Do you have a dream?
One of my dreams is to own a fully restored 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, just like the one on the left. However, that is a personal dream. I also have collective dreams that involve others. I would like to share one of them with you. This dream has to do with the establishment of a new kind of community that is a cross between the best of the past and the best of the future. I think my dream could become a reality. It could be in a town just like yours. So, without further delay, let’s take a look at my dream which could include YOU!
To begin, our beloved Country is in trouble. Our infrastructure Is decaying, our population is aging. Unemployment is expected to be over 10% by the end of 2009 (or sooner). Many of our senior politicians have disappointed us and many have lost their moral perspectives and religious values (if in fact they ever had any). There is bickering and mistrust between political parties, special interest groups, the haves and have not’s. On top of all that, there is a general lack of confidence coupled with anger and fear. So, what do I think about all that?
I think that we have one of the greatest opportunities to do something wonderful in the history of this great country. I think it will start with a coming together of government, the business community, and the public – working together as one to fulfill a common objective. And what might that objective be, you might ask?
The answer is the establishment of New Town. You can insert the name of your City if you wish since we can’t have all these new cities (actually revitalized old cities) having the same name. What we CAN share is a common blueprint for establishing the kind of community where we all want to live, work, and play. Since this is my dream, let’s start by reviewing a few facts.
The fact is that we are going through some tough times. Yet, we still seem to have enough money for “entertainment”. Many of us are willing to pay seven thousand dollars for a Super Bowl ticket and spend a like amount for travel, lodging and other entertainment while there. Even us common folk seem to have enough disposable income to spend over seven hundred dollars for a pair a tickets to see Robin Williams live on stage (in Birmingham, Alabama no less) or River Dance in concert for seventy dollars per ticket (although they did have a half price sale on Super Bowl Sunday).
We still have our Hummers, SUV’s and V8 pickup trucks even though we lived through gas prices of over four dollars a gallon. We don’t seem to mind spending an average of $130,000 for a home in rural Alabama (closer to $200,000 around our larger cities), so I have to conclude that there is a fair amount of disposable income still around. I understand that personal income in Alabama ranges from around $33,000 to $40,000 depending on the statistics you choose to use.
Looking at it another way, Chinese wage earners making an average of around $2,000 per year find it possible to save enough money to invest in our US stock and bond market. That tells me that we have sufficient income to do anything we choose to do, although how and what we do will require some radical changes in our thinking and our lifestyle. Since this is my dream, let’s proceed on the assumption that this will happen.
Oh, by the way. I thought you might like to see one of my other dreams. This is my next home. I probably don't have to tell you that it is located on a lake, in the mountains, where the weather is moderate but we still have four seasons. This dreaming stuff isn't so bad is it? Now, back to my dream for New Town.......
Columbia, Maryland is a good example of a planned community. Opened in 1967, Columbia was to provide an alternative to urban sprawl, suburban "flight" communities and many of the problems associated with expanded mobility. As good as the Columbia concept was, it was flawed and has recently suffered many of the same problems as traditional suburbia.
The flaw was, and is, that the entire concept was a "development". To create a development, you must have a developer (in this case, James Rouse), and funding (in this case provided by Connecticut General Life Insurance). We need to change of way of thinking from one of those who provide to those who need, to one of working together for common good. This requires a working relationship between government, the corporate community, and the public. The endeavor we are attempting to establish is a first attempt at making this happen. After we learn to work, live, and play together; we can establish a whole new way of living. Let's proceed with an overview of the details.
Anybody been to Kansas lately? I like Kansas, although the winters can get a little long and windy. Yet, I see a sense of community, particularly in the central part of the state that is unique. I see a strong emphasis on community activities, education, the arts, and managed growth. Did you know that you can get a land grant in Kansas if you will build a home there? So what does that accomplish? First, you use vacant land to expand your community and your tax base. You provide employment, and you build your community together with people that have a vested interest in the community. No developer required. No funny loans that can't be paid - just a common sense approach to managed growth. Now, let's take a look at the New Town concept.
First we have to acknowledge several things beginning with the fact that neither Federal nor State government can do it for us. They have their own problems. Second, we can't run from reality or from our neighbors. We've got to learn to live with each other. Third, our modern highway networks no longer serve our needs. We have to live, work, and play in the same place. Fourth, our population is aging and there is virtually flat (sometime negative) economic growth. Fifth, we need an education system that teaches us how to do something and NOBODY ever "graduates". To remain viable in a world economy, we will have to adapt to continuing education, even if it means giving up the latest Survivor or Simpson’s episode. Lastly, we have to relearn independence with a plan objective of producing and trading in our own community with the least possible dependence on anyone else, either foreign or domestic. Now, let's build New Town!
We begin by taking all unused land and dividing it into three new sections - for affordable housing, for farming, and for recreation (that means a lake!). Everyone who has the ability to teach will be used for evening instruction on basic home building, farming (both crops and livestock), canning, cooking, processing, and new green technology..
Our new homes will be simple, affordable, and self sustaining. They will be built by our young people, and our old people, our unemployed, and by volunteers. For every home that is built, we will create green spaces at least four times larger than the home plot. We will have local markets, bicycle and walking paths plus motorways for small electric vehicles. We will work with others to develop the finest high speed railway system in the world and everyone will be involved as a working partnership between government, business, and the public to make New Town the best place to live in the world!
Can it be done? Yes it can? Is it worth doing? Yes it is! We are ready to work with any city of any size willing to make the commitment to make New Town happen. We are limited only by our own imaginations. Initially, this is my dream.
As we get to know each other better, I am hoping that YOU will share my dream. In the meantime, I thought maybe you would like to see another of my dreams. I've always wanted to own and fly gliders. New Town will have a glider tow available and that's where I'll keep my glider! I have some really great dreams, don't I?
I think Al Gore would be proud of us.......
