Planetizen Interview With Amanda Burden

Planetizen publishes a Q&A with New York City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden. She says some great things and below are excerpts.

After reading this interview, the question I come away with is, simply: Where in the world has Amanda Burden been during the discussion of the “Atlantic Yards” development in Brooklyn? How could it be that such an important voice has been so utterly silent during such a significant development process? 

One of the big issues confronting us in the future is energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. This is not an abstract concern for us. Think of what even just a one foot rise in sea-level could do to a coastal city like New York…

New York is already the least auto-dependent city in the United States, so hopefully other cities are will be following our example. Still, there are some areas, such as Bus Rapid Transit and an expanded network of bike paths where other cities are ahead of us…

One of the biggest challenges facing New York City is its growing population. Although we are by far the densest city in the country and already built out to our edges, our population is at a record high and still growing… We have sought to promote growth in a more sustainable manner, emphasizing growth near the City’s extensive transit system while limiting growth in more automobile-oriented neighborhoods.

Planetizen askes, “What colleague had the most influence on you as a planner?” Burden says:

Holly Whyte. He understood that the quality of life in a city and everything that goes into it is the key to a city’s success and desirability. He demonstrated that the street is the barometer of the health of city life, and that every new development must have a dynamic connection with the street to ensure its vitality…

There is no such thing as successful planning or a good plan without real, ongoing community involvement. An engaged community is what makes a neighborhood work.

Photo: Timothy Fadek