Doing it wrong!
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| Crystal City, courtesy of ElvertBarnes |
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| Rosslyn, courtesy of Ms. Gemstone's |
Doing it right - Del Ray neigborhod in Alexandria
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| Del Ray, courtesy of Payton Chung |
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| New energy-efficient apartments in Del Ray |
Friday, December 23, 2011
Ninth Street - the crucible of urban design in Durham
The Durham News has a great article about the challenges --
and the possibilities -- of designing and implementing a clear mixed-use
development plan for Ninth Street. Despite weak economy, this area is poised
for growth, and the challenge is going to be to ensure that the growth is
organic and enhances the unique character of this neighborhood rather than
replaces it with a generic vision of corporate America. For a cautionary tail
of great urban neighborhoods stripped of all their charm and character, one
needs to look no further than Crystal City or Rosslyn neighborhoods in Arlington, VA.
Doing it right - Del Ray neigborhod in Alexandria
Doing it right - Del Ray neigborhod in Alexandria
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What worries me is that 9th Street will end up looking much like Erwin Road and its new (and, to me, ugly) development. I wouldn't mind seeing some new life breathed into this area, but I don't want to live next door to some horrible corporate idea of "mixed use" development. The plans I've heard so far would fall into your "doing it wrong" bucket.
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope we can avoid the fate of Erwin Rd. I think that most "planned" developments lack character for the first few decades of their existence, although some communities -- and Crystal City, VA is a great example -- continue their soulless existence in perpetuity. The key to preserving the neighborhood and the uniquely "quirky" character of ninth-street is to avoid mega-projects and keep large developments on the periphery. Growth is inevitable and necessary but not at the expense of quality and character. God knows we have plenty of South Point-style developments around here.
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