neighbourhoods are the lifeblood of every great city and healthy
every great city and healthy
every great city and healthy neighborhoods are built on strong
neighborhoods are built on strong
neighborhoods are built on strong connections and connecting is the
connections and connecting is the
connections and connecting is the heartbeat of the human experience
heartbeat of the human experience
heartbeat of the human experience see neighborhoods used to be hubs for
see neighborhoods used to be hubs for
see neighborhoods used to be hubs for where we would connect there are places
where we would connect there are places
where we would connect there are places where we would watch our children play
where we would watch our children play
where we would watch our children play in the street or we go down to on a
in the street or we go down to on a
in the street or we go down to on a stroll to the park and at sunset or even
stroll to the park and at sunset or even
stroll to the park and at sunset or even enjoy a drink on the front porch with
enjoy a drink on the front porch with
enjoy a drink on the front porch with our neighbor and even though we don’t
our neighbor and even though we don’t
our neighbor and even though we don’t see the front porch much in our modern
see the front porch much in our modern
see the front porch much in our modern architecture I don’t think that it’s
architecture I don’t think that it’s
architecture I don’t think that it’s left our society it’s actually just been
left our society it’s actually just been
left our society it’s actually just been replaced by other third spaces like
replaced by other third spaces like
replaced by other third spaces like coffee shops and co-working spaces
coffee shops and co-working spaces
coffee shops and co-working spaces networking events small groups book
networking events small groups book
networking events small groups book clubs playdates all of these things
clubs playdates all of these things
clubs playdates all of these things essential to our being because we must
essential to our being because we must
essential to our being because we must connect we need it so much and we’re so
connect we need it so much and we’re so
connect we need it so much and we’re so desperate for it that we’ll get in our
desperate for it that we’ll get in our
desperate for it that we’ll get in our cars for hours and hours every single
cars for hours and hours every single
cars for hours and hours every single week just to go after them and that’s
week just to go after them and that’s
week just to go after them and that’s good this is what most of our
good this is what most of our
good this is what most of our neighborhoods look like today a hundred
neighborhoods look like today a hundred
neighborhoods look like today a hundred and seventy million Americans live in
and seventy million Americans live in
and seventy million Americans live in places like this called suburban
places like this called suburban
places like this called suburban communities that’s 53 percent of our
communities that’s 53 percent of our
communities that’s 53 percent of our country 53 percent of the people live in
country 53 percent of the people live in
country 53 percent of the people live in isolated independent I islands with some
isolated independent I islands with some
isolated independent I islands with some of the features that we really like in
of the features that we really like in
of the features that we really like in these homes but unintentionally bigger
these homes but unintentionally bigger
these homes but unintentionally bigger fences and larger garages and setback
fences and larger garages and setback
fences and larger garages and setback houses from the streets and in
houses from the streets and in
houses from the streets and in neighborhood designs that cater to the
neighborhood designs that cater to the
neighborhood designs that cater to the car instead of the pedestrian and the
car instead of the pedestrian and the
car instead of the pedestrian and the spontaneous interactions within it have
spontaneous interactions within it have
spontaneous interactions within it have unintentionally contributed to an
unintentionally contributed to an
unintentionally contributed to an epidemic of isolation in our community
epidemic of isolation in our community
epidemic of isolation in our community but I would contend with you today that
but I would contend with you today that
but I would contend with you today that although this picture used to frustrate
although this picture used to frustrate
although this picture used to frustrate me I’ve realized that suburbia is not
me I’ve realized that suburbia is not
me I’ve realized that suburbia is not our enemy it’s actually just a facade of
our enemy it’s actually just a facade of
our enemy it’s actually just a facade of a deeper enemy which is the lack of
a deeper enemy which is the lack of
a deeper enemy which is the lack of human connection in our communities and
human connection in our communities and
human connection in our communities and it was this kind of emptiness that let
it was this kind of emptiness that let
it was this kind of emptiness that let this kind of emptiness left me
this kind of emptiness left me
this kind of emptiness left me frustrated and looking for ways to
frustrated and looking for ways to
frustrated and looking for ways to reintroduce human connection in our
reintroduce human connection in our
reintroduce human connection in our neighborhoods I thought there had to be
neighborhoods I thought there had to be
