Modern Urbanism: Time for a New Vision?
Low-density suburban sprawls, shopping centers, and three-car garages are well-known symbols of the American dream, which by itself a consequence of Modern Urbanism in the United States.
Modern Urbanism was discovered after World War 2, when rapid economic growth, increased demand for cars, and industrialization pushed the development of car-centric places where distance no longer mattered. This urbanism idea has shaped cities into divided areas: shopping centers, living areas, and offices – surrounded by parking of course. Low-density areas – started to be considered as a good. For example, it was often heard that there was a fear you would not be able to evacuate if someone nuked the US, which by itself is bizarre. It also placed a high importance on the highways and roads as it became impossible to travel high distances.
Note: Modern and New Urbanism are different terms.
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Note: Modern and New Urbanism are different terms. 〰️
Because of all these factors, New Urbanism was rediscovered. Its goal is to create synergy where everyone feels comfortable. New urbanists prioritize long-lasting plans, structures, functionality, and accessibility over futuristic design. They are focusing on developing social spaces, accessible parks, and community-oriented spaces that foster connections among residents. In some way, they want to return to the systems that Leonardo Benevolo described in his book History of the City, which is the idea that a person should reach the necessary services he was needed in 15-20 minutes.
Leonardo Benevolo, “History of the City”, 1983
An example of a New Urbanism city is Seaside, Florida. This city is designed with the purpose of increasing public spaces to let people socialize and create walkability in the community. Today, however, Seaside Florida has become a very expensive million dollar community rather than an affordable place for city residents to live as it was originally planned for. (Jagannath 2018).
Seaside, Florida. Reflections on Seaside.
Also, New Urbanism is being criticized for its difficulties in implementation in the United States context. Zoning laws and land use requirements do not necessarily help to achieve desired ideas. For example, it could require wider streets or a large amount of parking spaces. Jane Jacobs, in her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities, mentioned the North End area of Boston. Which at first was a very poor area with a large amount of slums, but was able to transform into one of the most vibrant in a city. When she noticed that transformation, she called her friend, who worked as an urban planner for a city, but because of his old school approach, he thought that Jane Jacobs was mistaken and mentioned that he would like to reconstruct this community in a lower-density one. That planner said that it is one of the worst areas due to its very high density – 175 dwelling units per acre – for comparison, a typical suburban community usually has only 4. So, what we could see from North End’s example is that higher density could result in better infrastructure. However, it's not supported by the Modern Urbanism approach of urban planners.
We and previous generations already grew up in this toxic and, at the same, over-comfortable idea of suburbanization and Modern Urbanism. Now, it is about impossible to even buy food without a car due to the notion that everyone should have a car, which significantly affects the lower class. Statistics show that more and more people are becoming less socialized. But even disregarding those factors, would you let your kids go outside in a suburban community, or why are young adults moving to bigger and more vibrant cities? As you can see, there are big problems with this. But do not just accept that. The current system could be changed if we inform people we know and make them realize the problems of the current street design approach and truly desire a change..
The Recycling Reality
The idea for this post came from completing the Sustainable Living 101 course designed by the UNF Institute of Environmental Research and Education, where I learned about different sustainability practices, especially recycling. In an era of climate change and overflowing landfills, sustainable living has become more crucial than ever. So, I want to share my research regarding the correct way to recycle and why it is important.
The production of plastic began at the beginning of the 1900s as a cheap, magical material that could take any form and color. This trend was initiated by big oil companies, who, in fact, were the suppliers of this additional fossil fuel material. They were supported by beverage and food companies that also saw this as a perfect package. Only PepsiCo produces approximately 2.5 million metric tons of plastic each year, which is like 2.4 fully filled Empire State Buildings—imagine the global scale! Plastic use continues to rise, with 445.25 million metric tons predicted to be produced in 2025. It is also an almost unbreakable material that takes up to 500 years to fully disappear.
While recycling sounds like a solution, it is not quite so, as much plastic goes into the trash. Have you ever wondered what happens after we put our waste into the bin? You might be surprised, but it does not evaporate. It is either recycled or buried in the ground (landfill) for future generations to deal with. According to the 2020 Florida Waste Management Report, Orange County buries 70.09%, while 47.09% in Duval County.
The table of collected and recycled waste in Duval County. MSW Collected & Recycled.
