The Empowered City: Design Action Teams

Design Assistance Teams: Since 1967, the DAT program, a public service of the AIA, represents over 1000 professionals from more than 30 disciplines providing millions of dollars in professional pro bono services to more than 200 communities across the country.

What distinguishes a DAT?

• We are NOT:– Another Consultant Team– A process to produce a

planning document• “Please don’t give us

another plan. We have plenty – they all sit on the shelves. We need implementation strategies.” – Almost Every community

– Government-focused– “Green”-focused– Building-focused

• We ARE:– Public Service in the Public

Interest• “Consultants work for

somebody. Design Assistance Teams work for everybody.”

– Action-Oriented – Community-focused– Holistic, Customized

• “It’s about the space between the buildings, and the people that inhabit that space”

Objectivity

Multi-disciplinary Expertise

Community Participation

Implementation

Port Angeles, WA 2009 Project: 2 months later, 43 buildings repainted with volunteers and donated paint, (at least 3,500 volunteer hours, or roughly

$66,500 worth of donated labor) led to a façade improvement program, then private $

Wayfinding & Signage

Realizing Their Aspirations, in 5 years

Bringing People Back to the Waterfront

Transforming Downtown: Before

Transforming Downtown: After

Snowball Effect: $100 Million+

Leveraging Investment for Placemaking

They are already in construction for phase 2

Newport, VT R/UDAT (2009)

Wayfinding & Signage

Form Based Code

• 2011 – Newport receives Foreign Trade Zone status• 2011 – Canadian manufacturing firm co-locates here• 2011 – 2012 – Vermont biotech firm re-locates here• 2012 – 2013 – South Korean biotech firm co-locates

here• 2013 – Senior residential resort is built• 2014 – Waterfront resort conference center opens• 2014 – Re-development of blighted block on Newport’s

Main St.

Newport 2.0: $250 Million in New Investments

a six-story commercial and residential block -$70 million

Dublin Context

21st Century Change Paradigm

• Downside: The scale of issues is larger and more complex/interconnected than ever before. The public sector is weaker than ever. And the rules of the game are changing as we speak.

• Upside: Transferability of our ideas, how we contribute to one another, now allows for widespread adaptation. And, Civil Society has never been stronger or more capable. Cities are democratic creations, and we succeed when people are empowered to collaborate. Grassroots strategies are powerful.

Our Urban Future

• By 2030, 6 in 10 people will live in cities.

• In the developing world, 3 out of 5 will live in cities.

• There are currently one billion people living in slums and squatter settlements and that number is expected to double by 2030 and reach 3 billion by 2050

The Stakes are HIGH

“Civilizations rise and fall-and sometimes if they are lucky-

they renew themselves” –John W. Gardner

Our land is…disappearing

Our water is…disappearing

Our democracy is…disappearing?

• Just 13% of Americans say the government can be trusted to do what is right always or most of the time. (10% say NEVER)

• Only 17% of Americans believe that big business can be trusted to do what is right always or most of the time

Our trust is…disappearing

Citizens are pissed

Recent Urban Protests across the world – A Sample

Global Crisis in Governance

Del Paso Heights, Sacramento

Skid Row, Los Angeles

Camden, New Jersey

Central City, New Orleans

Indianapolis

Bridgeport, CT

Detroit

Washington, DC

Baltimore

The Housing Crisis

Ireland The United States

Dublin

• Most apartments in Dublin were built in the last 20 years (55K out of 65K) with 35K completed between 2001 and 2008. The rise in national population from 2002 to 2006 showed that the annual growth rate of 2% was the highest since records began.

• Should we be concerned about improving quality and livability for the benefit of residents, for the reputation of apartment living generally and for the overall quality of the built environment?

• Objective: motivate residents around long term regeneration, high-quality neighborhood, and durable community

What is the city saying to us? What is its story?

What does your city say about its community identity?

What does apartment living say about community?

What does new development say about community?

What do your public spaces say about community?

What do your vibrant spaces say about community?

What do derelict places say about community?

What do your buildings say about community?

What does it say about politics?

What does infrastructure tell us?

How does it serve community values?

What does the city say about resilience?

Even about love?

You have a lot to say about love

a LOT to say about Love

a LOT to say about Love & Equality

Not only for yourselves, but for the entire world

Who are you, as Dubliners, today?What is the soul of your city?

What do you want for your Future?

A good public process opens the door to that truth.

Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are

created by everybody-- Jane Jacobs

Thank You Dublin!