neighborhoods I thought there had to be a better design a better way to connect
a better design a better way to connect
a better design a better way to connect and make life and community more
and make life and community more
and make life and community more accessible where we live so it all
accessible where we live so it all
accessible where we live so it all started before I moved to reading from
started before I moved to reading from
started before I moved to reading from 2007 to 2015 I lived in a neighborhood
2007 to 2015 I lived in a neighborhood
2007 to 2015 I lived in a neighborhood in Cincinnati Ohio called Madisonville
in Cincinnati Ohio called Madisonville
in Cincinnati Ohio called Madisonville and it was there that I experienced some
and it was there that I experienced some
and it was there that I experienced some of the most rich and genuine community
of the most rich and genuine community
of the most rich and genuine community and it changed my life in such a way
and it changed my life in such a way
and it changed my life in such a way that I wanted to spend as much time as
that I wanted to spend as much time as
that I wanted to spend as much time as possible helping others have the same
possible helping others have the same
possible helping others have the same kinds of experiences with us but I’m
kinds of experiences with us but I’m
kinds of experiences with us but I’m going to start with a disclaimer because
going to start with a disclaimer because
going to start with a disclaimer because I’m going to tell some stories today
I’m going to tell some stories today
I’m going to tell some stories today that might seem extreme to some of us
that might seem extreme to some of us
that might seem extreme to some of us depending on our backgrounds but it
depending on our backgrounds but it
depending on our backgrounds but it please bear with me because although
please bear with me because although
please bear with me because although some of these stories might be out of
some of these stories might be out of
some of these stories might be out of the ordinary
the ordinary
the ordinary I think that the idea of friendship is
I think that the idea of friendship is
I think that the idea of friendship is not extreme and I think we have all of
not extreme and I think we have all of
not extreme and I think we have all of this in common that each and every one
this in common that each and every one
this in common that each and every one of us at some point in our life has done
of us at some point in our life has done
of us at some point in our life has done something extreme to get something we
something extreme to get something we
something extreme to get something we really really want this was my backyard
really really want this was my backyard
really really want this was my backyard in a in a play house that I built for my
in a in a play house that I built for my
in a in a play house that I built for my four daughters but on the right you’ll
four daughters but on the right you’ll
four daughters but on the right you’ll see something kind of different you can
see something kind of different you can
see something kind of different you can see right through our fence into our
see right through our fence into our
see right through our fence into our neighbor’s backyard and that was because
neighbor’s backyard and that was because
neighbor’s backyard and that was because Chris and Tricia were becoming great
Chris and Tricia were becoming great
Chris and Tricia were becoming great friends of ours and we thought how can
friends of ours and we thought how can
friends of ours and we thought how can we be able to connect easier so Chris
we be able to connect easier so Chris
we be able to connect easier so Chris and I looked at the fence and we decided
and I looked at the fence and we decided
and I looked at the fence and we decided to convert the fence into a gate which
to convert the fence into a gate which
to convert the fence into a gate which completely changed the frequency by
completely changed the frequency by
completely changed the frequency by which we hung out our kids would play in
which we hung out our kids would play in
which we hung out our kids would play in their yard in the sandbox or the swing
their yard in the sandbox or the swing
their yard in the sandbox or the swing set or they would come into it and flow
set or they would come into it and flow
set or they would come into it and flow into our yard and play in the playhouse
into our yard and play in the playhouse
into our yard and play in the playhouse or jump on the trampoline it was easy
or jump on the trampoline it was easy
or jump on the trampoline it was easy accessible community
accessible community
accessible community it was quite contrary to what we had
it was quite contrary to what we had
it was quite contrary to what we had experienced before
experienced before
experienced before we were wrestling kids in and out of car
we were wrestling kids in and out of car
we were wrestling kids in and out of car seats
seats
seats we all kind of know what that feels like
we all kind of know what that feels like
we all kind of know what that feels like right then at night that’s when we
right then at night that’s when we
right then at night that’s when we opened our front porches up we would
opened our front porches up we would
opened our front porches up we would take turns hosting each other over a
take turns hosting each other over a
take turns hosting each other over a glass of wine and sharing stories from
glass of wine and sharing stories from
glass of wine and sharing stories from the day what was really cool as we
