Transcript Chapter 5: Building a Restorative Economy

Chapter 5:
Building a Restorative Economy
The Ecology of Place
Beatley & Manning
Presented by Danielle Zeigler
Introduction


Symbiotic relationship between economy
and environment
Citizen lives improved through protective
environmental policies, diversification of
local economies, and greater
independence from corporations with
distant headquarters
Introduction


Communities halting economic
development in response to sprawl, traffic
congestion, and overcrowded schools
While promoting quality of life, this
response squelches tax base to support
that quality of life
Introduction


“To avoid these problems, communities must
undertake more strategic, forward-looking
approaches to economic activity by assuming
control over their own development patterns and
proactively seeking out the appropriate mix of
activities.”
“Just as a healthy environment is critical to a
sound economy, a sound economic base is
necessary for a healthy community.”
Introduction

Approaches to encouraging economic
development that is environmentally
restorative and supportive of local
communities



Nurturing Environmentally Responsible
Industry
Fostering Local Self-Sufficiency
Bringing Business Back Downtown
Nurturing Environmentally
Responsible Industry

“Active support and recruitment of
nonpolluting, environmentally friendly
industries, especially those that
manufacture nontoxic or recyclable
products or that have comprehensive
environmental programs or controls in
place”
Nurturing Environmentally
Responsible Industry

Welcoming the Appropriate Mix of Activity



Determine appropriate mix for your region
Proactive business recruitment
Address regional environmental and qualityof-life issues
Education
 Tax and fiscal analysis
 Regulatory reform
 Local efforts to improve community health

Nurturing Environmentally
Responsible Industry

Environmentally Protective and Restorative
Development


Sustainable community seeks to develop and promote
economic base that has minimal impact on
environment and is ideally restorative of it.
Sustainable economic development activities
characterized by:




Low or no pollution emissions
Low energy consumption
Products that contain few toxics, are designed for natural
decomposition, and use sustainable materials
Closed-loop production process for durable goods
Nurturing Environmentally
Responsible Industry

Eco-Industrial Parks

“Waste Equals Food”


Waste becomes useful input to some other economic activity
Obstacles:





Challenge of assembling right mix of companies and
industrial activities
Businesses operate as if resources and ability of environment
to accommodate waste are unlimited
View that protecting environment increases costs
Fear of disclosing trade secrets and losing autonomy
Fear that company will be legally liable for waste it provides
to other companies
Nurturing Environmentally
Responsible Industry

Companies taking measures to enhance
sustainability of employee actions

Reduction of commuter traffic
Lack of willingness to carpool
 Interest in working longer hours to have extra day
at home



Removal of gas-guzzling vehicles
Recycling
Nurturing Environmentally
Responsible Industry

Conservation-based Development



Recognizes economic well-being tied to health of
ecosystem
In regions rich in natural resources but declining in
jobs, goal is to add value to resources harvest as
opposed to shipping raw materials out of the region
Ecotrust’s Approach:

“supporting small businesses that create new markets
for socially and environmentally responsible goods
and services builds the consumer base for these
products, which in turn creates demand for more
goods produced in a sustainable manner”
Fostering Local Self-Sufficiency


Importance of sound and diverse local
economic base in maintaining long-term
sustainability
Ongoing investment in local labor,
products, and services, including
consumption of locally grown produce and
other agricultural products
Fostering Local Self-Sufficiency

Investing in Local Labor, Products, and
Services


Diversification of local economies away from
dependence on one industry
Requires ongoing investment in education,
skills, and talents of local labor force, as well
as supportive community network, affordable
housing, and healthy environment
Fostering Local Self-Sufficiency



“The most potentially strengthening approaches
to local economic development should come
from local labor and businesses, rather than
companies whose profits go elsewhere.”
Survival of local merchants preserves community
character
Access to credit is determining factor in ensuring
the initiation and long-term survival of small
business
Fostering Local Self-Sufficiency

Supporting Local and Sustainable Agriculture

“’Rural development’ becomes a bump-and-grind
hustle to lure refugee businesses looking for a
high-productivity, low-wage workforce,
communities that will concede taxes in return for
jobs, and state governance that will wink at
regulatory infractions.”
Fostering Local Self-Sufficiency

Organic Produce Market



Ironically, successes provide incentive for big
businesses to move in, stimulating interstate
and international activity
Threat that corporate interests will drive out
family organic farmers, just like conventional
family farms
Outdoor Recreation Activities

Entertainment farming or agri-tourism
Fostering Local Self-Sufficiency

Recognizing Environmental Amenities and
Cultural Heritage as Economic Assets

“For purposes beyond recreation and tourism,
communities pursuing sustainable economic
development would do well to protect and provide the
parks, trails, waterways, waterfronts, historic districts,
and other assets that constitute incentives for
individuals and businesses with an appreciation for
that community’s heritage to locate there.”
Fostering Local Self-Sufficiency

Heritage Tourism

Besides providing revenue dollars, heritage tourism
provides incentive for appreciating and protecting
local heritage


With regard to sustainability, community must decide
on desired level of tourist activity


Establishment of heritage trails
Gift shops, fast-food restaurants, amusements
Measures taken to protect environment and provide
affordable housing and other necessities for locals
Bringing Business Back Downtown



Development of state and interstate
highways has lured commercial activity to
fringes of town; also edge cities
Suburb-to-suburb commuting rather than
suburb-to-city
Downtown economic activity more likely to
encourage sense of place and long-term
investment in community
Bringing Business Back Downtown

“Big Boxes” and the Mall

Not the same as downtown








Generally managed by one developer that controls all activity
Little opportunity for local ownership and none of “organic”
nature of downtown business activity
Not subject to local market forces
Profits not returned to local community
Common gathering space a creation of developer, not
community
Mall atmosphere not conducive to spontaneous public
gathering
Environmental impacts = impermeable parking lots
Disconnected and inaccessible: car required

Biggest appeal is low prices, but citizens needing lower prices
can’t get there for lack of transportation
Bringing Business Back Downtown

The Mall Moves Downtown


Shift in consumer demand
Stores enticed by possibility of not paying mall
overhead

Chain stores locate on main streets of affluent suburban
towns


Mill Avenue in Tempe, Arizona
The Pedestrian Mall

Close streets to lure people away from suburban
malls
Bringing Business Back Downtown

Breathing New Life into Downtown


Along with business recruitment, attention to street
and storefront design, tenant mix, and access to
transit and parking are necessary
Some cities with declining downtowns make decision
not to compete with mall and other retail activities


Instead, focus energies in another direction, such as
becoming regional entertainment center
Public-Private Partnerships

Seek or encourage private investment into public
improvements
Bringing Business Back Downtown

The 24-hour City



Maximize economic potential by being
constant “center of attention”
Reduce crime
Tool of implementation:


Substantial mixture of housing options in
downtown area
Obstacle to 24-hour city:

Outmoded zoning regulations not allowing mixed
uses
Bringing Business Back Downtown

The Telecommuting Dilemma


Helps reduce suburb-to-suburb traffic
Doesn’t have to encourage low-density
development or detract from existing urban
centers, but does give reason for many to
avoid downtown all together

Reduction in population mass required to keep
downtown alive
Conclusions



“Economic principles can be implemented to
protect the environment.”
“A healthy environment can stimulate a stronger
economy.”
“Gradual recognition of the importance and
potential of a return to downtown as the center
of commercial activity and of an active
community life, not to mention the primary
antidote to urban sprawl”