In the fewest possible words, sustainable development is...
Why
Sustainable development?
Why
Sustainable development?
- Current development model dates from the 1940s and 1950s
- Current model depends on unlimited, cheap energy
- We're running out of cheap energy
- It's difficult to retro-fit high-energy sprawl development for efficiency
- We're running out of undeveloped, under-utilized land
- Not totally dependent on outside resources
- Produces most of its own energy
- Produces much of its own food
- Handles most of its own waste
- Not dependent on outside government funding
- Compact
- Energy-generating
- Single-family: partially underground and/or town-house or duplex
- Multiple-unit and business: mid-rise
- Well insulated, of course
- Mix of mid and large "American" size and Tiny-homes
- Kids can walk safely to school
- Stores in walking distance
- Village center with stores and entertainment
- Built for easy access to transit
- Not primarily oriented for automobile travel
- Transit not added as an after-thought
- Access to larger area cities via rapid transit (e.g. rail)
The
Time Is
Now
The
Time IsNow
- Growing awareness of limited fossil fuel resources
- Twenty-something age group disillusioned with sprawl development
- Growing number of retirees seeking automobile-free living
- Push by young people toward environmental responsibility
The
Place is Washtenaw County
- Large proportion of well-educated, environmentally-aware citizens
- Concentration of creative, entrepreneurial people
- Ideal rail corridors
- North-South: Old Ann Arbor Railway, now Ann Arbor and Great Lakes Central
- East-West: Michigan Central / Norfolk-Southern / Amtrak
- Push to re-invent the Ann Arbor area -- Spark, Michigan Future
What’s
Needed is...
What’s
Needed is...
- Pulling together!
- The “Green” community
- Transit and rail supporters
- “Green” developers
- U of M School of Architecture and Urban Design
- Great Lakes Central Railroad
- Local governments
- Economic gurus willing to “think outside the box"
What do
YOU think?
- Are you willing to pull together for a sustainable future in Washtenaw County?