the day what was really cool as we
the day what was really cool as we started to see the neighborhood start to
started to see the neighborhood start to
started to see the neighborhood start to change over time more and more people
change over time more and more people
change over time more and more people were moving in and joining in the
were moving in and joining in the
were moving in and joining in the culture and it was really fun to start
culture and it was really fun to start
culture and it was really fun to start seeing people do things that were unique
seeing people do things that were unique
seeing people do things that were unique like one group of friends did something
like one group of friends did something
like one group of friends did something completely beyond what we had ever done
completely beyond what we had ever done
completely beyond what we had ever done and decided to buy a string of houses in
and decided to buy a string of houses in
and decided to buy a string of houses in a row and tear down the fence completely
a row and tear down the fence completely
a row and tear down the fence completely and grow gardens and build a greenhouse
and grow gardens and build a greenhouse
and grow gardens and build a greenhouse and have chickens and it was really fun
and have chickens and it was really fun
and have chickens and it was really fun you always heard music playing and all
you always heard music playing and all
you always heard music playing and all of a sudden within a few years most of
of a sudden within a few years most of
of a sudden within a few years most of our friends were within walking distance
our friends were within walking distance
our friends were within walking distance from our house
from our house
from our house and it really changed my perspective on
and it really changed my perspective on
and it really changed my perspective on what neighborhoods were and it may be
what neighborhoods were and it may be
what neighborhoods were and it may be really just get obsessed with this idea
really just get obsessed with this idea
really just get obsessed with this idea of City Planning neighborhood design and
of City Planning neighborhood design and
of City Planning neighborhood design and creating connected communities but I was
creating connected communities but I was
creating connected communities but I was frustrated that I had we had to go
frustrated that I had we had to go
frustrated that I had we had to go through extreme measures to almost break
through extreme measures to almost break
through extreme measures to almost break the rules to get there and then pancakes
the rules to get there and then pancakes
the rules to get there and then pancakes then pancakes taught me that it wasn’t
then pancakes taught me that it wasn’t
then pancakes taught me that it wasn’t just design that creates strong
just design that creates strong
just design that creates strong communities one day we had a thought how
communities one day we had a thought how
communities one day we had a thought how can we get to know our neighbors a
can we get to know our neighbors a
can we get to know our neighbors a little bit better of course
little bit better of course
little bit better of course pancakes pancakes was a way that we we
pancakes pancakes was a way that we we
pancakes pancakes was a way that we we thought spontaneously what if we would
thought spontaneously what if we would
thought spontaneously what if we would go get some pancake mix some orange
go get some pancake mix some orange
go get some pancake mix some orange juice and let me tell you this was not a
juice and let me tell you this was not a
juice and let me tell you this was not a super planned event this was totally
super planned event this was totally
super planned event this was totally last minute we grabbed a skillet pancake
last minute we grabbed a skillet pancake
last minute we grabbed a skillet pancake mix orange juice and a bunch of other
mix orange juice and a bunch of other
mix orange juice and a bunch of other supplies and we threw a little party and
supplies and we threw a little party and
supplies and we threw a little party and what started to happen is about 20 or 30
what started to happen is about 20 or 30
what started to happen is about 20 or 30 people would come and enjoy pancakes
people would come and enjoy pancakes
people would come and enjoy pancakes throughout the morning and we saw
throughout the morning and we saw
throughout the morning and we saw connections happening that wouldn’t have
connections happening that wouldn’t have
connections happening that wouldn’t have otherwise happened we saw people having
otherwise happened we saw people having
otherwise happened we saw people having conversations and sharing stories and
conversations and sharing stories and
conversations and sharing stories and all of a sudden Jeff had a name all of a
all of a sudden Jeff had a name all of a
all of a sudden Jeff had a name all of a sudden John who lived across the street
sudden John who lived across the street
sudden John who lived across the street was a face and a story with a space and
was a face and a story with a space and
was a face and a story with a space and address the two were connecting and it
address the two were connecting and it
address the two were connecting and it really changed my perspective and made
really changed my perspective and made
really changed my perspective and made the neighborhood feel much smaller and
the neighborhood feel much smaller and
the neighborhood feel much smaller and much safer and completely different from
