Been busy since graduation. If anyone is actually reading this, here is the next section of my senior research.
Loss of Farmland
Given Los Angeles’ developed land, it is possible to believe that there are acres being developed at some alarming rates. “The American Farm Trust calculates that we are losing prime farmland at a rate of 46 acres per hour.” (Squires 26) Lawsuits by the state of California concerning planned development in vast open land have helped direct sprawl away from farmland. “About 3 million acres (roughly the size of Connecticut) of mainly forestland, pastureland, rangeland, and crop land are converted to urbanized landscapes annually.” (Miller 169) Where farmland is being lost, development is going in its place; strip malls and the single-family homes are eliminating prime farmland for non-essential development.
Wherever there is cheap land with stable soil, a housing development is likely to spring up in southern California. Because developments benefit from the same type of soil as crops, there is a constant conflict between retaining farmland or relinquishing it to suburban development. “Deep, well-drained soils and modest slopes are attractive for both farming and development.” On these areas of farmland, “according to the American Farmland Trust, counties with high levels of both prime farmland and development pressure account for 79 percent of our nation’s fruit, 69 percent of our vegetables, 52 percent of our dairy products, and over 25 percent of our meats and grains.” (Squires 26) With the continuation of development in the region, these new developments are being planned with the car in mind, which means bigger parking lots, larger roads, air pollution, the erosion of walkways, and the loss of nature. “The amount of developed land has quadrupled in 50 years, consuming a third of our most productive farmland and more than half of all wetlands (91% in California) and it's bumping up against the boundaries of national parks, forests and other protected lands.” (Ohland, Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles in recent years has seen suburbs of its city bump up against the Angeles National Forest and also threaten other national and state protected sites together with prime farmland.
Loss of Public Space in Los Angeles
As the people of southern California watch their natural landscape being changed by sprawl, it would be in the best interest of Los Angeles to begin designating more land and property for parks and public open space rather than residential or non mixed-use development. Over 31 million people call California home, while over 9 million people reside in Los Angeles County, and millions of others inhabit Orange County and Riverside County. Los Angeles “[h]as the smallest percentage of space devoted to parks in any major American city — a paltry 4 percent — most of it in the rough Santa Monica Mountains.” (Fleischer, L.A. Weekly) On top of that, “[n]o other Urbanized Area provided so little land per resident as Los Angeles (0.11 acre)…[and] despite accepting the densest living conditions in the country…the Los Angeles Area sprawled across another 394 square miles of orchards, farmland, natural habitat and other rural land.”
(Miller 184) The reason for this is the addition of 3.1 million residents from 1970 to 1990.
The population’s proximity to open space in Los Angeles is deficient; in crowded urban areas of “southern California, only one of four residents lives within 440 yards of a neighborhood playground or park [and] in low-income neighborhoods, 1000 people, on average, share a third of an acre of public open space.” In May of 2009, the California State Senate Assembly passed a bill that would allow parks to be built on utility right-of-way property. This bill, if signed into law, will bring green open space to areas of Los Angeles that lack access to parks, particularly in low-income areas. “AB 521 [is] [a] [bill] [that] will give thousands of kids places to play, and bring more green space to our urban areas." (Roosevelt, Los Angeles Times) Efforts like this ensure that there will be opportunities to transform land into something as an antidote to sprawl.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Part Four: Senior Research
Environmental Impact of Sprawl on Natural Habitats
Along with the effects of consumerism in Los Angeles, the most severe impact from sprawl is the deterioration of ecosystems. Thousands of plant and animal species, with nearly 300 plants and animals listed as endangered, inhabit the Los Angeles area. In the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valley, and in the Santa Monica Mountains and beyond are 3.5 million acres of coast, foothill, mountain, and high desert terrain, all sheltering 3,000 plant and animal species that occur no where else on Earth. (Center for Biological Diversity) These species are threatened by continuous urban and perimeter sprawl and it has been noted that there is not enough being done to protect southern California’s preserves and National Forests. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service do little to protect federally listed species and critical habitat from many harmful Forest Service activities, including roads, off-road vehicles, power lines, oil and gas, logging, and grazing.” (Center for Biological Diversity) As many environmental agencies as there are in California alone, it is hard to believe that “between 1997-2007, studies [have] suggested [that] both plant and animal species are dying at a rate not seen for millions of years.” (Miller 74) As studies show that animal and plant extinction is on the rise, it may be possible to connect the loss of natural habitats to sprawl.