What about recycling? Even though the recycling percentage in Jacksonville is more than half of the total, the plastic proportion is very small. Only 3.25% of all recycling is plastic. There are even worse statistics: out of 108,780 tons of plastic collected, only 2,027 tons are recycled, which means that only 2% of collected plastic is recycled. The reason for this is a lack of education about recycling among people, which explains that not all plastics can be recycled and that they should be washed and have no labels before recycling. It’s also important to check local guidelines, as not all plastics are accepted everywhere.
The right way to recycle is to first check plastic for a resin identification marker (see picture). It is numbered from 1 to 7, with 1-2 mostly accepted/recycled, 3-5 sometimes accepted, and 6-7 non-recyclable. If it can be recycled, you must peel the label and ensure that the plastic is clean from food. It is important to note that black plastic is not recycled because it cannot be sorted correctly. To-go cups, take-out containers, plastic bags, spoons, forks, knives, and straws are unrecyclable.
We should address issues regarding plastic as soon as possible. One of them is connected to city planning, and it involves determining where waste, recycling, and compost cans should be located. One of the most convenient solutions is creating a special system for multiflora apartments where residents can dispose of waste through a dedicated system with pumps for each category (see picture). This eases the process for workers and decreases the amount of trash falling while carrying. It is also important to design and place trash cans on the streets to make them more noticeable. For example, Kissimmee became the first city in Florida to install submerged containers, which take up less space and also simplify the collection process.
However, while cities work on better planning and policies, we can all take small but meaningful steps, like switching to reusable bags and reducing single-use plastic. Especially in Florida, where the recycling system is underdeveloped, it is important to advocate for recycling as much as possible. Additionally, the increase in plastic production by oil enterprises only worsens the situation. It affects not only people but also animals, marine life, and all living organisms. For instance, we have a whole Great Pacific Garbage Patch, basically just floating trash in the ocean that cannot be cleaned. There are an estimated 51 trillion tons of microplastic particles. That’s 500 times more than the stars in our galaxy (UN News 2017).
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Sustainability is not just about what we recycle—it’s about making choices that protect our planet. Strategies like Refuse, Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, and Compost can help us establish better waste systems, reduce our plastic use, and motivate others. We can make a real impact. Let’s work together to create a cleaner, healthier world for everyone.
Jacksonville’s Redlining Legacy
American society has long battled against minority discrimination, but it has taken a new form – redlining. What I mean by redlining is a government's practice of rating communities from "A" through "D" as a measure of investment risk. As a result, African Americans were unable to get a mortgage approved in "A"– green areas, having a choice only between blue and yellow–mixed neighborhoods or in red-minority only. This system created poor urban areas occupied primarily by a minority group all around the country. In addition, new interstate highway systems, toxic waste, trash incinerators, and polluting industries tended to be located in Black communities, affecting their public health.
The legacy of redlining still has an impact. On October 16, 2024, I was lucky to participate in the Brentwood community meeting in Jacksonville, FL. The issue we had at hand was a morgue being constructed just next to the residential houses. The project was pushed quietly, without notifying residents about the City Council meeting regarding the funding. Two weeks later, it was approved anonymously.
A place where the morgue is being constructed.
Why is this concerning? This morgue is built only 3 feet from residential areas and 32 feet from KIPP VOICE Academy Elementary School. Although morgues can be safe when they follow strict protocols, building them in such proximity to homes raises serious safety concerns. It increases the traffic in an area, making it dangerous for kids going to school. At the same time, it has emotional and psychological impacts—especially for younger generations—that cannot be underestimated. Furthermore, there have been no planning hearings since 2016, meaning the newly opened school was not even considered in decision-making by the planning committee.
This situation is more than just a local issue. It's a neglect faced by most minority communities that were once redlined. The neighborhoods marked as "high risk" decades ago are experiencing the consequences of discriminatory practices today. During the meeting, I talked to Lydia Bell, the movement's president. She asked me, "Why should old people like me still be fighting for our communities instead of enjoying the rest of our lives?" Her words show the exhaustion felt by the community, which faces a long time of struggle against systemic neglect.
That is not the first time the Metro Garden Neighborhood Association has had to fight for their community. In 2023, they successfully stopped the opening of a drive-thru liquor store that again was built near the same school. The city response? It paid $1.8 million in reparations to the store's owner!
Overlay of Jacksonville’s 1937 redlining map onto a modern Google Maps view, with a red indicator marking the location of a new morgue within a historically 'hazardous' zone, now intersected by major highways and infrastructure.
