This article, originally published by Al Zucaro on BocaWatch.org, is preserved for historical purposes by Massive Impressions Online Marketing in Boca Raton.
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Have you ever thought about Urban Development?
Since the recovery of the downturn in the economy we’ve been watching just that. The Boca Raton skyline has been changing as we go through a building boom transformation of ‘urban development’ in our Downtown.
As stated by many…
“Growth is good.”
“People walking in Downtown is obviously what is needed to support our local businesses.”
“We mustn’t be afraid of change and progress.”
All these statement are true! And yes, we support these ideas wholeheartedly.
However…there is one thing we haven’t heard a whisper about. As the approvals and variances to allow this building take place…what we haven’t heard from our officials, city planners and developers is, Urban Green Space….
Urban Green Space and Public Art is what great urban planners believe is the heart and soul of a city.
So for the next 18 minutes of your valuable time, do yourself a favor… Instead surfing the net or watching your favorite t.v. show…take just some time and listen to the brilliance of Amanda Burden, New York’s chief city planner under the Bloomberg administration. I promise you it is eye opening. Click here TEDtalk-Amanda Burden
If you have another few minutes, please refer back to two articles previously written on this website regarding this very topic…Great Urban Design.
A Comprehensive Waterfront Plan Could Be a Great Opportunity from 11/2/15
What Makes a Great City from 12/7/15
Paley Park was my favorite park in NYC. Being reminded of that park, where I used to sit 30 years ago, brought back long forgotten feelings of comfort in an otherwise concrete jungle.
As a Downtown Boca resident, and also as a commercial real estate agent, I believe that we have so many lessons to learn from this incredible and timely Ted Talk. Ms. Burden provided some really valuable lessons and takeaways for the (city) of Downtown Boca Raton. There IS a way to develop AND preserve AND enhance our public spaces. We need to always be mindful.
As Amanda Burden so eloquently stated, ” A city has to take the long view…. Public spaces have power. They can change how you live and feel”.