After much hype, I attended the lecture by Witold Rybczynski sponsored by the University of Windsor’s Humanities Research Group last night.  I had done some online reading about Professor Rybczynski prior, but had not read any of his many books.  I had heard great things, however.

Which is why I was disappointed in the lecture.  Aside for the fact that the talk was incredibly short, it didn’t delve too deeply into the problems facing our urbanized society today.  Prof. Rybczynski spoke of greenfield development very matter-of-factly, sort of resigned to the idea that there’s nothing we can do about it.  The project in Philidelphia he highlight (which we worked on himself) was another greenfield housing development built along New Urbanist ideas.  However, there were no med/high density residential uses, mixed-use development, or any retail or commercial to speak of.  It was extolled because of its small lots and front porches which increased walkability.  He seemed resigned to the fact that this form of develoment was here to stay.

My question is; walkable to where?  People need destinations to walk to and unless you provide them you will only get the dogwalkers utilizing your sidewalks and trails.  Not to say there’s anything wrong with dogwalkers, but they’re not the problem, are they?  It’s the auto-oriented monoculture of bedroom communities and their preliferation of single-occupancy motorized commuters that everyone is fingering these days, isn’t it?  Prof. Rybczynski appeared to focus on how best to mitigate the ramifications of sprawl development as opposed to questioning its value as a whole.

I wasn’t the only disappointed attendee last night.  The event was well attended by the University’s faculty and students, professional architects and urban planners, and most of them left the venue a little empty.  I was told by a handful of people that they were really looking forward to Prof. Rybczynski’s lecture as they had grown up reading his masterful literature, yet his talk was a bit of a let-down.  I am not going away empty-handed, though.  Everyone told me that his books were brilliant and not let his lacklustre talk dissuade me from reading them.  So, thanks to the  University book store, I am now the proud owner of two sign Rybczynski books; Home (1986) and City Life (1995).   I am sure they won’t disappoint.

All was not lost on the planning front, however.  After a rumour was being filtered around the Freed-Orman Centre last night, my fellow attendees and myself decided to check it out to make sure it was true.  If it was true, it would be akin to a yeti sighting on the streets of Forest Glade.  We had our doubts.

What was this rumour?  That a member of Windsor’s Planning Department was getting his groove on and rocking the patrons of Olde Sandwich’s Rock Bottom pub.  Huh?  I thought planners were of the staid, un-cool variety, yet I witnessed Kevin Alexander (Senior Community Development Planner, Urban Design & Community Development) kickin’ out the tunes with his bandmates in style!

My hats off to you, Mr. Alexander!  You’re going to singlehandedly make the profession of planning cool!

PS - I need some help from SD readers.  Kevin’s band is yet un-named, and I am sure he would appreciate some help in this area.  What can you come up with?

Tags: Local Music, planning department, University, Urban Design