A CHALLENGE TO THE GOLDEN EMPIRE CHAPTER OF THE AIA

Awards are a tradition in our culture. Every now and again it is important to take another viewpoint on urban design as a commitment to the community we live in – Bakersfield.

There should be two sides to the giving of awards for the good and bad in every field of endeavor. Many communities bent on raising the level of quality in the arts have done this with formal award events such as the --“Rose and Onion”— awards in downtown Los Angeles

Maybe we have matured enough in Bakersfield to begin such presentations to our community leaders. Maybe we should call the awards “Camellia and Garlic!” My preference is Laurel and Lance. There are many ideas – so one hopes that the architects and their design colleagues can invent such a name to develop the tradition.

In summary the challenge is that our local architects gather as a team to deliver urban design, which has more thought, and content than the prior City led Charrettes. A little design tithing can go a long way to improving our communities uniqueness. One expects a proactive approach that upholds both support and opposition for raising design quality awareness – with a little humor!

Architects efforts don’t come cheap, as there is much at stake. No one can say which way the goals of an effort will go. However a sustained effort by design professionals needs to build its arguments based on something far more substantial than “we don’t want to be leaders in our chosen profession here in Bakersfield.”

In order to substantiate this challenge to our Architects our wish is that you read only one example of what leadership is taking place in other Cities. Patricia Lowry, Post-Gazette architecture critic, writes this article. http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/20020710lowry0710fnp4.asp

In order to view actual drawings of what a group of thirty architects accomplished at a “charrette” visit http://www.post-gazette.com/journal/photos_bygallery.asp?special=Arena+charette

One might be persuaded that a similar effort is warranted after observing the last two local charrette results. Cartooning is not an adequate standard for any future plans promulgated by Architects for Bakersfield’s burgeoning downtown and redevelopment area.

One believes that we together have much higher standards for design quality.

Let’s roll.

BY Graham Kaye-Eddie – Master Urban Designer.

Makabusi Inc. – Bakersfield – California

Email – makabusi@pacbell.net

Public Works Funding, and Planners

"Underestimating Costs in Public Works Projects: Error or Lie" generates international debate. Jul 17 -- Journal Of The American Planning Association

Bakerfolks should simply ask how the City Goals are set in the annual City of Bakersfield budget. It would be amazing to see how priorities for spending are set for proposed projects.

THE WATER'S HOT

This Sacramento Bee Story examines the complex process by which unused water is now conveyed... when it is conveyed. Jul 15 -- Sacramento Bee

Does this article place a new light on our local water districts move to make deals with Los Angeles?

IN PICTURES: GROUND ZERO PLANS

The six plans for the World Trade Center site are published including models, site plans, skyline elevations, animations. Jul 17 -- Lower Manhattan Development Corporation

New York and a new transparency in urban planning is on the leading edge of changing urban design, urban economics and urban infrastructure for ever.

Imagine for a minute if you will the same transparency being applied by the force of observation by the citizens of Bakersfield if the following were graphically displayed;

PLAN ONE: City Manager Allen Tandy's Entertainment Plan,

PLAN TWO: Economic Development Director Donna Kunz's Housing Plan,

PLAN THREE: DBA Kathy Butlers Arts District Plan,

PLAN FOUR: The "Community" 2020Vision Plan,

PLAN FIVE: Development Services Director Jack Hardisty's Government Center Plan.

PLAN SIX: City Engineer Raul Rojas Centennial Parkway Plan

If these plans could be seen in all their graphic glory by the public at large, one would venture to say that a new set of plans would evolve pretty rapidly. The plans would be far better integrated.

What is needed is the leadership of Councilman Sue Benham. Downtown is her Ward and responsibility. It is under her direction that downtown should grow and change. The policies that would drive this integration of plans has not come to light.

Shelter is not the only thing for ensuring a sturdy economy

Housing construction declined in June after a bounce the month before, the Commerce Department reported, signaling the sector may be losing steam.

Builders broke ground last month on 1.67 million units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, a 3.6 percent drop from the May level. Construction rose 10.8 percent in May. Mild weather early in the year helped to power housing construction, which remained solid throughout 2001.

7/10/02

Green buildings bloom around the US

Nearly 400 buildings are seeking certification from the US Green Building Council. By Terry Costlow

As home prices soar, more Americans 'go mobile'

Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) had one while his official residence was renovated. And recent data from Census 2000 shows mobile homes are gaining popularity, with nearly 8.7 million such households nationwide, up from 7.3 million in 1990. The 10 states with the highest percentage of mobile-home households:

1. South Carolina

2. New Mexico

3. West Virginia

4. Mississippi

5. North Carolina

6. Alabama

7. Wyoming

8. Arkansas

9. Montana

10. Kentucky

- Associated Press

Transrapid train at sea

Shanghai, China. The first Transrapid maglev monorail vehicle built for use in China by consortium member ThyssenKrupp Transrapid is on a "cruise" towards China. In June vehicle sections were loaded onto a ship in Bremerhaven. They are currently on their way to Shanghai. The trains are being shipped in pieces. The superstructures are welded into foils and the levitation units are packed into containers.

For all those lovers of California's High Speed "Rail" please understand that many other populations in the world are resolving their gridlocks with alternative transportation technologies. Why can't we in California apply our intelligence a little better?

AMTRAK FACES SECOND YEAR OF LOSING $1 BILLION

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), an Amtrak critic, said at the hearing that Amtrak spent $11 million to have a consultant review the way the railroad does business and then shelved the report after it recommended major changes.

URBAN REGENERATION SERIES

Yet what is required is a paradigm shift. Instead of thinking in terms of 'urban regeneration' we need to reconceptualise the entire argument. We need to think not of the depressing notion of 'urban' but rather the celebratory idea of the city - and to make re-energising our cities part of the ongoing revitalisation of all dimensions of British civilisation.

The UK's most popular newspaper features a series of fascinating articles about urban regeneration with plenty of lessons for American cities. Jul 12 -- Guardian Unlimited, UK

LARGEST 'GREEN' DEVELOPMENT IN U.S.

he principals of Full Spectrum believe that housing in underserved communities should meet the following criteria. It should provide infrastructure that is energy efficient; provide superior air quality; utilize renewable resources; provide the necessary digital infrastructure to empower its residents by bridging the digital divide; and provide an architecture that is culturally relevant to the prevailing culture of the community.

Harlmen will be home to a groundbreaking, energy-efficient, affordable multifamily housing condominium using "smart" technologies. Jul 11 -- Environmental News Network

SURVEY: THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

Every now and again when one visits the Economist a rare article stands out as one excellent read. This series is thoughtful, intelligent and an excellent summary of the underlying search for the truth behind the common usage of "sustainable development." Those in search of a better understanding of this issue should read the whole series.

Insuring a brighter future

Demand more of America's leaders

It is a myth that crises breed leaders. By Larry Seaquist

Study Lists Mass Transit Benefits

".. the first scientific analysis that compares mass transit with private >vehicles in terms of the fuel they burn and the pollution they spew."