Downtown Pomona (Post 2 of 3)

At the western edge of the commercial portion of Second Street in downtown Pomona there are some old brick warehouse/light industrial type structures. This area is separated from the central "Arts Colony" by many empty lots  - some of the many "missing teeth" in downtown Pomona. There were multiple "low rider" displays on this end of Second Street during the monthly "Second Saturday" art walk. Cars, children's bikes, and a photo exhibit of low rider culture. 

 

Great old sign.

 

Gallery/realtors office. 

 

Two story live/work in an old warehouse. 

 

Letting public safety folks know. 

 

Skaters

 

Detail of the front door to a beautiful historic building on Second Street. There are several buildings like this among the "missing teeth" on Second that, when rehabbed, will be a great foundation for reviving the rest of the neighborhood.

Verdugo Avenue, Burbank, CA

There are two to three blocks of development like this along Verdugo Avenue in Burbank, CA. One and two story buildings built to the sidewalk with parking in the rear. All built before the current very high parking requirements. It immediately abuts duplex and single family residential zones and is within a 1/4 - 1/2 mile walk of many residents. A bike lane runs most of the length of Verdugo Avenue through the city including at this point so it is also easily accessible by bike. This strip of buildings could use some investment - a small mixed-use project was recently approved at the other end of the block - or at a minimum a new coat of paint and some street trees, but it is otherwise a charming and functioning commercial neighborhood. 

Seaside

The resort town of Seaside in Florida is an early example of "New Urbanist" ideals. There are many criticisms of the place such as it's supposed artificiality. It is a resort town so it's fair to question whether or not these ideals work in the "real world." Traditional town design exemplified by Seaside seemed to work well in North America for at least 300 years, but is it possible technology such as teh automobile and Internet have rendered this model of human habtitat obsolete? Big question. One I don't dare attempt to answer on a blog like this. 

A post at Better! Cities and Towns provides some thoughts and shares the video I've included below.

But the story is so much more good than bad.  One has to remember, as the video below reminds us, that the compact, 80-acre town was conceived over 30 years ago, when almost no one was building walkable communities.  If it wasn’t sprawl, it didn’t sell, or so people thought.  Seaside may have been built on decades-old premises, but it was downright radical for its day.

The Opposite of Soul Crushing Ugliness

Detached and semi detached homes in Toronto, Canada. No garages or driveways in front. Simple architecture, porches, trees, easy charm.  The answer to the soul crushing ugliness of many of our cities is partly in the past. I bet your city's zoning code prohibits this or somehow makes it very difficult and I bet your public works department and fire department would say the street is too narrow. You might be surprised what your city's regulating code prohibit.