s hard to do it’s complex it takes wonky
to do it’s complex it takes wonky
to do it’s complex it takes wonky planners like myself to do that but we
planners like myself to do that but we
planners like myself to do that but we think that can change so if you give
think that can change so if you give
think that can change so if you give people the right tools they can take a
people the right tools they can take a
people the right tools they can take a dangerous Street and overnight make it
dangerous Street and overnight make it
dangerous Street and overnight make it into a vibrant place that you actually
into a vibrant place that you actually
into a vibrant place that you actually want to spend time so we think we need
want to spend time so we think we need
want to spend time so we think we need to actually move beyond zoning and
to actually move beyond zoning and
to actually move beyond zoning and create a set of tools that allow
create a set of tools that allow
create a set of tools that allow authentic places to really come up from
authentic places to really come up from
authentic places to really come up from the local community and we’ve started to
the local community and we’ve started to
the local community and we’ve started to build that system and it’s you know
build that system and it’s you know
build that system and it’s you know elegantly designed around all the
elegantly designed around all the
elegantly designed around all the elements that humans have used for
elements that humans have used for
elements that humans have used for thousands of years to assemble ourselves
thousands of years to assemble ourselves
thousands of years to assemble ourselves to live its block squares streets and
to live its block squares streets and
to live its block squares streets and buildings and it comes down at its core
buildings and it comes down at its core
buildings and it comes down at its core about character character is what makes
about character character is what makes
about character character is what makes a place special makes it different from
a place special makes it different from
a place special makes it different from what’s in the next town over or across
what’s in the next town over or across
what’s in the next town over or across the country so if we can make a owning
the country so if we can make a owning
the country so if we can make a owning system able to produce really meaningful
system able to produce really meaningful
system able to produce really meaningful character we’d be going in the right
character we’d be going in the right
character we’d be going in the right place and it comes down to using the
place and it comes down to using the
place and it comes down to using the familiar buildings that we already know
familiar buildings that we already know
familiar buildings that we already know and love and how do we allow those codes
and love and how do we allow those codes
and love and how do we allow those codes to connect to the long term vision of
to connect to the long term vision of
to connect to the long term vision of these places so that the local community
these places so that the local community
these places so that the local community can really believe in them and that
can really believe in them and that
can really believe in them and that growth is good again and what I find
growth is good again and what I find
growth is good again and what I find with talking to people it’s so hard to
with talking to people it’s so hard to
with talking to people it’s so hard to add on to your home in many cities and
add on to your home in many cities and
add on to your home in many cities and towns and it’s unfortunate that you know
towns and it’s unfortunate that you know
towns and it’s unfortunate that you know when the new baby arrives you can’t
when the new baby arrives you can’t
when the new baby arrives you can’t build a nursery and we think that’s
build a nursery and we think that’s
build a nursery and we think that’s wrong we think codes should allow for
wrong we think codes should allow for
wrong we think codes should allow for adaptation and change so these real
adaptation and change so these real
adaptation and change so these real places can become more and more unique
places can become more and more unique
places can become more and more unique over the years and it’s funny most
over the years and it’s funny most
over the years and it’s funny most zoning codes are totally interested in
zoning codes are totally interested in
zoning codes are totally interested in the private lot and they never pay
the private lot and they never pay
the private lot and they never pay attention
attention
attention how those buildings come together and
how those buildings come together and
how those buildings come together and its really the space between them that’s
its really the space between them that’s
its really the space between them that’s the most important adds the most value
the most important adds the most value
the most important adds the most value and for us we wanted to pay attention to
and for us we wanted to pay attention to
and for us we wanted to pay attention to that because the street is where the
that because the street is where the
that because the street is where the magic happens and why shouldn’t our
magic happens and why shouldn’t our
magic happens and why shouldn’t our regulations support that so when I
regulations support that so when I
regulations support that so when I travel around the country I sometimes
travel around the country I sometimes
travel around the country I sometimes find myself on one of those streets
find myself on one of those streets
find myself on one of those streets where you just are totally comfortable
where you just are totally comfortable
where you just are totally comfortable walking right down the middle of it
walking right down the middle of it
walking right down the middle of it that’s never you know never an objective
that’s never you know never an objective
that’s never you know never an objective of any city planner or any architect but
of any city planner or any architect but
of any city planner or any architect but that’s the place that’s really special
that’s the place that’s really special
that’s the place that’s really special and what I find is that care and thought
and what I find is that care and thought
and what I find is that care and thought had been given to the form and function
had been given to the form and function
had been given to the form and function of those places but unfortunately our
of those places but unfortunately our
of those places but unfortunately our existing zoning regulations never have
existing zoning regulations never have
existing zoning regulations never have that objective in mind so we’re calling
that objective in mind so we’re calling
that objective in mind so we’re calling this new system the place code and we’ve
this new system the place code and we’ve
this new system the place code and we’ve really excited about it and we think
really excited about it and we think
really excited about it and we think it’s built on some really fundamental
it’s built on some really fundamental
it’s built on some really fundamental ideas around how we create authentic
ideas around how we create authentic
ideas around how we create authentic places and we’ve been working for
places and we’ve been working for
places and we’ve been working for several years with a group of talented
