| Goal | Creating accessible, egalitarian cities with a strong sense of community and local pride |
| Focus | Strengthening social ties, integrating mixed-use spaces and green areas |
| Impact | Improved quality of life for residents • Increased community engagement and local pride • Transformed urban development practices |
| Criticism | Perceived idealism • Difficulties in implementation • Potential for gentrification |
| Discipline | Urban planning |
| Key elements | Mixed-use spaces • Green areas • Limited car-centric urban design • Prioritized community input |
| Controversies | Criticism from traditional urban planners and developers • Questions about feasibility and scalability |
The urban planner (also known as urban designer, city designer, or urbanist) is a key figure in the shaping of communities and cities in this alternate timeline. In this world, urban planning is a discipline focused on creating harmonious, accessible, mixed-use spaces that foster a strong sense of community and local pride.
The origins of urban planning in this alternate timeline stem from a growing recognition of the shortcomings of traditional car-centric urban development, which prioritizes private automobile transportation over social cohesion, mixed-use spaces, and environmental sustainability.
This recognition led to the birth of the New Urbanism movement at the turn of the millennium, which rejected car-centric urban design and instead emphasized creating communities with strong social ties and shared spaces, often termed mixed-use spaces.
New Urbanism stresses the importance of building communal spaces where residents can interact, fostering a sense of belonging and social cohesion. [1] The urban planner then collaborates with architects, researchers, and members of the local community to create a vibrant and diverse mix of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces. These spaces are designed to promote social interaction, as well as health and well-being.
New urban design prioritizes walkability and reducing the usage of private automobiles. Planners design urban areas that encourage walking, biking, or public transport, while simultaneously limiting or banning cars in certain neighborhoods. [2] Cities increasingly rely on expansive bicycle infrastructure to promote a car-free lifestyle and reduce urban noise pollution.
Urban planning in this timeline also emphasizes reducing inequality and ensuring accessibility for all residents, regardless of social status or physical abilities. [3] Planners strive to create diverse, socially integrated neighborhoods that reduce the impact of wealth disparities on urban geography. This commitment to socio-economic equality and accessibility makes the urban planner a vital player in promoting more inclusive, equitable communities.
Urban planners in this alternate timeline engage in a participatory design process, consulting and collaborating with local residents, businesses, and organizations. [4] Understanding the specific needs, desires, and identity of a community is integral to the planner's work, leading to an emphasis on localism and regional pride. This collaborative approach has the potential to create more sustainable, authentic, and vibrant urban environments.
In this timeline, cities such as Deloris, Westhaven, and Citrus Village are celebrated examples of communities following this planning style. They feature extensive mixed-use spaces, green areas, and accessible, inclusive design, all while serving as bastions of regional pride and identity.
Despite its successes, this approach to urban planning has also faced criticism and controversy. Some argue that the rejection of cars as a major mode of transportation imposes unnecessary restrictions on mobility and personal freedom. Others claim that the focus on egalitarian living arrangements overlooks income disparities and the practical realities of urban development. [5]
Despite these criticisms, the impact of this urban planning approach on the quality of life and sustainability of communities has been significant. The emphasis on social cohesion and shared spaces has strengthened communities, while the move away from car-centric design has improved local environments through reduced noise pollution and increased walkability. The embrace of localism and regional identity has led to more authentic, culturally rooted urban spaces. All these factors combine to create living environments uniquely suited to their citizens and the contexts they live in.
