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| dc.contributor.author | Wilson, Natalie | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2022-05-05T17:15:26Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2022-05-05T17:15:26Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2022-05-05 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10429/2304 | |
| dc.description | Urban planning based on the separation of programmatic zones causes isolation, forces dependence on public and private transportation, and limits access to much-needed programs. American suburbs are designed mono-programmatically for mainly residential use. Commercial, cultural, and civic programs are located on the edges. These zones are far enough apart that people must rely on other forms of transportation than walking, such as public transit. Because public transit is typically unavailable or inadequate, driving is the most convenient way to access programs. Within these residential zones, children are growing up and people are continuing to age. Children are not old enough to drive themselves, so they must rely on others to get them to other places. Similarly, older adults do less driving or none at all. The research conducted focuses on design through context, which results in a framework. Created mappings of different cities are compared to better understand walkability, programmatic design, and urban planning in general. The Bagley neighborhood in Detroit and the Italian town Volterra are all extensively mapped by program, transportation, and distances. Past utopian plans reveal the values of the past and why current cities are designed the way they are. One such plan, the Garden City by Ebenezer Howard, represents a society that valued industry, transit, and clear separations of zones. Because of plans like this, cities have widespread programs. Today though, there is a growing realization that the pedestrian should be taken into consideration. The 15-min city, complete neighborhood, and 8-80 city all argue that it is healthier and better for all people, especially elders and children, to have more activities and other programs more accessible from a shorter distance. Senior housing precedents have been further researched to understand elders’ needs and how they are currently being fulfilled. One portion of the issue that has been considered is how the neighborhood can be designed for aging in place and adapt to the different stages of family life and aging. The second element of this thesis is how the community can adapt to ensure aging in place. This thesis argues that American suburban planning strategies are not working. Cars have become the top priority over people. People are living longer and want to stay in their homes. The thesis begins with the theory of people needing stability, such as staying in one place. The perspective presented for the topic is mainly guided by a post-positivist framework and is supported by contextual observations. The intention is to determine how these American suburban planning strategies affect people’s social and physical health. Thus, the thesis intends to demonstrate how old urban planning strategies harm elders and what needs to be done to improve them. Throughout the thesis, a variety of methods are used. In general, data is recorded (mapped, photographed, and written down), diagrammed, analyzed, and connected to other data. Human activities within public spaces are observed and categorized as rest, play, and pass. Support systems among generations and within communities are studied and analyzed. The limits of what unassisted individuals can do are researched through the perspectives of aging and health. Building on these perspectives, the extent of walkability, biking, and transit are explored. There are alternate viewpoints that are relevant and must be considered as part of this thesis. Real estate agents and architects who lived through industrial slums would critique this thesis proposal to bring civic and commercial programs into residential zones. This thesis assumes that neighborhoods should be planned around the community members’ shared physical health and social needs. However, real estate agents understand land use and building use as a means of development and revenue. They consider land use and building use from a privatization perspective. Land and buildings are for the paying clients. However, design through this lens does not concern the surrounding neighborhood and community members. Programs that are beneficial for the real estate agent’s client might be harmful to the community. For instance, without zoning restrictions, the real estate agent may determine and recommend to their client that a high-rise luxury apartment building should be built. This apartment building brings people into the neighborhood that do not understand or respect the community, raises property taxes, and eventually, drives the original community members out. The type of situation set up here is an example of gentrification and a realistic example of why the real estate agent perspective might be detrimental. From a modernist architect’s perspective, there are concerns associated with bringing new programming into residential neighborhoods. They argue that commercial, industrial, and residential need to continue to be separate. Past precedents have argued for this separation of programs due to poor past experiences from every program mixing together. For instance, during the industrial revolution, people lived in tight quarters close to their work, which was seriously harmful. These slums were highly polluted and caused major health complications. However, not all of these concerns are relevant today. Housing today is regulated and not all programs are harmful to residents. All of these reasons are why mixed-use neighborhoods may not be welcomed. In terms of the aging in place aspect of the thesis, there are many arguments that claim there are better housing types for elders. Families often feel that there are not enough resources for an elder to stay at home safely and effectively. Due to these limited resources, that person can receive better care at a nursing home or a senior community. However, these arguments do not bear in mind what the person may want, what the community can do to help its elder members, and that these decisions remove people from their contexts. Bringing resources in and creating support structures would help both parties. While there are several strengths to this study, it is not without limitations. At this time, the research performed is distanced from the people it may affect. The studies presented are from the perspective of an outsider to the communities being studied and as someone who is not within the age groups being designed for. Some interviews have been conducted with members of the older age group. This thesis has mainly been based on statistics, mapping, and impersonal history. In terms of the programmatic recommendations, while there should be more mixed-use within residential neighborhoods, not everything should be permitted. Not all industrial and commercial programming should spill into residential because it may be dangerous and/or would not be welcomed by the community. Another concern is that, with the current legislation, if there are significant improvements to the neighborhood, property values could rise. This rise in property values would increase taxes and drive people out that cannot afford to pay for these new expenses, resulting in gentrification. As neighborhoods continue to be recontextualized and improved, there are many issues that need to be considered. Many suburban plans will need to be resolved. The neighborhoods need to be better designed for all people. Not everyone has the means or the ability to get to where they need to because urban plans distance programs outside of where people can access by walking. Due to the distances between different programs, people need to travel to places by car. If someone cannot drive or does not have a car, they must rely on someone else. In order for people to remain in their homes and neighborhoods, especially in their older years, their neighborhoods and communities need to have programs and physical environmental adaptations. Even after improvements are made to neighborhoods, there are concerns about losing longtime residents. Gentrification is spilling into established and struggling communities, which means these communities lose character and history. There need to be policy protections against gentrification and mixed housing to sustain the community. Thus, the problems with suburban planning are not simple and must be carefully handled. | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | American suburbs are widespread and are designed mono-programmatically for mainly residential use. Decades after the creation of these suburbs, there is a growing realization that pedestrians should be taken into consideration. The 15-min city, complete neighborhood, and 8-80 city all argue that it is healthier and better for all people, especially elders and children, to have more activities and other programs accessible from a shorter distance. One issue that has been considered is how the neighborhood can be designed for aging in place and to adapt to different stages of family life and aging. The second element of this thesis is how the community can adapt to ensure aging in place. To better understand the situation, data has been recorded, mapped, photographed, diagrammed, analyzed, and connected to other data. Building on these perspectives, the extent of walkability, biking, and transit have been explored. From these studies, evidence supports the idea that elders and other age groups need to be closer to their homes and should have support systems within the community. As people age and have other uses for their homes, the neighborhoods need to adapt for people to remain long-term in their homes. | en_US |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | en_US |
| dc.subject | aging | en_US |
| dc.subject | urban planning | en_US |
| dc.subject | Detroit | en_US |
| dc.subject | Italy | en_US |
| dc.subject | community | en_US |
| dc.subject | senior citizen | en_US |
| dc.subject | mixed-use | en_US |
| dc.subject | utopian city | en_US |
| dc.subject | suburbs | en_US |
| dc.subject | suburban plan | en_US |
| dc.subject | walkability | en_US |
| dc.subject | aging communities | en_US |
| dc.subject | elderly | en_US |
| dc.subject | elder | en_US |
| dc.title | The Age(ful) Community | en_US |
| dc.title.alternative | Reimagining American Suburban Planned Communities for Aging in Place | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
