Retrofitting the suburbs

Retrofitting describes the measures used in fitting new or updated parts to an old and outdated one, making the part last longer and more attractive. From being part of the industry expression the name ‘retrofitting‘ have developed into being a design phrase, and are used to describe sustainable re-designs projects from building and renovation projects to improve of water quality, energy saving projects and larger scale urban planning.

One example of retrofitting used in urban planning is in connection with suburb development. Many of the city and town development during the second half of the 20th century in US was primarily focused on car transportation leading to poorly served suburban neighborhoods by cars only. This lack of paths to cross the road, makes it hard to use the city in a more sustainable way for example by walking or by bike.

In the book ”Retrofitting the Suburbs to Increase Walking” by Boarnet, Joh, Siembab, Fulton, and Mai Thi Nguyen are looking at the retrofitting and possibilities for the suburbs to connect with the inner cities in a new environment friendly way. A connection that would be both of high sustainable value in decreasing the use of private cars which primarily is good for the environment, but also in terms of public health by walking or biking.

To make a retrofitting of suburbs to the city successful the display of the connection between the to part would be very important. Based on a quasi-experimental method using 12 neighborhoods commercial centers in the central Pudget Sounds region in Washington, Hess, Moudon, Snyder and Stanilov made a research with a part of the conclusion being that the neighborhood site design plays a determining role in supporting walking as a means of transportation - having a good walkability.

A tool that has been lounged is RateMyStreet on Crowdssoucing, Google Maps. The RateMyStreet is a website based on a five star rating system. This website can help empowering the local communities to rate the walkability of the local streets in different categories: Crossing the street, Pavement/Sidewalk width, Trip hazards, Finding your way, Safety from crime, Safety from traffic, Clean/attractive and Disabled access.

To connect the suburbs the city center in a sustainable way will probably take a long time, and demand a shift in the way urban development and everyday life is in American cities. Yet one can hope that with focus on the sustainability in the suburban ‘retrofitting’ projects, the health that people can gane and the knowledge though for example websites like RateMyStreet, it might be possible to…. change….???

Read more:
Case about Toronto
Interview about ’walkability' and 'bikeability’ - Jan Gehl
Case about Odense