Tactical Urbanism: Short-term Action for Long-term ChangeIn the twenty-first century, cities worldwide must respond to a growing and diverse population, ever-shifting economic conditions, new technologies, and a changing climate. Short-term, community-based projects—from pop-up parks to open streets initiatives—have become a powerful and adaptable new tool of urban activists, planners, and policy-makers seeking to drive lasting improvements in their cities and beyond. These quick, often low-cost, and creative projects are the essence of the Tactical Urbanism movement. Whether creating vibrant plazas seemingly overnight or re-imagining parking spaces as neighborhood gathering places, they offer a way to gain public and government support for investing in permanent projects, inspiring residents and civic leaders to experience and shape urban spaces in a new way. Tactical Urbanism, written by Mike Lydon and Anthony Garcia, two founders of the movement, promises to be the foundational guide for urban transformation. The authors begin with an in-depth history of the Tactical Urbanism movement and its place among other social, political, and urban planning trends. A detailed set of case studies, from guerilla wayfinding signs in Raleigh, to pavement transformed into parks in San Francisco, to a street art campaign leading to a new streetcar line in El Paso, demonstrate the breadth and scalability of tactical urbanism interventions. Finally, the book provides a detailed toolkit for conceiving, planning, and carrying out projects, including how to adapt them based on local needs and challenges. Tactical Urbanism will inspire and empower a new generation of engaged citizens, urban designers, land use planners, architects, and policymakers to become key actors in the transformation of their communities. |
Contents
1 Disturbing the Order of Things | 1 |
2 Inspirations and Antecedents of Tactical Urbanism | 25 |
3 The Next American City and the Rise of Tactical Urbanism | 63 |
Five Tactical Urbanism Stories | 89 |
5 A Tactical Urbanism HowTo | 171 |
Go Out and Use This Book | 209 |
Notes | 213 |
Board of Directors | 231 |
Common terms and phrases
activity American cities approach architecture began Better Block bicycle bike lanes blog bouquinistes Build a Better built chapter Ciclovía citizen-led citizens City Repair city’s civic created creative crosswalks culture design thinking downtown example Facebook food trucks funding Green Alliance guerrilla ideas impact implementation improvements infrastructure initiatives inspired Internet intersection repair intervention Lakeman Landscape Architecture long-term low-cost Miami Mike Lydon municipal neighborhood neighbors Oak Cliff open space Operation Better Block organization paint Park(ing parking lots parking spaces parklets pavement pedestrian percent permanent physical placemaking planners play streets plaza pop-up park Portland project delivery public space quickly Rebar residents response Rose Kennedy Greenway San Francisco sanctioned sidewalk social Square streetcar suburb suburban success Tactical Urbanism projects temporary tion Tomasulo traffic transformation Transportation unsanctioned urban planning Urbanist Walk Raleigh walkable wayfinding woonerf York City