The lack of public places in Suburbia.

There are often two responses to my strong opinions against suburban development within cities. There are those who have not really considered it, and also don't think it is really important, they remind me of the apparent positives of suburban development - privacy, comfort, and ease. Then there are those who have thought about urban development a bit, or perhaps even a lot they almost always respond by agreeing.

The book Suburban Naiton by Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Jeff Speck have offered me some more insights on some of the underlying stories of suburban development.

“Dollar for dollar, no other society approaches the United States in terms of the number of square feet per person, the number of baths per bedroom, the number of appliances in the kitchen, the quality of the climate control, and the convenience of the garage. The American private realm is simply a superior product. … Americans might have the finest private realm in the developed world, but our public realm is brutal. Confronted by repetitive subdivisions, treeless collector roads, and vast parking lots, the citizen finds few public spaces worth visiting. One’s role in this environment is primarily as a motorist competing for asphalt.” (41)

The (North) American private realm is a superior product... I have to agree with this statement. We have created more private space that seeks to serve our comforts than one could possibly imagine. What is considered a tiny home today, was a normal to large sized home just 20 years ago. While a private realm which exceeds our needs is problematic enough, I think more worrysome is the fast decline of our public realm.

“To begin with the obvious community cannot form in the absence of communal space, without places for people to get together to talk. Just as it is difficult to imagine the concept of family independent of the home, it is near-impossible to imagine community independent of the town square or the local pub. Christopher Lasch has observed that ‘civic life requires setting in which people meet as equals. Thanks to the decay of civic institutions ranging from political parties to public parks and informal meeting places, conversation has become almost as specialized as the production of knowledge.’ In the absence of walkable public places – streets, squares, and parks, the public realm – people of diverse ages, races, and beliefs are unlikely to meet and talk. Those who believe that Internet web sites and chat rooms are effective substitutes vastly underestimate the distinction between a computer monitor and the human body.” (60)

The public realm is degraded to a mere emptiness. The public square, the public street, and the sidewalk have been reduced to a roads 40 feet wide, lined with sidewalks leading to nowhere, and a landscape where the variety of garage door sizes are the high point of aesthetic playfulness.

Public places have been reduced to this:
(I will not make a sustainability argument against suburban development right now, because this post would become to long)

All within 2 blocks

I want to share with you a but about one area of downtown hamilton. Most people have probably been there at some point, it is the heart of the city. I want to share with you some thoughts about the blocks surrounding Gore Park.

In 1973 there was still a building in Hamilon Called the Birks Building. In fact, Oscar Wilde called it "the most beautiful building in all of North America," it was demolished in 1973 despite major protests. Below is a picture of the building, which is now replaced by a rather stale, concrete and glass version of the bank of Nova Scotia.


However, in recent decades right across from the location the Birks building was, the Piggott building has been saved, and is now deemed one of Hamilton's most beautiful if not the most beautiful buildings. The picture below, shows the upper levels, as well as part of the stale building that replaced the Birks building on the left.
Currently Hamilton is in another discussion, this time on the Lister block building, about 1,5 blocks North on James and King William St. In 2005 great plans for revitalizing this building were announced, the costs now seem a bit higher than anticipated and discussion about demolishing the building are back. Below, the Lister Block.
Last week the Hamilton Spectator reported on the Royal Connaught hotel to be revitalized. By Toronto developer Harry Stinson. All these buildings are within 1-2 blocks of Gore Park, the heart of the City of Hamilton that can be described as an intimate place full of opportunity. If Hamilton is going to become this great urban centre West of the GTA, I feel like redevelopment in this area is vital, revitalizing the Royal Connaught and the Lister Block are good first steps. Tackling the massive concrete square of the Farmer's market, Library, Jackson Square, and Copps should follow immediatley. Luckily there is much discussion on this, hopefully it will be fruitful. Look at this picture of Gore Park currently. What if we can make this entire neighbourhood like this? What if we can maintain and continue to give the heart of the city a distinct urban texture. A public place that is alive, active, and contagious to the communities around it. All within about 2 blocks of this park. I think it is an opportunity we should cease. I think the heart of the city of Hamilton can be a place where we can engage with culture, a place that community can be formed, a place that needs to reflect God's glory.