much safer and completely different from
much safer and completely different from before
before
before and then there’s Mary mano hi Oh a city
and then there’s Mary mano hi Oh a city
and then there’s Mary mano hi Oh a city that was perfectly designed for
that was perfectly designed for
that was perfectly designed for community you didn’t have to break the
community you didn’t have to break the
community you didn’t have to break the rules
rules
rules the dichotomy here is that Madisonville
the dichotomy here is that Madisonville
the dichotomy here is that Madisonville was just down the street from Mary Mont
was just down the street from Mary Mont
was just down the street from Mary Mont and in our neighborhood where we were
and in our neighborhood where we were
and in our neighborhood where we were breaking the rules and bending them so
breaking the rules and bending them so
breaking the rules and bending them so that we can pursue community in an
that we can pursue community in an
that we can pursue community in an extraordinary way just down the street
extraordinary way just down the street
extraordinary way just down the street those that live in Mary Mont had a
those that live in Mary Mont had a
those that live in Mary Mont had a designed community that was perfectly
designed community that was perfectly
designed community that was perfectly set up for them to connect Mary Mont was
set up for them to connect Mary Mont was
set up for them to connect Mary Mont was designed by a planner named John Nolan
designed by a planner named John Nolan
designed by a planner named John Nolan and John Nolan created a master plan
and John Nolan created a master plan
and John Nolan created a master plan community one of the first in the United
community one of the first in the United
community one of the first in the United States and I didn’t realize it until
States and I didn’t realize it until
States and I didn’t realize it until recently Mary Maas one of the most
recently Mary Maas one of the most
recently Mary Maas one of the most unique neighborhoods in the entire
unique neighborhoods in the entire
unique neighborhoods in the entire country
country
country he was inspired by the new urban
he was inspired by the new urban
he was inspired by the new urban movement which said as cities expand
movement which said as cities expand
movement which said as cities expand create them to be self-contained and
create them to be self-contained and
create them to be self-contained and self sustainable so you’ll see in this
self sustainable so you’ll see in this
self sustainable so you’ll see in this master plan there’s a town square in the
master plan there’s a town square in the
master plan there’s a town square in the top right which then prongs out into the
top right which then prongs out into the
top right which then prongs out into the rest of the community in that town
rest of the community in that town
rest of the community in that town square you had complete walkability
square you had complete walkability
square you had complete walkability connected by parks and houses and
connected by parks and houses and
connected by parks and houses and pedestrian walkways we had a coffee shop
pedestrian walkways we had a coffee shop
pedestrian walkways we had a coffee shop and a theatre an ice-cream parlor a
and a theatre an ice-cream parlor a
and a theatre an ice-cream parlor a barber shop and tons of other types of
barber shop and tons of other types of
barber shop and tons of other types of of stores for people to enjoy and what
of stores for people to enjoy and what
of stores for people to enjoy and what was really interesting about this is it
was really interesting about this is it
was really interesting about this is it was normal to us but what I didn’t see
was normal to us but what I didn’t see
was normal to us but what I didn’t see there were deep relationships and deep
there were deep relationships and deep
there were deep relationships and deep community happening a lot of people
community happening a lot of people
community happening a lot of people enjoyed it and it was absolutely
enjoyed it and it was absolutely
enjoyed it and it was absolutely beautiful John Nolan was inspired by
beautiful John Nolan was inspired by
beautiful John Nolan was inspired by this guy Evan easer Howard who wrote a
this guy Evan easer Howard who wrote a
this guy Evan easer Howard who wrote a publication at the turn of the 20th
publication at the turn of the 20th
publication at the turn of the 20th century called garden cities of tomorrow
century called garden cities of tomorrow
century called garden cities of tomorrow this was a reaction to the
this was a reaction to the
this was a reaction to the industrialization of cities all
industrialization of cities all
industrialization of cities all throughout Europe that as they were
throughout Europe that as they were
throughout Europe that as they were expanding he contended for a new kind of
expanding he contended for a new kind of
expanding he contended for a new kind of MA
MA
MA that was more sustainable where
that was more sustainable where
that was more sustainable where communities could be self-contained and
communities could be self-contained and
communities could be self-contained and have a high quality of life while being
have a high quality of life while being
have a high quality of life while being able to do everything within walking
able to do everything within walking
able to do everything within walking distance of their home they can live
distance of their home they can live
distance of their home they can live work and play it even inspired this man
work and play it even inspired this man
work and play it even inspired this man Walt Disney to create a experimental
Walt Disney to create a experimental
Walt Disney to create a experimental prototype city of tomorrow some of us
prototype city of tomorrow some of us
prototype city of tomorrow some of us have heard of Epcot well after he died
have heard of Epcot well after he died
have heard of Epcot well after he died it turned into a theme park but his
it turned into a theme park but his
it turned into a theme park but his vision was to create a model community
vision was to create a model community
vision was to create a model community that people would come in a perfectly
that people would come in a perfectly
that people would come in a perfectly designed community for humans or people
designed community for humans or people
designed community for humans or people would learn and take those ideas back to
would learn and take those ideas back to
would learn and take those ideas back to their back to their homes but why is it
their back to their homes but why is it
their back to their homes but why is it that these perfectly designed spaces
that these perfectly designed spaces
that these perfectly designed spaces missed the mark how could they be
missed the mark how could they be
missed the mark how could they be designed so well for us to connect but
designed so well for us to connect but
designed so well for us to connect but still feel so empty that that answer
still feel so empty that that answer
still feel so empty that that answer wasn’t completely intuitive to me until
wasn’t completely intuitive to me until
wasn’t completely intuitive to me until recently when I thought well the reason
recently when I thought well the reason
recently when I thought well the reason is because although great and strong
is because although great and strong
is because although great and strong connections can overcome bad design
connections can overcome bad design
connections can overcome bad design great design cannot correct and heal our
great design cannot correct and heal our
great design cannot correct and heal our connection problems that would be like
connection problems that would be like
connection problems that would be like putting bad art inside of a beautiful
putting bad art inside of a beautiful
putting bad art inside of a beautiful frame the design has to work with the
frame the design has to work with the
frame the design has to work with the people so there’s this gal named Shani
people so there’s this gal named Shani
people so there’s this gal named Shani Shani gram and her partner and some
Shani gram and her partner and some
Shani gram and her partner and some friends in Perth Australia decided to
friends in Perth Australia decided to
friends in Perth Australia decided to take a street and build a community much
take a street and build a community much
take a street and build a community much in the same way but on a bigger scale
in the same way but on a bigger scale
in the same way but on a bigger scale than what we experienced in Cincinnati
than what we experienced in Cincinnati
than what we experienced in Cincinnati they decided that a street was more than
they decided that a street was more than
they decided that a street was more than just a threeway but a place of
just a threeway but a place of
just a threeway but a place of connecting for their neighbors they
connecting for their neighbors they
connecting for their neighbors they would build a halfpipe for the
would build a halfpipe for the
would build a halfpipe for the neighborhood teenage boys so that they
neighborhood teenage boys so that they
neighborhood teenage boys so that they can play in the street and in the
can play in the street and in the
can play in the street and in the community they would they would do
community they would they would do
community they would they would do simple things like garden and share food
simple things like garden and share food
simple things like garden and share food from each other’s gardens and then the
from each other’s gardens and then the
from each other’s gardens and then the community started to grow they had
community started to grow they had
community started to grow they had dinner parties one guy was really
dinner parties one guy was really
dinner parties one guy was really skilled enough and the the group of them
skilled enough and the the group of them
skilled enough and the the group of them got together and built a pizza oven but
got together and built a pizza oven but
got together and built a pizza oven but then on Thursdays they had pizza parties
then on Thursdays they had pizza parties
then on Thursdays they had pizza parties every third
every third
every third day they even decided that they were
day they even decided that they were
day they even decided that they were mostly passionate about this idea of
mostly passionate about this idea of
mostly passionate about this idea of sustainable living so much they threw a
sustainable living so much they threw a
sustainable living so much they threw a bonanza and people from all over Perth
bonanza and people from all over Perth
bonanza and people from all over Perth came to Hulbert Street to see what they
came to Hulbert Street to see what they
came to Hulbert Street to see what they were doing and the things that they were
were doing and the things that they were
were doing and the things that they were about a really fun idea that I loved was
about a really fun idea that I loved was
