The Ecology of Place: Planning for Environment, Economy, and Community

by Timothy Beatley, Kristy Manning

Overview

Current patterns of land use and development are at once socially, economically, and environmentally destructive. Sprawling low-density development literally devours natural landscapes while breeding a pervasive sense of social isolation and exacerbating a vast array of economic problems. As more and more counties begin to look more and more the same, hope for a different future may seem to be fading. But alternatives do exist.

The Ecology of Place, Timothy Beatley and Kristy Manning describe a world in which land is consumed sparingly, cities and towns are vibrant and green, local economies thrive, and citizens work together to create places of eduring value. They present a holistic and compelling approach to repairing and enhancing communities, introducing a vision of "sustainable places" that extends beyond traditional architecture and urban design to consider not just the physical layout of a development but the broad set of ways in which communities are organized and operate. Chapters examine:

• the history and context of current land use problems, along with the concept of "sustainable places"
• the ecology of place and ecological policies and actions
• local and regional economic development
• links between land-use and community planning and civic involvement
• specific recommendations to help move toward sustainability

The authors address a variety of policy and development issues that affect a community — from its economic base to its transit options to the ways in which its streets and public spaces are managed — and examine the wide range of programs, policies, and creative ideas that can be used to turn the vision of sustainable places into reality.

The Ecology of Place is a timely resource for planners, economic development specialists, students, and citizen activists working toward establishing healthier and more sustainable patterns of growth and development.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781559634786
Publisher:	Island Press
Publication date:	12/01/1997
Edition description:	1
Pages:	278
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Timothy Beatley is the Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities at the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, where he has taught for over twenty-five years. His primary teaching and research interests are in environmental planning and policy, with a special emphasis on coastal and natural hazards planning, environmental values and ethics, and biodiversity conservation. He has published extensively in these areas, including the following books: Ethical Land Use; Habitat Conservation Planning: Endangered Species and Urban Growth; Natural Hazard Mitigation; and An Introduction to Coastal Zone Management. In recent years much of his research and writing has been focused on the subject of sustainable communities and creative strategies by which cities and towns can reduce their ecological footprints, while at the same time becoming more livable and equitable places. His books that explore these issues include Biophilic Cities, Resilient Cities, and Blue Urbanism (Island Press).

Kristy Manning was an independent writer and consultant based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
 
Chapter 1. The New Planning Agenda
Chapter 2. Envisioning Sustainable Places
Chapter 3. Principles of Urban Form
Chapter 4. The Ecology of Place
Chapter 5. Building A Restorative Economy
Chapter 6. The Civic Community
Chapter 7. Getting There from Here: Starting Points and Future Directions
 
Bibliography
Index