Chapter+Twelve


 * Chapter 12 – Land-Use Planning **

In class we looked over topographic maps of the Concord area from 1927 through 1984 to see the changes in land use through the years. We also looked at an article from the web ( []) on designing an environmentally friendly town center. We discussed the following questions presented in the article and how they might apply to Concord, based on what we could tell from the maps:

1. Where is this town center located? 2. Is it close and well connected to residential neighborhoods? 3. Is the town center part of an isolated highway strip surrounded by large areas of single-use zoning? 4. What types of uses does it include? 5. Do activities allow shared parking between them (ie day &evening use)? 6. Are they mixed to encourage walking rather than driving? 7. Does it include housing so that some people can live without a car? 8. Does it take advantage of existing infrastructure and already impacted land areas? 9. Is the town center accessible by public transportation? 10. Does it reuse existing buildings?

According to the City of Concord’s website Concord was founded in 1720 by European settlers who developed a successful agricultural economy along the Merrimack River. By the mid 1800s manufacturing had replaced agriculture as the dominant economy of Concord. With the arrival of the railroad in 1842 the city’s population grew and in 1853 Concord became incorporated as a City. A grand railroad station was built in 1885 at a cost of $250,000 (impressive sum at the time) and by the turn of the century Railroad Square was a hub of activity on the west bank of the Merrimack. The importance of the railroads began to wane with the rise of the automobile. The interstate highways (93 and 89) were built and in 1960 the railroad station was demolished and replaced by a shopping mall. ([])
 * A brief history of Concord’s development … **



In chapter 12 the authors describe how current land use has been shaped by historical forces. They state that commonly economic considerations have been the primary driver for land-use decisions, with very little consideration for the unique features of the landscape or forethought for sustainability. ** Would you agree that Concord's historic land-use decisions were based primarily on short-term economic needs without much foresight for future needs or trends, such as our need to reduce dependence on fossil fuel? **

Max: From what we discussed, it seems like Concord wasn't initially planned for the great expansions which it has gone through. There are parts of Concord extending in every which way, with two or three busy areas which could be considered city centers. The city crosses a river, has highways through parts of it, and is losing considerable revenue on its supposed heart, Main Street.

Alex: One of the historical decisions that has shaped the current land use is the placement of all of our government buildings near where the town/city was originally developed, near the Merrimack River. Today, the surrounding area near the Merrimack is mainly buisinesses and industry. This current land use, (near the river,) does not make the most of the Merrimack River, and if anything damages it's environment due to runoff and pollution from the buisinesses and industry.
 * Based on the history of Concord’s development, in what ways do you see that historical decisions have shaped the current land-use, and does the current land use make the most of natural features such as the Merrimack River? **

Urban planners in some cities view the waterfront as an asset of the landscape to be enjoyed through the development of public parks. The Project for Public Spaces profiles how the City of Providence successfully revived their waterfront ([]) which now acts as an attraction bringing economic and cultural benefits to the city. **Do you think a similar redevelopment could take place in Concord? If so, could a redevelopment plan include the Merrimack River as an integral part of downtown Concord, rather than just being behind Main Street or beside I-93? What would it take for a plan like this to be implemented?**

The concepts of smart growth and sustainable communities are discussed in chapter 12. Click on the link below and view the 18-minute video on creating a sustainable future – and answer the questions below.

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In this video Alex Steffen argues that the way we live in our cities is unsustainable and that our habits of consumption create a large ecological footprint which is contributing to global climate change. **How does the life style of the average citizen in Concord fit this profile? Consider the lack of public transportation in the Concord area. Consider where we do our shopping?**

Alex Steffen also brings up the issue of fairness. **What are some of the negative consequences, in terms of social and environmental fairness, that current patterns of urban land use and development have on a local and global scale?**


 * In what ways could you see cities like Concord and Manchester moving toward becoming what Alex Steffen called a Bright Green City? What innovative technologies and changes can you envision being adopted locally in five years? In ten years? **