about a really fun idea that I loved was when they blocked the street off and
when they blocked the street off and
when they blocked the street off and they decided to throw a movie night and
they decided to throw a movie night and
they decided to throw a movie night and this was very regular for them Shawny
this was very regular for them Shawny
this was very regular for them Shawny did a TED talk a few years ago on this
did a TED talk a few years ago on this
did a TED talk a few years ago on this very experience and it so moved me and
very experience and it so moved me and
very experience and it so moved me and impacted me I cried like a baby like
impacted me I cried like a baby like
impacted me I cried like a baby like three times I’m pretty soft but it was
three times I’m pretty soft but it was
three times I’m pretty soft but it was amazing I reached out to her on LinkedIn
amazing I reached out to her on LinkedIn
amazing I reached out to her on LinkedIn and I said Shani I got it I got to hear
and I said Shani I got it I got to hear
and I said Shani I got it I got to hear more about your experiences and I’d love
more about your experiences and I’d love
more about your experiences and I’d love to meet you and we were able to do a
to meet you and we were able to do a
to meet you and we were able to do a video conference while I was in northern
video conference while I was in northern
video conference while I was in northern Oregon and we talked about a lot of
Oregon and we talked about a lot of
Oregon and we talked about a lot of different things and some of the things
different things and some of the things
different things and some of the things that I would love to see here in reading
that I would love to see here in reading
that I would love to see here in reading but she told me she said Josh even if
but she told me she said Josh even if
but she told me she said Josh even if you design the perfect community that
you design the perfect community that
you design the perfect community that fosters you design the perfect community
fosters you design the perfect community
fosters you design the perfect community that fosters this kind of environment
that fosters this kind of environment
that fosters this kind of environment that you’re looking for you’re gonna
that you’re looking for you’re gonna
that you’re looking for you’re gonna still need champions you still need
still need champions you still need
still need champions you still need someone whose occupation it is to
someone whose occupation it is to
someone whose occupation it is to connect others within the community and
connect others within the community and
connect others within the community and then there’s Ross Chapin this is a hero
then there’s Ross Chapin this is a hero
then there’s Ross Chapin this is a hero of mine Ross is an architect and author
of mine Ross is an architect and author
of mine Ross is an architect and author of the book pocket neighborhoods and he
of the book pocket neighborhoods and he
of the book pocket neighborhoods and he spent the last 20 years of his life
spent the last 20 years of his life
spent the last 20 years of his life designing small-scale communities in a
designing small-scale communities in a
designing small-scale communities in a large-scale world and some of the
large-scale world and some of the
large-scale world and some of the patterns of design that Ross brings into
patterns of design that Ross brings into
patterns of design that Ross brings into his architecture that’s really unique is
his architecture that’s really unique is
his architecture that’s really unique is he does simple things like turn the
he does simple things like turn the
he does simple things like turn the houses inside out and face them towards
houses inside out and face them towards
houses inside out and face them towards green common spaces rather than towards
green common spaces rather than towards
green common spaces rather than towards the cars so by eliminating the cars out
the cars so by eliminating the cars out
the cars so by eliminating the cars out of sight naturally people feel safer and
of sight naturally people feel safer and
of sight naturally people feel safer and they connect more easily the on-ramp is
they connect more easily the on-ramp is
they connect more easily the on-ramp is there you might also see a common house
there you might also see a common house
there you might also see a common house that is in between and Century located
that is in between and Century located
that is in between and Century located between six to twelve homes well I also
between six to twelve homes well I also
between six to twelve homes well I also got the opportunity well before I go
got the opportunity well before I go
got the opportunity well before I go there I want to show you what is on
there I want to show you what is on
there I want to show you what is on paper in a sketch in a pocket
paper in a sketch in a pocket
paper in a sketch in a pocket neighborhood looks like this it’s a
neighborhood looks like this it’s a
neighborhood looks like this it’s a beautiful picture people just natural
beautiful picture people just natural
beautiful picture people just natural enjoying one of the other’s company
enjoying one of the other’s company
enjoying one of the other’s company plenty of space to retreat but also
plenty of space to retreat but also
plenty of space to retreat but also public spaces that make it easy to
public spaces that make it easy to
public spaces that make it easy to connect I had the incredible privilege
connect I had the incredible privilege
