Northern News
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NORTHERN NEWS American Planning Association A Publication of the Northern Section of the California Chapter of APA DECEMBER 2013/JANUARY 2014 Making Great Communities Happen Exurban and super-high density Turkey’s hills are alive with the sound of building By Jennifer Piozet, associate editor This past November, I attended a for redevelopment as the land is sold by the government meeting of the Santa Clara County to private investors. Housing Action Coalition (HAC) “Drive through a suburb out to the hills beyond Ankara, where specific Turkish housing and all of a sudden there are 10 high-rise buildings,” said developments and problems were Shiloh Ballard. You see “an island of really super high discussed. Presenters included Shiloh density residential in the middle of nowhere.” Ballard, Ballard of the HAC and Peter Hamilton, City of San Jose head of the Silicon Valley Housing Action Coalition (both visited Turkey in July); Cigdem Cogur, an Istanbul native and Oakland-based architect for Cogur Design + Construction; and Yelda Kizildag, a Turkish planner who is focusing her PhD dissertation on urban renewal in Istanbul. The following is my summary of the presentation and discussion. But first, a definition: ge•ce•kon•du (gih•zhee•kawn’duh) Turkish, n. 1. literal: was made at night. 2. a makeshift, uncom- fortable hut erected overnight on land owned by the state, municipality, or individuals in defiance of building codes and property rights. 3. a large unplanned community of such dwellings, of various degrees of permanence (cf. favelas, Brazil). [The Genesis of the Gecekondu: Rural Migration and Urbanization (1976), Kemal H. Karpat.] ew and super-high density, exurban, hillside Nhousing is pushing out the working classes who have lived in squatter housing outside of Istanbul and Ankara since the 1950s. The high-rise, gated communities have no connection to the community or street, but the older, squatter housing is feeling the pressure of rising land prices. This squatter housing — illegal, informal, unauthorized housing usually located in landslide and earthquake zones — is called gecekondu, and the communities are at risk Older housing in Beyoğlu in central (European) Istanbul. Photo: Shiloh Ballard n (continued on page 13) SEE PAGE 2 FOR A LIST OF WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE WHAT’S INSIDE Governmental planning and development in Turkey has been making news these past months. Associate editor Jennifer Piozet leads this issue of Northern News with a discussion of the ever-expanding, super-high density high-rise in the Turkish hillsides and its impacts on the squatter housing that has occupied the same or nearby lands since the 1960s. From the editor, page 12, summarizes a November 24th article from Today’s Zaman, Turkey’s largest English-language daily, on the “unstoppable and government-backed urbanization adventure for the past decade.” And on page 25, we summarize an October Future Cities article on the battle over an eight-lane motorway bulldozed through a previously protected forest on the edge of Ankara. Also in this issue: Director’s note. Kudos to APA Northern’s Holiday APA members get 10 percent off UC Davis party planners and sponsors; to Laura Thompson on Extension courses. Page 10 her re-election as Northern Section treasurer; and to Hing Wong, AICP, who will become President-elect Planning students make an impact with Fall events, of APA California on January 1. Page 3 by Mark Young and Amanda Becker. Page 11 Correction. Updated photo and additional information Free traffic, pedestrian, and bicycle safety for 2201 Dwight Way, Berkeley. Page 14 assistance for California communities. Page 4 Eight holiday party photos. A look at District (Oakland) Where in the world, photo by Elizabeth Rynecki. and some of your colleagues who were there. Page 15 Page 4 Norcal roundup, assembled by associate editor Meet a local planner. Tania Sheyner, AICP, interviews Jennifer Piozet. Page 17 Viktoriya Wise, AICP. Page 5 State, national, global. Assembled by Naphtali H. Knox, Who’s where. Dave Javid, AICP, LEED AP, FAICP. Formerly “Other top stories,” this regular and Kerry Rohrmeier, PhD AICP. Page 7 feature is renamed and divided among California (six abstracts), National (seven), and Global (five). These Call for nominations for APA California are short. Flip throught the headlines, find what Northern 2014 awards. Page 8 interests you, and take the link to the original article. Page 20 Plan-it sustainably: Biophilic urbanism on the rise. Scott T. Edmondson, AICP, condenses a post Board member directory and newsletter information. by Timothy Beatley. Page 9 Page 26 Find JOBS and EVENTS CALENDAR at norcalapa.org Northern News 2 December 2013/January 2014 Director’s note By Jeff Baker HappyHoliday New party Year! the 2014Northern promises Section. to be Avalon another and exciting Natalie and have busy decided year to It’sThe hard 2013 to holiday believe season that 2013 is rapi is stephere down in the from Northern their positions Section. as Major Co-directors events that of the will Young be alreadyapproaching! behind Please us. It join was us another to kic Plannersa focus this Group year (YPG) include to an focus International on their families Planning and Triptheir greatoff the year season filled with with the training annual and work.to eastern Please Europe join me and in planning thanking forthese the two 2015 volunteers APA for Northernnetworking Section events holiday in the party.Northern This Section. year’s event will be theirCalifornia dedication conference and service. to be hosted by Northern Section dThe Friday, Northern November Section 22, atannual 7 PM Holiday at District Party,, 827 held in Oakland.We are currently A number seeking of committees candidates havefor Director been formed WashingtonNovember 22nd Street, at downtownDistrict in Oakland.Oakland, Atwas the a great corn ofto thehelp Young plan andPlanners host Group.the conference. Please contact Please me let at me know ofsuccess! Washington (See photos and 9th, on District page 15 is.) just The three nearly blocks 100 from [email protected] you would like to volunteerif you your are timeinterested to serve in on a theattendees 12th Street enjoyed BART the stationfestivity (11th and theand opportunityBroadway e thiscommittee position. and help to make this a successful event. to catchThis is up always with acolleagues fun event and and celebrate an opportunity their 2013 to catch ThePlease Northern join me Section in congratulating By-Laws (http://bit.ly/O0dLM Laura Thompson upaccomplishments. with colleagues andI would celebrate like to the thank year’s our accomplish- generous pageon her 13, election Section to4.7.16) a second lists two-yearthe following term dutiesas Northern for the ments!sponsors As for always, providing we will raffle hold prizes our annualthat raised Californ over YPGSection director: Treasurer beginning January 1st. Laura has done Planning$400 for theFoundation California auction Planning at the Foundation: party. If you Winzler can •a great Organize job, andand weprovide are thrilled a forum to for have students her continue and on donate& Kelly an |item, GHD it, wouldLSA, HNTBbe greatly, Eisen/Letunic appreciated. All, as Treasurerpracticing as planners we launch ages into 35 and 2014. un proceedsJuan Borrelli go toward, AICP student, and scholarships. URS. And aPlease special contact thank professionals,There are always which plenty will cultivateof opportunities young professionals to get Darcyyou goes Kremin, out to CPF the LiaisonHoliday at Party [email protected] planning committee. involvedthrough with career the building Northern programs, Section. social We are events, currently and Pleaseled by seeFlorentina page xx forCraciun more information: Tania Sheyner and to, reserveAICP; for recruitingmentoring members opportunities; for two Board positions: Young theDarcy party. Kremin, AICP; Ronny Kraft, AICP; •Planner’s Work closely Group with Director, other and board Peninsula members, Regional includi and ; as well as the Activity Coordinator. To find out more and review the ElectionHanson of Northern Hom, AICP Section Treasurer student the University Liaison and Student Representatives, who assisted during the event. The party description of these positions, see the Northern Section Novembervolunteers means it is election time for the Northern to publicize and organize events; and would not have been such an outstanding success By-Laws at http://bit.ly/O0dLMo. You’ll find the duties Section. Be sure to cast your vote for the next Trea • Maintain social networking platforms and keep curren without the hard work and dedication of the firms for the YPG director on page 13 in Section 4.7.16, and See the article on page xx for more information on how on new ways to communicate with members of all age and individuals who helped plan and sponsor the event. for the Regional Advisory Council (RAC) Directors in to cast your vote. The Northern Section Board will meet in January SectionTo learn 4.7.17. more To about learn the more Young about Planners the Young Group, Planners go to Youngto review Planners the Board’s Group and Section’s accomplishments in http://bit.ly/18doFldGroup, go to http://bit.ly/18doFld, and visit the group, and visiton the group on I2013, would set like and to prioritizerecognize goals and thankfor 2014, Avalon adopt Shultz the annual, facebook.com/YPGNorCalwww.facebook.com/YPGNorCal. Interested candidates AICPbudget,, and and Natalie kick off De the Leon New forYear. their Please years drop of service me a to should contact me at [email protected]. line if you have suggestions regarding Northern Section Last but not least, congratulations to Hing Wong, goals that you would like to see accomplished in 2014. AICP, on his election as President Elect of APA California. His one-year term as President Elect starts January 1, 2014. His two-year term as Chapter President will commence January 1, 2015.