Aaron Naparstek

» Monday, April 24, 2006

Tucson Trip

Passover in Tucson, Arizona to visit my wife's family. The Sonoran Desert is a beautiful and truly distinct place, especially in the spring time.

The same, however, can not be said of the built environment. Arizona is the second-fastest growing state in the nation after Nevada. Water and energy are big concerns but that doesn't seem to be slowing down development or changing the way it is typically done. Tucson is sprawling out into the desert fringes at a staggering rate.

It is a very seductive way of life out there in the desert sprawl. There is lots of space, everything is clean and new and conveniently accessible by automobile. Parking space is abundant and free.

And much of the city's social life takes place in parking lots.

In some spots, it is a long, lonely wait for the bus.

Tucson is also a great biking city. That wide lane you see running alongside the curb above is a bike path. Motorists seem to respect it and have a general awareness of cyclists. A dedicated corps of community activists are working hard to change the way development and transportation is done in and around Tucson. One of the leaders of that movement is Steve Farley, founder of Citizens for a Sensible Transportation Solution. A visual artist by profession, Steve has developed a plan to bring light rail to Tucson. He and his impressive, hard-working compadres have managed to put a very progressive transportation plan on this year's ballot. Recently Farley announced his candidacy for the Arizona state assembly. Steve says that much of Arizona's state legislature is backed by real estate developers and automobile dealerships. It couldn't hurt to have a public artist and transportation activist sitting alongside them.

We had a good time watching the cousins have fun.

1:40 PM | Link |

Comments

Steve Farley for Arizona State Assembly!

You gotta put "social life" in quotes. Because to me, that doesn't look like social life. To me, it looks like social deprivation. Unless you like socializing with asphalt, cars chairs and tables.

How can people find meaning and purpose in such a life?

Aaron, can you share with us anything else about the water situation? This type of recent sprawl will probably be the hardest hit by sustained high gasoline and energy prices. But on top of that, Arizona sprawl also have a very tenuous relationship with water, from what I've read, no? How much longer will this way of life be possible?

Posted by

AD @ 4/24/2006 4:56 PM | Link

By the way, wonderful photos. The contrast between the beauty of the natural environment and the ugliness of the built environment comes through by the juxtaposition. It's possible to have a beautiful built environment, but that takes time and effort and most people would prefer a quick buck.

Posted by

AD @ 4/24/2006 5:35 PM | Link

I was surprised to learn a few years ago that prickly pear cactus is native to NYC. Biking past Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, I stopped for a walk and saw the stuff growing beside the path. Thought somebody must have stuck it into the ground as a joke but sure enough the visitor's center confirmed it. I'd never seen it east of the Mississippi before.

Posted by

Anonymous @ 4/24/2006 8:14 PM | Link

AD,

Actually, that's a particularly sullen Starbucks that I photographed there. There were a few others that were absolutely hopping.

The water issues are really interesting. Tucson always has water worries these days. This year is particularly dry. But Tucson is still, apparently, in better shape that Phoenix. It's got a better aquafier, a more progressive population and much better regulations. You only see a few lawns, which truly look bizarre and out of place in this beautiful desert landscape. And if you want to have a lawn it must be maintained using recylced water. Still, you've got to wonder how in the world they're going to keep sprawling outwards.

Tucson has a great old downtown that was, of course, decimated by highway building. It is still pretty wrecked but people like Steve Farley are working hard to bring it back and build it up. They are working to explain that a sustainable future includes a more densely built downtown, better mass transit and limits to sprawl. It's a tough fight though. Part of Tucson is very progressive, especially around the University of Arizona. Another part of Tucson is very conservative, especially around the big airforce base. Another part of Tucson, like my wife's folks, is only there for half the year and not politically involved at all hardly. They vote in another state altogether.

Posted by

Ar2thelow aka arlo @ 4/24/2006 8:32 PM | Link

Well, that's interesting. That Starbucks reminds me: A friend and I drove a Zipcar up to an exurban town upstate to study its traffic. We got there with time to spare so we pulled into a strip mall and bought some muffins or bagels or something at a "deli" that had two plastic tables overlooking an enormous recently paved parking lot. We just sat there chewing on food and staring at the black asphalt and a few SUVs around with George W. Bush stickers on them. We could have had an identical experience at your Starbucks.

David Brooks thinks exurbia can continue to sprawl into the desert southwest for the foreseeable future. I think he's nuts.

I really have to admire Steve Farley. Sometimes when I'm thinking about sustainability and what makes a good place, I think I'd have a bigger impact leaving New York and advocating for change in a place that needs it more than New York does. But I love New York too much to leave it. I guess I'm just an atom in Edward L. Glaeser's world of Americans who are sorting themselves geographically according to a host of preferences.

Posted by

AD @ 4/24/2006 10:42 PM | Link

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