connect I had the incredible privilege of interviewing Ross this week it was
of interviewing Ross this week it was
of interviewing Ross this week it was amazing and was like talking to Yoda but
amazing and was like talking to Yoda but
amazing and was like talking to Yoda but for like designers of you know these
for like designers of you know these
for like designers of you know these kinds of communities and I just was
kinds of communities and I just was
kinds of communities and I just was thrilled and we talked about the role
thrilled and we talked about the role
thrilled and we talked about the role design plays in creating connected
design plays in creating connected
design plays in creating connected spaces for people but then he
spaces for people but then he
spaces for people but then he interrupted at one point he said but
interrupted at one point he said but
interrupted at one point he said but Josh design alone cannot create
Josh design alone cannot create
Josh design alone cannot create community the people have to also buy in
community the people have to also buy in
community the people have to also buy in or it just won’t work and then that’s
or it just won’t work and then that’s
or it just won’t work and then that’s when I had the Epiphany
when I had the Epiphany
when I had the Epiphany I’m the shame to say it but before this
I’m the shame to say it but before this
I’m the shame to say it but before this week I was going to talk to you all
week I was going to talk to you all
week I was going to talk to you all about design and I forgot about the
about design and I forgot about the
about design and I forgot about the bigger picture I forgot that this is
bigger picture I forgot that this is
bigger picture I forgot that this is really about people who desire to
really about people who desire to
really about people who desire to connect and that was my story so we are
connect and that was my story so we are
connect and that was my story so we are actually working on developing a project
actually working on developing a project
actually working on developing a project here in Redding that marries these two
here in Redding that marries these two
here in Redding that marries these two concepts because I don’t believe that
concepts because I don’t believe that
concepts because I don’t believe that you have to choose between good design
you have to choose between good design
you have to choose between good design and deep community that we want to do a
and deep community that we want to do a
and deep community that we want to do a project that isn’t just traditional but
project that isn’t just traditional but
project that isn’t just traditional but it’s a project that will connect and
it’s a project that will connect and
it’s a project that will connect and marry the idea of great design and
marry the idea of great design and
marry the idea of great design and people looking for deeper relationships
people looking for deeper relationships
people looking for deeper relationships so a 21 LOC community and of course it
so a 21 LOC community and of course it
so a 21 LOC community and of course it will have the design components that we
will have the design components that we
will have the design components that we can fit in there that we really believe
can fit in there that we really believe
can fit in there that we really believe helped foster this environment so you
helped foster this environment so you
helped foster this environment so you can see we’ve applied some of these
can see we’ve applied some of these
can see we’ve applied some of these concepts a community pool in the middle
concepts a community pool in the middle
concepts a community pool in the middle and a gathering area a space for rock
and a gathering area a space for rock
and a gathering area a space for rock walking trails around and and a natural
walking trails around and and a natural
walking trails around and and a natural playground even a vineyard but even an
playground even a vineyard but even an
playground even a vineyard but even an unplanned space where the residents
unplanned space where the residents
unplanned space where the residents there can decide what they want to go
there can decide what they want to go
there can decide what they want to go there I’m really excited about this
there I’m really excited about this
there I’m really excited about this project because we’re also applying some
project because we’re also applying some
project because we’re also applying some of the traditional architecture into a
of the traditional architecture into a
of the traditional architecture into a modern design by reintroducing the front
modern design by reintroducing the front
modern design by reintroducing the front porches as well as creating a diverse
porches as well as creating a diverse
porches as well as creating a diverse environment where multi
environment where multi
environment where multi generational space is created above the
generational space is created above the
generational space is created above the garages for apartments for students or
garages for apartments for students or
garages for apartments for students or seniors private backyard spaces and it
seniors private backyard spaces and it
seniors private backyard spaces and it was exciting to be able to preview this
was exciting to be able to preview this
was exciting to be able to preview this last month to a group of people here in
last month to a group of people here in
last month to a group of people here in Redding what was most exciting to me was
Redding what was most exciting to me was
