Sustainability through livability:A look at resident preferences

Brad BereitschaftDepartment of Geography/Geology

EnvironmentEnergy, Pollution, Waste,

Food, Water, Climate

EquitabilitySocial & Environmental Justice

Economic OpportunityInclusivity, Mobility

EconomyJobs, Income, Quality of Life

Prosperity

“Livable,”Human-Oriented

Cities

Innsbruck, Austria

Urban is good, but it must be done right!Equity is difficulty when demand > supply

Density + proximity = innovation + growth

Will the 21st Century see a “Great Inversion”?

The Downtown Omaha Resident SurveyMay – August 2013250 Respondents

What do urban residents value and what would they like to change?

What influenced your decision to live downtown?(1-5 with 5 very important)

Urban feelPedestrian-orientedThird placesWalkability/bike-abilityHistoric characterAttractiveIdentity

adaptive re-use, older buildings = affordability

What influenced your decision to live downtown?(1-5 with 5 very important)

Urban feelPedestrian-orientedThird placesWalkability/bike-abilityHistoric characterAttractiveIdentity

“Third Places”informal public life & social cohesion

What influenced your decision to live downtown?(1-5 with 5 very important)

Urban feelPedestrian-orientedThird placesWalkability/bike-abilityHistoric characterAttractiveIdentity

What about affordability, equitability?

What about your neighborhood could be improved?(1-5 with 5 very important)

Basic products/ services (grocery stores)GreeneryPublic SpaceGreen SpaceTransitParkingAffordable HousingMore Third Places

Parks!

Sustainability at UNO:

• Green UNO sustainability task force (http://www.unomaha.edu/green/index.php)

• New sustainability minor | General ed. bachelor’s degree – sustainability conc.

• New freshman seminar course (Spring 2014): Cities and Sustainability

Thank You

Questions… Comments?