In this episode of the KunstlerCast, James Howard Kunstler continues his walking tour of one city block in downtown Saratoga Springs, N.Y., a classic Main-street American town. Along the way, he visits a major urban infill project and the results of the urban renewal schemes of the 1960s. Episode 24.
James Howard Kunstler often describes Saratoga
Springs N.Y. as a classic Main Street American town. In part one of
this special program, we take to the streets of Saratoga to experience
the sense of place in this small city. Kunstler brings us from the busy
sidewalks along Broadway to a sidestreet leading to a major urban
infill project. He explains the urban sensibilities of the 19th century
structures, points out the boneheaded decisions of the 1960s one-story
development, and the promising efforts of mid-1990s new urbanism. Episode 23.
Daniel Lerch, author of Post Carbon Cities: Planning for Energy and Climate Uncertainty, describes some of the short and long term challenges that peak oil will create for local governments. Peak oil will have very local repercussions, but prompt planning can take the edge off of some of the negative effects.
A KunstlerCast listener from San Francisco asks James Howard Kunstler to critique The Golden Gate City and to speak about some of the other places in America that Jim actually likes. Kunstler acknowledges that San Francisco does a lot of things right and addresses some of its flaws and poor choices. Episode 17.
James Howard Kunstler is one of the most vocal
critics of modern urban planning. So it's only fair that in this show
Jim fields some questions from the professional planning community.
First off, the planners want to know how Jim answers to critics who
challenge him on his lack of professional credentials in the planning
and architecture fields. Next, a planning professor wants to know: what
is the most important thing that cities can do to most improve the
quality of the built environment? This show is the result of a special
collaboration between The KunstlerCast and Planetizen, the online
network for professional planners. With transcript.
