So you basically want to build Brasilia? You may want to see how that turned out. The primary flaw in this idea is the notion that a central planning approach can successfully create a city that will attract people, business, and yet be located in an area where there’s currently no community . After a couple hundred years, pretty good odds that if there’s not a city somewhere, it’s likely because there’s no compelling reason for a city to be there.
True. You also have to accept massive population increase as inevitable, and that newcomers will be happy to settle in New Brasilia North, Saskatchewan.
And that Canadians who like the idea of a back yard in a leafy neighborhood for their families are default Nimbys.
Other than China and its "Ghost cities", where in a Western country has "economically self sustaining cities done from scratch" actually been done ? Brasília and Canbera dont really count as they are purely political creations at their heart, and even then Brasilia doesnt rank very well as a success. I agree something needs to be done, but this kind of reminds me of the Steve Martin gag on how to become a millionaire. Step 1, get a million dollars....
Imagine the political capital someone would need to spend. "Look, we are going to take a lot of your tax dollars for this project you personally will not benefit from in the hopes that in 10-15yrs, it might take off... Oh, and vote for me in 2yrs." Its hard to see how you can escape the political reality we live in with this plan.
So you basically want to build Brasilia? You may want to see how that turned out. The primary flaw in this idea is the notion that a central planning approach can successfully create a city that will attract people, business, and yet be located in an area where there’s currently no community . After a couple hundred years, pretty good odds that if there’s not a city somewhere, it’s likely because there’s no compelling reason for a city to be there.
True. You also have to accept massive population increase as inevitable, and that newcomers will be happy to settle in New Brasilia North, Saskatchewan.
And that Canadians who like the idea of a back yard in a leafy neighborhood for their families are default Nimbys.
Couldnt agree more with this comment.
It seems the common problem is politics. Perhaps we need to make a major overhaul there.
Other than China and its "Ghost cities", where in a Western country has "economically self sustaining cities done from scratch" actually been done ? Brasília and Canbera dont really count as they are purely political creations at their heart, and even then Brasilia doesnt rank very well as a success. I agree something needs to be done, but this kind of reminds me of the Steve Martin gag on how to become a millionaire. Step 1, get a million dollars....
Imagine the political capital someone would need to spend. "Look, we are going to take a lot of your tax dollars for this project you personally will not benefit from in the hopes that in 10-15yrs, it might take off... Oh, and vote for me in 2yrs." Its hard to see how you can escape the political reality we live in with this plan.