In Search of a City:
At a recent Columbus Metropolitan Club evening forum on the future of Columbus, I asked panelist Michael Wilkos to describe Columbus in the year 2020. He gave a startling answer that, upon reflection, made perfect sense.
Wilkos stated that the older, pre-1955 areas of Columbus that constitute the Columbus City School District would become considerably more affluent because of inward migration by young professionals in search of urban order, transportation options, and proximity to jobs and services.
By contrast, Michael painted a bleak picture of many Columbus neighborhoods built after 1955. Many of these neighborhoods lack much semblance of planning, charm or walkability. It is these neighborhoods, according to Wilkos, where increasing concentrations of poverty will be found. Even now, you can see clear evidence of their decline by driving along commercial corridors such as Hamilton Road or Brice Road.
Absent a “game changer” such as high gasoline prices or a fundamental shift in how the region invests in public infrastructure, wealth will be increasingly concentrated in the center city and outlying counties with vast swaths of poverty in between. This 2020 picture is not a pretty one.
December 22nd, 2009 at 9:03 am
I was there, and tend to agree with Michael. In case you didn’t seen it, here is a fascinating article in the Atlantic last year that says the same thing — raised to the nth degree: http://bit.ly/1S9XcR. If this prediction comes to pass — or anything like it — the challenge will be to realign our social service and planning resources to respond to the growing needs.
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I agree that this appears to be the current trend that we’re moving towards, but I’m not sure if the situation will be completely actualized by 2020. It’s still strange to say, but that’s only 10 years away from 2010. Perhaps by 2030, the situation outlined above may be more of a reality, but I think in 2020 we may only be halfway there.
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:21 pm
[...] READ MORE [...]
December 22nd, 2009 at 3:09 pm
It seems like this trend has already taken effect in bigger cities
December 29th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
[...] Columbus blog… the future of Columbus a post from Clive R – In Search of a city Columbus 2020 quotes Michael Wilkos about Columbus in the future. How old is your Columbus Ohio neighborhood [...]
January 5th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
I have seen this taking shape in Dallas. DFW has the Wealthy inner core, surrounded by decaying and declining areas, then exurbs proliferate beyond that circle. The post ‘55 “Subdivision” of the City and Suburbs are isolated pockets with limited entry and exit. The homes are far from Stores, restaurants and services. The streets wind and circle needlessly.
This is to satisfy the sales plan of the builders. All governments need do is lay out the streets in a grid and state that that’s the way it will be. But, as you knpw, the ‘town fathers’ succomb to pressures, money, campaign fund contributions; without regard to the town’s sustainability, future, or sensible design.
I live in an orderly Worthington–that is, it was, until the town fathers allowed these nonsensical subdivions to grow on its North Edge. They are not sustainable.
I was born in German Village, you see its sustainability and order.