Feedback from our Readers

Feedback: Western urban planner's verbalization
"You talk about fantasizing solutions. All I can say is that you live in your own little fabulous FANTASY LAND!"

PutThatInMyBackyard:
It seems to be the chronic problem with planners and one clue as to why we have been stuck in Pete's melluva hess for so long.. Any creative process starts with "What if?" or "Just suppose that,,,". Fantasizing is the fundamental and most necessary basic process required to imagine anything other than the status quo. Without the fantasizing Imagineering process, the human race would still be trying to run down its food on foot. All of civilization is the product of fantasizing what might be or what might become.
 

Feedback: California Architect
I also wish we did not all breed like bunnies too-but that is another matter. Or is it?

PutThatInMyBackyard:
It is not another matter at all. It is one of the primary problems needing solution. I think however you might agree that as Architectural students we were taught to be creators. Hence, most of us share the guilt, if guilt it can be called, of procreation. Seriously however, we were taught to solve problems but have been so focused on the client and his site that we have overlooked the greater societal problem and any vision as to how our conceits fit into some concrete idea of the future.. We ourselves share in that guilt, using this message and the time and effort to distribute it as partial atonement.
 

Feedback: Engineering acquaintance.
How large does one "Village" has to be to have competition between similar types of businesses?   This I think will take an extended study. A detailed study of why we travel (like for food, clothing, personal services, entertainment,education, etc.) also seems to be important. Some services will still have to be centralized.

PutThatInMyBackyard:
Such studies are indeed needed. We claim no expertise in either the Demographic or Economic disciplines needed. Our expertise is in space planning and construction detailing, procedures and administration. The proposal is an outgrowth of those knowledge bases. We will however, upon demand, contract with the best available professionals for those "Outhouse Services".
 

Feedback: Attorney
Right on, the ideas and message are wonderful. The open source copyright however is insanity.

PutThatInMyBackyard:
Thanks for the compliment. Re. insanity. Lets be real. The message, which is much more important than any individual, needs implementation - the sooner the better. Should some copyright provide enough to implement a project, we'd be on it in a heartbeat. No legal hoop to jump through with author or descendants need obstruct those wishing to implement such a program. The legacy is therefore to those who will get to enjoy those magnificent environments envisioned. No altruism there, just common sense. We would be delighted however to be engaged as consultants by appropriate entrepreneurs.
 

Feedback: Florida colleague
I like the message and the format. Show it to Kebyar and the San Francisco Institute of Architecture.

PutThatInMyBackyard:
Kebyar is a journal on Architecture very much worth browsing. We did send it to Fred Stitt, Chair of the SFIA. Thanks.
 

Feedback: California colleague on Planning Commission
It was refreshing to hear some of my own words in your text. I am forwarding this link on to my fellow commissioners, and to our city council and mayor, in my continuing efforts to educate the leaders of this town on the importance of looking just a wee bit past our noses when it comes to land use decisions.

I have learned that many of the day-to-day land use decisions are made by folks who have absolutely no design, planning or ecological background what so ever.  This may also be true of the writing or revising of municipal planning codes as well.  For some reason, in our desire for community involvement in community development, we forgot about the crucial need for qualified, knowledgeable people who have cohesive, long-range thinking on such matters, and some notion of design causality. Ibid

PutThatInMyBackyard:
All very true. Good luck my friend.
 

Feedback: Chicago Architect
My dream is to bring nature into the hearts and minds of the people by making buildings give us ecologically sustainable environments that even provide a place to grow fresh food, i.e vegetables, spices as well as reduce using fossil fuels.  I have made one design for a mixed use building in Chicago --- Transforming existing urban buildings is a hell of lot more efficient than tearing "em down, it just takes more imagination to be a transformer.

PutThatInMyBackyard:
Is remodeling and "transforming" existing buildings going to accommodate the burgeoning population and enable your descendants to avoid the ghettos this created?
 

Feedback: Extended Antipodes family member
What a thought provoking site! Thank you for challenging us with these concepts.  We in Australia perhaps have the chance to address these issues as our population continues to grow.

PutThatInMyBackyard:
You are very welcome
 

Feedback: Adelaide AU City Council proposed candidate.
There is only one major point on which I disagree with you: the size of the eventual cities. We should aim to hollow out the suburbs, of course. But I think people like the hustle and bustle of the city.

PutThatInMyBackyard:
Intriguing my young friend but have you considered that City Center businesses survive on just those suburban inhabitants we replace with population islands and that yours is perhaps a recipe for Central City starvation and/or a continuation of lateral congestion?
 

Feedback: Retired Utah Rocket Engineer
The cultural bent, particularly in America, is for every man to have his own castle and grouping people together in large units or buildings is not like a castle.  It will take a major cultural change for a large percentage of people to live close together in one structure. 

PutThatInMyBackyard:
Think you're probably right. However the lowered cost, convenience and appreciating values will, I do believe, attract people in progressively greater numbers.
 

Feedback: Urban Mayor
As for your thoughts on large scale vertical construction, I think this will take time but we are already seeing such ideas in downtown. 
 
PutThatInMyBackyard:
Problem is that projects such as those you mention have not the scale of outdoor amenities conceived and serve to simply delay the implementation of those solutions confronting us.
 

Feedback: Corporate Planning Official
I have carefully reviewed your website.  You have clearly put a lot of thought into the concept.  I would appreciate some dialog with you to learn more.

PutThatInMyBackyard:
Anytime at your convenience.
 

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