Urban Design Treatise

[Richhamleigh, DC]

I saw this recently and wondered what comments you all might have about this Introduction to a town's urban design manual...is it OK?

All community visions are, fundamentally, multi-faceted products encompassing details like parks, transportation, utilities, and public safety, and an opportunity to review the comprehensive way in which these elements work together.  When these elements are understood holistically, they lead us to the kind of future that will benefit the greatest number of us and in turn, leave behind in our wake a rich legacy for our children and grandchildren. Urban design standards are critical components required to ensure the realization of any vision of the future.

To begin to understand the significance of urban design standards, let us begin by examining a hypothetical town, why it grows, and how it develops.  Once we understand, appreciate, and incorporate fundamental truths about town building and urban design into our collective consciousness, we'll be well along the way toward facing head-on our concerns and best of all, harnessing the potential of our own community.  Town building, and specifically, urban design, is not a trend.  The essence of urban design is its timelessness.  One does not look at the Roman Coliseum and merely see a stadium; most people do not look at the Empire State Building and see just a commercial office building in the form of a skyscraper.  Similarly, we hope that when we look at our own town in the future we

[monsoon]

[Richhamleigh, DC]

I would not consider Myers Park a good example of Urban design. Most of the streets there do not have sidewalks, and it is impossible to get around without a car. Also there is no definite center to Myers park but rather it is a series of neighborhoods and strip malls (though nice ones). I don't think the author knows what he is talking about.

Maybe she meant "Dilworth"?

[monsoon]