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.
#3870107 in eBooks 2011-11-20 2011-11-20File Name: B006G7PNQM
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