several years with a group of talented
several years with a group of talented architects planners and most importantly
architects planners and most importantly
architects planners and most importantly neighborhood advocates to build this
neighborhood advocates to build this
neighborhood advocates to build this system and we want to open-source this
system and we want to open-source this
system and we want to open-source this platform so that over time it gets
platform so that over time it gets
platform so that over time it gets better so that zoning codes and the way
better so that zoning codes and the way
better so that zoning codes and the way we regulate and build our homes and our
we regulate and build our homes and our
we regulate and build our homes and our streets and our neighborhoods is no
streets and our neighborhoods is no
streets and our neighborhoods is no longer a reason to create to stop
longer a reason to create to stop
longer a reason to create to stop authentic places from being created so
authentic places from being created so
authentic places from being created so how does this work in the real world
how does this work in the real world
how does this work in the real world this is a small seaside neighborhood
this is a small seaside neighborhood
this is a small seaside neighborhood called Higgins Beach and a few years ago
called Higgins Beach and a few years ago
called Higgins Beach and a few years ago we were asked to help them with a big
we were asked to help them with a big
we were asked to help them with a big problem they had their silly zoning code
problem they had their silly zoning code
problem they had their silly zoning code was creating characters of houses and
was creating characters of houses and
was creating characters of houses and over time decades now mind you it’d been
over time decades now mind you it’d been
over time decades now mind you it’d been destroying the heritage of that place
destroying the heritage of that place
destroying the heritage of that place this is a simple problem but it was a
this is a simple problem but it was a
this is a simple problem but it was a complex problem for this community to
complex problem for this community to
complex problem for this community to solve and they hadn’t done it for
solve and they hadn’t done it for
solve and they hadn’t done it for decades so how do you attack that how do
decades so how do you attack that how do
decades so how do you attack that how do you change that zoning so we rented a
you change that zoning so we rented a
you change that zoning so we rented a little cottage and we actually lived in
little cottage and we actually lived in
little cottage and we actually lived in the neighborhood we wanted to become a
the neighborhood we wanted to become a
the neighborhood we wanted to become a local and we rewrote their zoning and
local and we rewrote their zoning and
local and we rewrote their zoning and gave them a place code one that they
gave them a place code one that they
gave them a place code one that they could trust and one that they had
could trust and one that they had
could trust and one that they had created themselves so this is the
created themselves so this is the
created themselves so this is the last house created under their old code
last house created under their old code
last house created under their old code this is the first house that was built
this is the first house that was built
this is the first house that was built under the place code and it’s pretty
under the place code and it’s pretty
under the place code and it’s pretty obvious to see which one contributes to
obvious to see which one contributes to
obvious to see which one contributes to the neighborhood’s heritage and which
the neighborhood’s heritage and which
the neighborhood’s heritage and which one doesn’t belong so we found that this
one doesn’t belong so we found that this
one doesn’t belong so we found that this this system is working it’s addressing
this system is working it’s addressing
this system is working it’s addressing that one issue for for Higgins beach and
that one issue for for Higgins beach and
that one issue for for Higgins beach and many other homes are being built I
many other homes are being built I
many other homes are being built I actually are positively affecting the
actually are positively affecting the
actually are positively affecting the neighborhood and we have a number of
neighborhood and we have a number of
neighborhood and we have a number of place codes being going through adoption
place codes being going through adoption
place codes being going through adoption now in small places like Higgins Beach
now in small places like Higgins Beach
now in small places like Higgins Beach but in larger places like Somerville and
but in larger places like Somerville and
but in larger places like Somerville and we think this system works so well that
we think this system works so well that
we think this system works so well that we want to give it away for free to
we want to give it away for free to
we want to give it away for free to every municipality in the country thank
every municipality in the country thank
every municipality in the country thank you we want it we want zoning to not be
you we want it we want zoning to not be
you we want it we want zoning to not be an excuse for great authentic places not
an excuse for great authentic places not
an excuse for great authentic places not being created
being created
being created we control zoning and for us we want to
we control zoning and for us we want to
we control zoning and for us we want to build this platform so it’s a set of
build this platform so it’s a set of
build this platform so it’s a set of collaborative open-source tools so
collaborative open-source tools so
collaborative open-source tools so planners all the way down into
planners all the way down into
planners all the way down into homeowners can use it to build new
homeowners can use it to build new
homeowners can use it to build new zoning for themselves
zoning for themselves
zoning for themselves so I am asking you today to go talk to
so I am asking you today to go talk to
so I am asking you today to go talk to your local Planning Director sit him
your local Planning Director sit him
your local Planning Director sit him down sit her down and ask them is our
down sit her down and ask them is our
down sit her down and ask them is our zoning code not good for us if you find
zoning code not good for us if you find
zoning code not good for us if you find out it is go tell your neighbors go get
out it is go tell your neighbors go get
out it is go tell your neighbors go get them together and change that zoning
them together and change that zoning
them together and change that zoning this is your responsibility because
this is your responsibility because
this is your responsibility because people create great places so I’m asking
people create great places so I’m asking
people create great places so I’m asking you today to help me go out there and
you today to help me go out there and
you today to help me go out there and become one of those people that are
become one of those people that are
become one of those people that are making authentic places possible again
making authentic places possible again
making authentic places possible again thank you
”
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