Sprawl in southern California has caused the subdivision of land with the crisscross of roads and construction of buildings, forcing ecosystems to grow frail and divert animals to what little wild open space is left. The Santa Monica Freeway, also known as “The 10,” stretches from Santa Monica to the east coast in Florida. The portion of the 10 Freeway that bisects much of Los Angeles and eastward through the Inland Empire has imperiled many animals and natural habitats. “[A]nimals are being cut off and isolated...[T]hese animals need large, contiguous blocks of wild or semi-wild landscape, find themselves hemmed in by roads, golf courses and new neighborhoods.” (Miller 96) Even more telling is the fact that “[m]ore than one-third of the known species in the United States are considered in danger of extinction…[and] [s]prawl in California is [the] leading cause of species imperilment.” (Miller 168) With a number of plants and animals possibly lost due to sprawl, the ecological processes that occur in nature are being thrown into disorder, jeopardizing wildlife communities. Within the southern California landscape, the impediments that are created by humans and contribute so greatly to sprawl, redirect animals to unfamiliar ecosystems, and contribute to lower animal fertility rates, and possible extinction. The typical view of the American landscape is that its openness and vastness is such that it does not require any limitation on development. This view does not take into consideration the need for agricultural and recreational land and the need for open space to allow these animals, plants, microorganisms and other life forms to maintain natural systems and biological diversity.
Along with the effects of consumerism in Los Angeles, the most severe impact from sprawl is the deterioration of ecosystems. Thousands of plant and animal species, with nearly 300 plants and animals listed as endangered, inhabit the Los Angeles area. In the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valley, and in the Santa Monica Mountains and beyond are 3.5 million acres of coast, foothill, mountain, and high desert terrain, all sheltering 3,000 plant and animal species that occur no where else on Earth. (Center for Biological Diversity) These species are threatened by continuous urban and perimeter sprawl and it has been noted that there is not enough being done to protect southern California’s preserves and National Forests. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service do little to protect federally listed species and critical habitat from many harmful Forest Service activities, including roads, off-road vehicles, power lines, oil and gas, logging, and grazing.” (Center for Biological Diversity) As many environmental agencies as there are in California alone, it is hard to believe that “between 1997-2007, studies [have] suggested [that] both plant and animal species are dying at a rate not seen for millions of years.” (Miller 74) As studies show that animal and plant extinction is on the rise, it may be possible to connect the loss of natural habitats to sprawl.
Sprawl in southern California has caused the subdivision of land with the crisscross of roads and construction of buildings, forcing ecosystems to grow frail and divert animals to what little wild open space is left. The Santa Monica Freeway, also known as “The 10,” stretches from Santa Monica to the east coast in Florida. The portion of the 10 Freeway that bisects much of Los Angeles and eastward through the Inland Empire has imperiled many animals and natural habitats. “[A]nimals are being cut off and isolated...[T]hese animals need large, contiguous blocks of wild or semi-wild landscape, find themselves hemmed in by roads, golf courses and new neighborhoods.” (Miller 96) Even more telling is the fact that “[m]ore than one-third of the known species in the United States are considered in danger of extinction…[and] [s]prawl in California is [the] leading cause of species imperilment.” (Miller 168) With a number of plants and animals possibly lost due to sprawl, the ecological processes that occur in nature are being thrown into disorder, jeopardizing wildlife communities. Within the southern California landscape, the impediments that are created by humans and contribute so greatly to sprawl, redirect animals to unfamiliar ecosystems, and contribute to lower animal fertility rates, and possible extinction. The typical view of the American landscape is that its openness and vastness is such that it does not require any limitation on development. This view does not take into consideration the need for agricultural and recreational land and the need for open space to allow these animals, plants, microorganisms and other life forms to maintain natural systems and biological diversity.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
You Go Low and I'll Go High
Today New York revealed their website for the High Line Park. The park is built on top of an old train line that runs above the city allowing for public access for long distances while not having to combat car traffic. This innovative idea will hopefully take off, making sure we utilize the space above us.
