It's interesting to notice that some of the most interesting case studies have arisen from the rubble and tragedy and natural disasters.
The situation in Greensburg, Kansas is particularly amazing. Their town was devastated by a tornado. Afterwards, they decided to rebuild it into a dream town with high environmental, economic and social ideals. Every building is either in the process, or already is LEED Platinum certified.
Another example is the situation around the Gulf of Mexico, where Hurricane Katrina caused her destruction. Yesterday we heard a presentation on the energy efficient "Assembly Line House Construction" that arose from the need of the people who lost their homes.
And Frank and I's presentation on the "Tiny House Movement" is also related to Hurricane Katrina. Since they are so small and cheap,they have become an excellent choice for people who are homeless and don't have a lot of cash to burn.
I love the idea of a fresh start, moving on from the past, and being able to build something so much better than before. But it makes me wonder why it takes a natural disaster to stand up and fight for better alternatives. These cities must have surely faced severe financial strain, yet still decided to make a better long-term choice. So what is our excuse? We already have so many buildings downtown that are standing empty and unused. It would be far cheaper to gut and renovate them "greener" than to build a whole new city in the first place, right? What are we waiting for?
I know that things ARE slowly beginning to change. We have been given money in the recent past to revitalize the downtown area. And in the future, Portage will be given further boosts... a "SHED" or "Sports, hospitality, and entertainment district" are in the works! Projects like these do give me some hope!
I am looking forward to the rest of the Case Studies next week to give me further inspiration!
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