I'd love it if any of my blog reader/friends would post comments on what makes their community livable. What does being livable mean to you? Do you know of any efforts in your community to make it more livable?
I worked on transportation aspects of livable communities when I worked for AARP. My perspective now is shaped by being a traveling retiree. Here are a couple of examples of when I have thought, "wow! I'd could live here!"
Lunch today in downtown Rockville--could have eaten at least 5 different ethnic foods, went to a gallery like store, went to an artists' studio, could have walked to the library (anchor for the town square). And a grocery store is going in right across from the town square! And I could RENT. And walk to the movies! You go , Rockville!!
(if only our grandchildren lived nearby it would be perfect...)
Grands do live in or near south end of Boston. Walkable (can't say it's drivable), apartments, theater, restaurants, parks, all within walking distance. And community gardens. And decent taxis.
Too long a blog, but I would love to hear from you!
Fort Collins has a vibrant, walkable downtown and old town. I'll follow with some old words.
ReplyDeleteDowntown
ReplyDeleteNo, neighbor,
our downtown is no sinkhole.
It gives us more income;
it uses less of our land
than any other part of town.
It welcomes diversity.
It harbors character.
It supports festivity.
If we wish to be wise,
if we wish to be efficient,
we will invest ourselves in our downtown
The L.O.A.F. Index
ReplyDeleteA bad neighborhood
is where a parent thinks *
the ten-year-old is too young
to be sent to buy a loaf of bread.
A good neighborhood
is where a parent wonders
if the six-year-old will remember
to buy an extra loaf.
We Walk Where Strangers Smile.
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.beetstreet.org/?p=2609
The rare places where to sit outside in the front of your home is more interesting and comfortable than inside with ...well everything that's comfortable but not so livable, as the still did a few years ago in Hercegkut, Hungary.
ReplyDeletehttp://komivesianpoetics.blogspot.com/2009/05/benches.html
I grew up in a town where downtown was too far to walk, but close enough to bicycle. No worries, went everywhere. On MV today, I think kids could go everywhere...except for cars... And wackos ...
ReplyDeleteMy current neighborhood is nice. People are friendly, but no one is home during the day. People walk for exercise , but seldom just to be out. We used to play in the streets...the only time I see kids (and there are plenty on our street) is when it snows. Cars seem to be a major obstacle to neighborhoods. At every age....
In a livable city and neighborhood bicycling is as often an alternative to walking as it is an alternative to driving.
ReplyDelete.
And, now I wait to be enriched by other responses.
For me a livable city is one that offers hike/bike trails from end to end enabling us to go about without driving a car. Great Schools are a must as well as strong community involvement. I also love culture, so diversity is expected. Theater, arts, and music is also appreciated!
ReplyDeleteRegarding efforts, Round Rock is doing an excellent job making our community liveable to all of our expectations above! Wish we had more local restaurants along the creek though with live music.. that's what we're missing!
ReplyDeleteMy neighborhood in the north end of Boise is extremely livable because I can walk to most anything that I want: downtown, food coop, three bookstores, hospital, coffee shops, mainstream and art movie houses, galleries, yarn and fabric shops, art museum, fly fishing on the Boise River, bicycling on the greenbelt of the Boise River for miles and miles, Idaho Shakespeare Theater, Farmer's Market, no-sort curb pickup of recyclables, a University. The bus system could be better but as long as I schedule my airport departure and arrival between 0700 and 1800, I can ride the bus to the airport for $2 and be there within 20 minutes. And the weather is livable - not much snow!
ReplyDelete