Its All About What You Consume: Next Section
Consumerism Redefined in Los Angeles
Factors affecting sprawl today, together with a great period of economic prosperity after WWII, helped cause sprawl to have a direct impact on the spending and consumption patterns of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles area’s excessive land development makes driving a must, especially in view of what is considered some of the poorest public transportation for a city of its size. The amount of drivers on the roads constitutes a considerable detriment to the environment and aggravates the effect that sprawl plays in southern California’s consumption of goods and food. This is because of the carbon emissions and other chemicals that are emitted into the air from driving cars. A significant portion of the energy cost of food production is spent on transporting food from harvest to market and for processing, packaging, and storage. This increases the likelihood of environmental damage to the landscape. Los Angeles’ sprawling nature exacerbates the pollution that is produced from transporting goods, hence the intense smog problem in the region. To mitigate this problem, many people can purchase locally grown, in-season, unprocessed food which would greatly reduce the need to expend as much energy in food production.
A prime example of excessive energy consumption can be found in Los Angeles:
“Suburban Los Angeles residents consume gas at a rate 12 times greater than citizens of Manhattan because of the spread-out development pattern…[S]prawling land use patterns in the United States requires more driving. This leads to the production of more greenhouse gases that fuel global warming, which in turn leads to changes in our very landscapes and even to the culture that is shaped by it.” (Squires 28)
Because of extraordinary consumption of goods in the United States, Americans contribute to draining the Earth of its resources faster than any country. “If the entire world were to consume resources at the same rate as the U.S., we would need three planets to satisfy the demand.” (Miller 45) Citizens of the United States are inordinate consumers of goods, food, and unfortunately vast amounts of natural resources. “U.S. drivers consume roughly 43 percent of the world’s gasoline to propel less than 5 percent of the world’s population.” (Miller 103) Staggering statistics such as those help put into perspective the damage the population of southern California is inflicting on the environment due to sprawl.
More effective means will need to be employed in certain areas of the United States in order to control sprawl. Given the growing population of and other western states, there will be continued influx of residents into the southern California region, further enhancing the need to find a solution to sprawl. “The fastest-growing states, regions, and counties are dominated by…the south and west regions [of] [the] [United States]. Together, the south and west will represent about 80 percent of future employment, population and income growth.” (Burchell 22) Looking at a map of the counties in the United States, there is a definite pattern of smaller counties being located on the east coast while larger counties occur on the west coast. Larger counties in the west have allowed sprawl to continue unabated, while east coast counties were not as affected by sprawl due to the advent of the automobile. We must also consider that the geographical size of the eastern states is much smaller than that of the western states. This size differential may explain why development is more structured and efficient on the east coast as opposed to the west. Furthermore, the eastern regions will not see nearly as much development in the next several decades as will the western and southern states. The latter areas will gain significant growth because of the available land, regardless of the price, causing further sprawl and disruption to the environment.
Factors affecting sprawl today, together with a great period of economic prosperity after WWII, helped cause sprawl to have a direct impact on the spending and consumption patterns of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles area’s excessive land development makes driving a must, especially in view of what is considered some of the poorest public transportation for a city of its size. The amount of drivers on the roads constitutes a considerable detriment to the environment and aggravates the effect that sprawl plays in southern California’s consumption of goods and food. This is because of the carbon emissions and other chemicals that are emitted into the air from driving cars. A significant portion of the energy cost of food production is spent on transporting food from harvest to market and for processing, packaging, and storage. This increases the likelihood of environmental damage to the landscape. Los Angeles’ sprawling nature exacerbates the pollution that is produced from transporting goods, hence the intense smog problem in the region. To mitigate this problem, many people can purchase locally grown, in-season, unprocessed food which would greatly reduce the need to expend as much energy in food production.
A prime example of excessive energy consumption can be found in Los Angeles:
“Suburban Los Angeles residents consume gas at a rate 12 times greater than citizens of Manhattan because of the spread-out development pattern…[S]prawling land use patterns in the United States requires more driving. This leads to the production of more greenhouse gases that fuel global warming, which in turn leads to changes in our very landscapes and even to the culture that is shaped by it.” (Squires 28)
Because of extraordinary consumption of goods in the United States, Americans contribute to draining the Earth of its resources faster than any country. “If the entire world were to consume resources at the same rate as the U.S., we would need three planets to satisfy the demand.” (Miller 45) Citizens of the United States are inordinate consumers of goods, food, and unfortunately vast amounts of natural resources. “U.S. drivers consume roughly 43 percent of the world’s gasoline to propel less than 5 percent of the world’s population.” (Miller 103) Staggering statistics such as those help put into perspective the damage the population of southern California is inflicting on the environment due to sprawl.
