Jeff Speck: “Make a residentia…
July 2nd, 2009Jeff Speck: “Make a residential neighborhood better, and its residents benefit. Make the downtown better, and the entire city benefits.”
Jeff Speck: “Make a residential neighborhood better, and its residents benefit. Make the downtown better, and the entire city benefits.”
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I highlighted that quote yesterday… finally found time to sit down and read it while attending the Historic Preservation Commission meeting.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Paul –
So what did you think? Strongly agree or disagree with anything?
I am interested to see what ideas are implemented.
-b
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:14 am
Well, to be honest, much of it is stuff I’d learned in planning school. It’s new to OKC, but not new to those recently educated in planning. It’s all pretty-much dead on, in my head. Maybe I’m drinking the Speck Kool-Aid, but I’m on board with most suggestions. I think his questioning of the Functional Classification Plan for downtown was a little too much – I think each street’s designation is correct, but each classification just needs tweaking to change what the classification entails.
I’ve walked Walker to work a few times (NW 20th St straight down to Main) and it really gives perspective on walkability. Portions of Walker are great now, but other portions need work. I think things will be implemented, mainly because we’ve hired a good group of Landscape Architect-driven streetscape consultants for the downtown streetscape project. They’ll bring a completely different perspective than an engineer-driven consultancy.