CONtext+disCOURSE

Rapid Open Space Development
I often find it helpful to look to precedents when discussing urban design: there is value in learning from the experiences of other cities. However, for the precedents to be as useful as possible, I seek those which have some relevance in terms of historic, physical, and cultural context. I thus often turn to cities like Portland, San Diego, and Seattle for inspiration—West Coast cities roughly the size of Long Beach. One city I usually avoid is New York: it is a much larger East Coast city with no real peers. Many would understandably be skeptical at any attempt to seek inspiration from a world city of such grand scale and density. Today, however, is an exception: I will draw from recent experiences in creating open space in New York for the lessons it might provide us here in Long Beach. Contine reading Long Beach Post.