Redding what was most exciting to me was to see the hunger that people had for
to see the hunger that people had for
to see the hunger that people had for this so I don’t think that but I would
this so I don’t think that but I would
this so I don’t think that but I would say this if you wait for Shiloh Park or
say this if you wait for Shiloh Park or
say this if you wait for Shiloh Park or if you wait for pocket neighborhoods to
if you wait for pocket neighborhoods to
if you wait for pocket neighborhoods to show up they won’t happen I think there
show up they won’t happen I think there
show up they won’t happen I think there are three things that you can do that
are three things that you can do that
are three things that you can do that are simple starting today that can
are simple starting today that can
are simple starting today that can change this community 1 make room for
change this community 1 make room for
change this community 1 make room for neighborhood connections that’s very
neighborhood connections that’s very
neighborhood connections that’s very simple our day from morning to night is
simple our day from morning to night is
simple our day from morning to night is typically booked end to end
typically booked end to end
typically booked end to end we’re completely scheduled really lack
we’re completely scheduled really lack
we’re completely scheduled really lack spontaneity carve out one night a week
spontaneity carve out one night a week
spontaneity carve out one night a week that you’re not doing anything and make
that you’re not doing anything and make
that you’re not doing anything and make that regular have dinner at home and
that regular have dinner at home and
that regular have dinner at home and just be unplanned be available for the
just be unplanned be available for the
just be unplanned be available for the spontaneous connections to do one thing
spontaneous connections to do one thing
spontaneous connections to do one thing this year just one thing that connects
this year just one thing that connects
this year just one thing that connects your neighbors that could be something
your neighbors that could be something
your neighbors that could be something simple like taking a meal over to
simple like taking a meal over to
simple like taking a meal over to someone new that moved into your
someone new that moved into your
someone new that moved into your neighborhood and three this is for those
neighborhood and three this is for those
neighborhood and three this is for those of you in the audience here that have
of you in the audience here that have
of you in the audience here that have the privilege and honor and the ability
the privilege and honor and the ability
the privilege and honor and the ability to influence the design of our public
to influence the design of our public
to influence the design of our public spaces and all I ask of you is to think
spaces and all I ask of you is to think
spaces and all I ask of you is to think about the people don’t think about what
about the people don’t think about what
about the people don’t think about what makes it easier from just a building and
makes it easier from just a building and
makes it easier from just a building and a construction standpoint but go deeper
a construction standpoint but go deeper
a construction standpoint but go deeper think about the people that will live
think about the people that will live
think about the people that will live there 50 100 200 years from now
there 50 100 200 years from now
there 50 100 200 years from now think about where they are going to
think about where they are going to
think about where they are going to connect and what is natural and
connect and what is natural and
connect and what is natural and intuitive and human about that space so
intuitive and human about that space so
intuitive and human about that space so look around you tonight to your left in
look around you tonight to your left in
look around you tonight to your left in to your right yes it’s okay to turn your
to your right yes it’s okay to turn your
to your right yes it’s okay to turn your head these people these lovely people
head these people these lovely people
head these people these lovely people that are in this room are your neighbors
that are in this room are your neighbors
that are in this room are your neighbors and let me tell you you belong here you
and let me tell you you belong here you
and let me tell you you belong here you all belong in this city you belong where
all belong in this city you belong where
all belong in this city you belong where you live you belong in your
you live you belong in your
you live you belong in your neighborhoods and in your homes
neighborhoods and in your homes
neighborhoods and in your homes I believe that our cities are only as
I believe that our cities are only as
I believe that our cities are only as strong as the neighborhoods that are in
strong as the neighborhoods that are in
strong as the neighborhoods that are in them and our neighborhoods are only as
them and our neighborhoods are only as
them and our neighborhoods are only as vibrant as those who are investing in
vibrant as those who are investing in
vibrant as those who are investing in them so let us choose today to be
them so let us choose today to be
them so let us choose today to be neighbors with one another and make our
neighbors with one another and make our
neighbors with one another and make our city of tomorrow thank you
city of tomorrow thank you
city of tomorrow thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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