While doing the research about redlining in Jacksonville, I noticed one more terrifying thing. When I compared the modern map taken from Google Maps and the redline map of 1937, I noticed that major highways and exits were built almost exclusively in the red zones. These infrastructure changes destroyed the city's historically African-American neighborhoods, turning the homes that generations before built in proximity to shops, libraries, and parks to become solely car-dependent, further isolating them from essential services.
As we can see, even after cultural shifts during the 1960s, redlining continues to harm our cities. The Jacksonville government attempts to save a small portion of the money, bringing significant changes to the lives of the minority. Addressing issues like the construction of the Brentwood morgue isn't just about one building—it's about holding local governments accountable. Only by giving attention to local politics can we help break the cycle of discrimination that takes a new form again and again.
Living Without a Car in a Car-Centric Country: What is True Independence?
It all begins with an idea.
Growing up in a middle-sized city in Ukraine and Orlando suburbs’, I often heard that owning a car is synonymous with independence and success. Starting from the toys my parents gave me as I was a kid to teenager age when all the guys only do that talk what new brakes they should get. Having a car is an integrated world and cultural belief that creates a kind of ruler to measure one's autonomy. But is the possession of a car truly the marker of freedom, or is it time to redefine what it means to be truly independent?
The popular narrative often links car ownership with financial stability and social status. The car symbolizes freedom to move, to explore the world, and to navigate life's pathways effortlessly. Yet, created within this guess is a subtle bias, an idea that those without cars are somehow lacking, financially incapable, or unable to partake in the freedom that society considers essential. Since I turned 18, I have met the pressure in a car-centric society in my skepticism towards sustainability and the trends that the United States faced after World War 2. That pressure comes from believing, “If you do not own a car, you cannot be in a relationship.” Some people think, “That person just probably does not have money.” or “How can you live without an automobile in America?”
However, let's change the perspective. What if the true measure of independence lies not in the ownership of a car but in the accessibility and functionality of a city? An especially salient problem in America. Sidewalks are usually built as a requirement by law for businesses when they build their place. This makes them not care about the safety of the pedestrians, not even adding trees or any type of barrier to save people's lives. When I was in high school, I relied on public transportation every day, but it dropped me off about 0.6 miles away from school – on just a narrow grass area along the county road. I felt like a Noe from The Matrix, “I take the blue pill (walking on the morning lawn) – my shoes are wet, I come to school and believe whatever I want to believe. I take the red pill (road) - I getting hit by a car and see how deep the rabbit hole goes.” The whole situation could be avoided by at least smarter transit planning.
A bus stop similar to that near the high school.
What I am trying to say is that if we don’t advocate for better, the metropolises will become more and more dependent on cars, creating tons of new roads that might have 6 lanes, highways, and sprawls. The active and alive cities are the epicenters of culture, connection, innovation, and diversity. However, many urban landscapes have been designed primarily around cars and for cars only, leaving pedestrians at the periphery.
Amsterdam. One of the most pedstrian friendly cities in terms of world.
Imagine an area where walking isn't just a mode of transportation but an activity to get pleasure. People riding bicycles moving swiftly, communal electric shuttles transporting citizens to their destinations, streets covered with vibrant murals and stickers, sculptures, and interactive installations that motivate citizens to explore their surroundings. Instead of car-centric infrastructure, there are fancy, smart-design sidewalks with vibrant cafes, community gardens, and pop-up markets, fostering a sense of belonging and interaction.
Each step in this realm becomes a conscious choice, an act of exploration and connection. Public squares aren't merely intersections for cars; they're vibrant gathering spaces where happening different performances, cultural celebrations, and community events uniting people who live there.
This realization motivated me to give up the car, preferring public transport, bicycle, and walking. Despite living in a country with supreme car culture, I decided to prove that transit transportation is not an alternative mode of commuting; it may be a primary and impactful step towards environment. I began by searching bus schedules and routes in Google Maps. After a while, I remembered all of them, and now I can move freely through the streets.
Me waiting for a bus :)
Regarding the narratives, I’ve been in a relationship and managed just fine without a car. Yes, I’m not rich and more likely to be lower class because of my life situation, but that’s not the reason I choose not to own one. Having a car doesn’t define my or your independence or success. If we can change that in our cities, the next generations will say thank you.
In conclusion, true autonomy isn't solely a car possessing, it also can be anything from accessibility and design of our cities. Thinking about walkability, different transportation options, reimagining urban spaces as pedestrian-friendly, and building around-us havens are essential for redefining what it means to be truly independent in the modern world.