Of Density & Unicorns
I dream of a town, tucked close to a major metropolitan city and international airport of course, where the buildings are each unique, built to last more than 300 years, where each detail is thought out to perfection and featuring the newest of technology and sustainability. The sidewalks are shaded by oak trees and sparked by brilliant cascades of flowers. Places to sit are comfy and inviting, flexible enough that we can gather a few together for conversation or sit comfortably alone. The buildings are no more than two stories tall, of course, and the sidewalks made of tumbled brick, the streets of patterned stone.
Under the trellis of magnolias, next to where the entrance to the always free and available parking garage is where we keep our unicorns.
Yes, unicorns.
Because, this dream town - is just that. A dream, an illusion. A dream free of the reality of constraints that we face everyday, such as market trends, finance ability and regulations, An inspiration to be sure - full of the things I would love to have at my doorstep - well kind of. I really want a town that has a bit of real personality - that is not just a reflection of me, but of the complexity of many different personalities. I want to be surprised.
So about density. How can density, if some must insist on measuring everything development by density (there are better measures!), benefit my world? Your world? Our community? Is there an upside? Yes. If applied in moderation, a resounding YES!
When I am talking about “density” here with regard to Roswell, I am talking about anything that has more living units in it than a single family neighborhood, although that in itself is “high density” to the farmers who lived here before us. How much “density” is appropriate depends on where it goes and what design configuration it takes and what is viable. That is the conversation we need to be having. We might find some things we really like about certain flavors of density.
“Density” built selectively along our declining corridors - with exceptional design standards, enduring materials, set on "complete" streets with comfortable sidewalks, street trees and fabulous places to sit - can create a vibrant community where walking just makes sense. It can protect our precious subdivisions too.
Re-invented corridors can be transformed, in part, to green, landscaped spaces that are currently covered in asphalt. Corridors that regain the economic health can then support the expansive parks and historic sites throughout Roswell. Why should our historic homes wait for a new roof or a restored garden?
So density, which is usually used as a fear tactic in the form of“high-density”, may actually - when selectively and carefully used - serve to protect that which we hold most dear. Be careful you are not misled.
Now about those unicorns? Maybe we will be having so much fun, we won’t notice they are missing.
Originally published in the blog Full Intention-Full Disclosure February 2017