More effective means will need to be employed in certain areas of the United States in order to control sprawl. Given the growing population of and other western states, there will be continued influx of residents into the southern California region, further enhancing the need to find a solution to sprawl. “The fastest-growing states, regions, and counties are dominated by…the south and west regions [of] [the] [United States]. Together, the south and west will represent about 80 percent of future employment, population and income growth.” (Burchell 22) Looking at a map of the counties in the United States, there is a definite pattern of smaller counties being located on the east coast while larger counties occur on the west coast. Larger counties in the west have allowed sprawl to continue unabated, while east coast counties were not as affected by sprawl due to the advent of the automobile. We must also consider that the geographical size of the eastern states is much smaller than that of the western states. This size differential may explain why development is more structured and efficient on the east coast as opposed to the west. Furthermore, the eastern regions will not see nearly as much development in the next several decades as will the western and southern states. The latter areas will gain significant growth because of the available land, regardless of the price, causing further sprawl and disruption to the environment.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Next Two Paragraphs of Senior Research Paper
Defining Sprawl in Los Angeles
Greater Los Angeles is viewed as the epitome of sprawl. That reputation began with events that occurred decades ago. Main elements of Los Angeles’ sprawl largely relate to World War II. Aspects of sprawl during this period include the following:
1. The automobile – A major American icon which provided an easy means for people to travel and made relocating to more rural locations possible. “Auto and truck travel have exploded in the United States since World War II. That explosion is the key force behind the energy consumption, air quality, and climate changes brought about by sprawl.” (Squires 24)
2. Freeway system – Mindful of the autobahn in Germany, President Eisenhower initiated a freeway system that was originally conceived for the military. This ultimately provided people the means to move freely, encouraging the construction of cookie-cutter homes and developments throughout the landscape.
3. Baby-boomers (Population increase) – Veterans returning from war wanted to settle down and raise a family. During this period in history, America saw a spike in births throughout the nation. The rise in population meant more homes, more roads, and more sprawl.
4. American suburban home – As personal and national wealth was on the rise during the 1950’s, families looked for affordable homes in suburbs outside of cities. Our government encouraged families to live in suburbs as a means to pay off war debts. (Miller 16)
These four elements in American history helped promote sprawl across the United States, with Los Angeles representing the more unconstructive side of that phenomenon.
Factors Influencing Sprawl Today
Three main reasons for sprawl today continue to be growing populations, increasing economic prosperity, and reliance on the automobile. Other features of sprawl include:
1. Leapfrog or scattered development – A form of development that is more inefficient use of land than sprawl. It skips over available land and claims large tracts for development. This process allows for cheaper land to be bought and developed, generally for a single purpose. The farther away the land is from major cities, the cheaper it will be, which is why leapfrog development is so appealing to developers.
2. Single-use development – A type of development that has a single purpose or use. Examples would be strip malls and single family suburban homes. On the other hand, an example of a development with multiple uses would be an apartment complex that has a parking garage, its living spaces, and a restaurant that serves the public.
3. Poor accessibility and automobile dependency – Dependency on automobiles has caused poor public accessibility to locations throughout Los Angeles and elsewhere in the United States. Existing public transportation does not allow for positive accessibility throughout a large and expansive developed landscape.
4. Fragmented open space between scattered developments – Land between developments causes zoning and regulation problems and turns the open areas into unsightly and unused space.
5. Lack of functional open space – Public space that does not meet the needs of its users. Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles, for example, is usable, but the design and its users (generally homeless people) make it a poor functioning open space.
6. Lack of nearby conveniences – As developments are being pushed into more rural locations, the necessities of life are no longer conveniently located.
7. Increasing expenditures on infrastructure – As the population grows causing more sprawl, there will be an expected increase in expenditures by local governments.
Greater Los Angeles is viewed as the epitome of sprawl. That reputation began with events that occurred decades ago. Main elements of Los Angeles’ sprawl largely relate to World War II. Aspects of sprawl during this period include the following:
1. The automobile – A major American icon which provided an easy means for people to travel and made relocating to more rural locations possible. “Auto and truck travel have exploded in the United States since World War II. That explosion is the key force behind the energy consumption, air quality, and climate changes brought about by sprawl.” (Squires 24)
2. Freeway system – Mindful of the autobahn in Germany, President Eisenhower initiated a freeway system that was originally conceived for the military. This ultimately provided people the means to move freely, encouraging the construction of cookie-cutter homes and developments throughout the landscape.
