Art & Architecture

The Ecology of Place: Planning for Environment, Economy, and Community

Paperback

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Price:
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ISBN:
Published:
Dec 1, 1997
1997
Pages:
278
Size:
6 x 9 in.

Current patterns of land use and development are at once socially, economically, and environmentally destructive. Sprawling low-density development literally devours natural landscapes while breeding a pervasive sense of social isolation and exacerbating a vast array of economic problems. As more and more counties begin to look more and more the same, hope for a different future may seem to be fading. But alternatives do exist.

The Ecology of Place, Timothy Beatley and Kristy Manning describe a world in which land is consumed sparingly, cities and towns are vibrant and green, local economies thrive, and citizens work together to create places of eduring value. They present a holistic and compelling approach to repairing and enhancing communities, introducing a vision of 鈥渟ustainable places鈥 that extends beyond traditional architecture and urban design to consider not just the physical layout of a development but the broad set of ways in which communities are organized and operate. Chapters examine:

  • the history and context of current land use problems, along with the concept of 鈥渟ustainable places鈥
  • the ecology of place and ecological policies and actions
  • local and regional economic development
  • links between land-use and community planning and civic involvement
  • specific recommendations to help move toward sustainability

The authors address a variety of policy and development issues that affect a community — from its economic base to its transit options to the ways in which its streets and public spaces are managed — and examine the wide range of programs, policies, and creative ideas that can be used to turn the vision of sustainable places into reality.

The Ecology of Place is a timely resource for planners, economic development specialists, students, and citizen activists working toward establishing healthier and more sustainable patterns of growth and development.