Andres Duany on neighborhood-based and funded Agricultural Urbanism
Fast transitions to resilient communities that offer energy independence, food security, and thriving local economies will require a new approach. Resilient communities need to be sold as an investment (there’s tens of trillions in investment capital currently on the sidelines). An investment package that makes it more attractive than the alternatives. That shouldn’t be hard, the alternatives are in terrible shape!
The influential architect Andres Duany on what he calls agricultural urbanism in Houstan, Texas.
John Robb comments:
“This presentation is a good indicator that resilient communities can now attract significant investment, from where people will purchase a home to where they will invest their savings (as opposed to investing in the derivative vaporware of the financial markets). This is an fortuitous development, since it indicates a way that the current broken system can be bled of the wealth necessary to build its future competitor (in the very same way merchants bled a clueless feudal nobility at the end of the middle ages).
There are also lots of good ideas for those of thinking about how to build (or retrofit) resilient communities. Some highlights:
* The incorporation of food production into the fabric of a community’s design (via a flexible zoning system and private contractual arrangements).
* The centrality of food processing (value enhancement) and retailing.
* The need for community level coordination of food production.”
In another entry, John Robb explains how to envision funding for such projects.
Here’s the video:
