query: research on beauty and economy

Sun Apr 6 10:32:18 CDT 2008

[ed:  thanks to Richard,  Judy, and Chris for responding to Laurel's query.]

From: Richard Layman <rlaymandc at yahoo.com>

"aesthetically-beautiful communities" is tough because it's such a broad 
question.

Harvey Molotch's book comparing Ventura and Santa Barbara gets to this, 
but he's a sociologist, not an economist.  But I only skimmed some of 
the sections of the book: Building Rules: How Local Controls Shape 
Community Environments and Economies, which is based on the arguments 
from the seminal article "City as a Growth Machine," and the book that 
followed _Urban Fortunes: Toward a Political Economy of Place_.

The University of Florida Law School Center for Government 
Responsibility has done a thorough report on the value of historic 
preservation (as have many other states, from NYS 
www.preservenys.org/economicbenefits.htm e.g., and Donovan Rypkema has 
authored _Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation_, published by the 
National Trust for Historic Preservation), as well as a follow up report 
that looks at the "Contribution of Historic  Preservation to Quality of 
Life in Florida."

The latter report is broken down into chapters, based on quality of life 
indicators, and analyzes the contribution of historic preservation, 
heritage tourism, museums, and historic and affordable housing.

http://www.law.ufl.edu/cgr/

The person who has written perhaps the most about the impact of the 
aesthetic environment on cities (signage, etc.) is Ed McMahon, formerly 
of the Conservation Foundation, now a fellow at the Urban Land 
Institute.  But I haven't seen quantified studies.

He has had a number of pieces in _Planning Commissioners Journal_, a 
publication intended for a citizen-lay audience: 
http://www.plannersweb.com/links.html.

For a study I just did for Downtown Brunswick Georgia, even though it 
wasn't technically part of the scope, we spent quite a bit of time 
analyzing and commenting on the aesthetic environment outside of 
Downtown, to wit the main roads leading to downtown, recommending urban 
design and signage guidelines and the consideration of infrastructure 
investments, because even though the Downtown is beautiful, getting to 
it is not.

Note that Olmstead wrote about the contribution of investment in parks 
to increased property values back in the 1870s.  I know there is 
research in the park field about this, but that's not my area so I don't 
have cites off the top of my head.  If you have a land grant college in 
your state, there is probably a natural resources/recreation dept. with 
a professor who would have a good handle on it.  Similarly, there are 
positive findings with regard to proximity to transit and the value of 
residential and commercial property.

I mentioned Ed McMahon.  I've only seen him speak once, but he was 
excellent.  If you can, I'd bring out Mayor Joseph Riley of Charleston.  
He's the best speaker probably out there, someone who is a mayor, on the 
value of aesthetics to community building and the local economy.  (He 
spoke in Tulsa and the Arch. Foundation there has a copy of his speech.  
It used to be online, but is only accessible through archive.org now,)

Another resource is the Mayor's Institute on City Design 
(http://www.micd.org/), but they limit their participation to _mayors_ 
which I think can be a problem when you need broader buy in.  And if you 
need a great training, I always recommend the Project for Public Spaces 
(www.pps.org).

Other resources:

-- Creating a Vibrant City Center, Cy Paumier, ULI.  He has a great 
presentation too.
-- Cities: Back from the Edge by Roberta Gratz, Wiley -- my saying about 
this book is that if you have time to only read one book, this is it, 
because it's very accessible with case studies, and is kind of a primer 
based on Jane Jacobs
-- Cities in Full by Steve Belmont, Planners Press -- the best book in 
planning for cities since Jane Jacobs (in my opinion) but a bit more 
technical, not about aesthetics at all
-- Urban Design Compendium -- published by English Partnerships, 
available for free from their website -- practical, focused on design
-- PPS has good articles on their site, including one called "Pride of 
Place" from _Governing_ magazine, as well as many in their online 
monthly newsletter called "Making Places"

Richard Layman
Citizens Planning Coalition, DC
and for profit consulting associate, Economic Development Visions, 
Washington, DC
member, National Main Street Center, Project for Public Spaces

************************************

From: "Judy Schroeder" <Judy.Schroeder at metrounitedway.org>

I remember research a number of years ago that concluded that within
low-income neighborhoods or public housing developments, criminal
activity was lower where there were shade trees growing.  Could this
have been some of Felton Earls' community health research? Definitely
suggested an aesthetic to reducing crime.

Judy Schroeder
Vital Neighborhoods Team
Metro United Way
Louisville, KY
w/ (502) 292-6127
c/ (502) 296-5056

*********************************

From: "Chris Cavanagh" <story at web.ca>

While i haven't looked that closely at the following, i suspect there's 
much good stuff to inform your thinking on "beauty and economy:

Works of Heart

New Creative Communities

Arlene Goldbard's work is very worth reading (this book began as 
Rockefeller-funded research). And check out Community Arts Net as well: 
http://www.communityarts.net/index.php

I would also include in thinking about "beauty and economy" things like 
In the Heart of the Beast and Bread & Puppet. While these might not, on 
first glance, be thought of in "economics" or "public space" frames, i'd 
suggest that they are actually successful examples (economically, 
socially and politically) of mobilizing beauty.

years ago i visited Ivanhoe, West Virginia with some folks from 
Highlander where i met the great and memorable Maxine Waller. Noticing 
some puppet heads on a shelf in the community development office i asked 
about  them and learned that they were built as part of the CED work 
with someone who had worked with Bread & Puppet.

peace

chris

Discussion list for COMM-ORG wrote:
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> [ed:  please feel welcomed to copy COMM-ORG with replies to Laurel's query.]
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> From: "Laurel Opgaard" <laurel_dti at sbcglobal.net>
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>
>  
> Has anyone got, or ever seen a study showing the correlation between
> aesthetically pleasing communities and positive economic growth?  I am in
> the process of beginning a public art program for our downtown and need to
> find information to pass along to an 'artistically challenged' group of
> community leaders.  I think hard numbers would very likely be the most
> persuasive argument to woo them over to my way of thinking, and hopefully
> funding for my project.
>
> Laurel Opgaard
> Project Coordinator
> Downtown Topeka, Inc.
> 515 S. Kansas, Suite A
> Topeka, KS  66603
> 785.234.9336 voice
> 785.234.4448 fax
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