3. Baby-boomers (Population increase) – Veterans returning from war wanted to settle down and raise a family. During this period in history, America saw a spike in births throughout the nation. The rise in population meant more homes, more roads, and more sprawl.
4. American suburban home – As personal and national wealth was on the rise during the 1950’s, families looked for affordable homes in suburbs outside of cities. Our government encouraged families to live in suburbs as a means to pay off war debts. (Miller 16)
These four elements in American history helped promote sprawl across the United States, with Los Angeles representing the more unconstructive side of that phenomenon.
Factors Influencing Sprawl Today
Three main reasons for sprawl today continue to be growing populations, increasing economic prosperity, and reliance on the automobile. Other features of sprawl include:
1. Leapfrog or scattered development – A form of development that is more inefficient use of land than sprawl. It skips over available land and claims large tracts for development. This process allows for cheaper land to be bought and developed, generally for a single purpose. The farther away the land is from major cities, the cheaper it will be, which is why leapfrog development is so appealing to developers.
2. Single-use development – A type of development that has a single purpose or use. Examples would be strip malls and single family suburban homes. On the other hand, an example of a development with multiple uses would be an apartment complex that has a parking garage, its living spaces, and a restaurant that serves the public.
3. Poor accessibility and automobile dependency – Dependency on automobiles has caused poor public accessibility to locations throughout Los Angeles and elsewhere in the United States. Existing public transportation does not allow for positive accessibility throughout a large and expansive developed landscape.
4. Fragmented open space between scattered developments – Land between developments causes zoning and regulation problems and turns the open areas into unsightly and unused space.
5. Lack of functional open space – Public space that does not meet the needs of its users. Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles, for example, is usable, but the design and its users (generally homeless people) make it a poor functioning open space.
6. Lack of nearby conveniences – As developments are being pushed into more rural locations, the necessities of life are no longer conveniently located.
7. Increasing expenditures on infrastructure – As the population grows causing more sprawl, there will be an expected increase in expenditures by local governments.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Culmination of College
I have finished my senior research paper on how sprawl can effect our particular lifestyle habits and the pressure it puts on natural habitats and ecosystems in Los Angeles. Here is my introduction. Please enjoy. (Can't seem to get the whole paper up, if anyone is reading this at all, a little help would be appreciated.)
Sprawl L.A.: The Impact of Sprawl in Los Angeles
Greater Los Angeles is the agglomeration of urbanized area throughout Los Angeles County. It is an amalgam of neighborhoods, municipalities, and unincorporated areas. A term for this urbanized growth is sprawl. As defined, sprawl is low-density dispersed development outside of urban city centers. The alterations to the landscape caused by sprawl have an effect on how people live, work, and use energy, but most importantly on the well-being of the environment. As Los Angeles continues to sprawl, it impacts the natural environment significantly, with accompanying deterioration to our ecosystems. California landscape can only suffer further harm if urban sprawl continues unabated. The objective of this research paper is to explore the deterioration of ecosystems resulting from sprawl and the harmful effects of lifestyle promoted by sprawl.
Sprawl L.A.: The Impact of Sprawl in Los Angeles
Greater Los Angeles is the agglomeration of urbanized area throughout Los Angeles County. It is an amalgam of neighborhoods, municipalities, and unincorporated areas. A term for this urbanized growth is sprawl. As defined, sprawl is low-density dispersed development outside of urban city centers. The alterations to the landscape caused by sprawl have an effect on how people live, work, and use energy, but most importantly on the well-being of the environment. As Los Angeles continues to sprawl, it impacts the natural environment significantly, with accompanying deterioration to our ecosystems. California landscape can only suffer further harm if urban sprawl continues unabated. The objective of this research paper is to explore the deterioration of ecosystems resulting from sprawl and the harmful effects of lifestyle promoted by sprawl.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Santa Monica Civic Center: Mixed-Use Residential Maritime Park
These are perspectives of my recent LA 403 design class for the master plan of the Santa Monica Civic Center. I selected the area at the corner of Ocean, Colorado, and Main St.Concerns of the project are:
1. Functionality (how paths work, buildings relating to other public spaces, etc.)
2. Connecting with the community, the public, the ocean
3. Using art to tell the maritime story of Santa Monica
4. Mixed-Use purposes
5. Continuing Santa Monica sustainability plans
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
