Comments on: Bumper Crop: Converting Parking Lots to Farms http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/06/bumper-crop/ A Suburban Design Competition Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:02:26 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Uncle B http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/06/bumper-crop/#comment-1516 Uncle B Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:57:36 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1750#comment-1516 Problem is a matter of scale! Perhaps this would be of benefit in Asia where rice and veggies in modest amounts make up full meals, but when considering the greater fat-assed American hulks . . . Problem is a matter of scale! Perhaps this would be of benefit in Asia where rice and veggies in modest amounts make up full meals, but when considering the greater fat-assed American hulks . . .

]]> By: W. Post http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/06/bumper-crop/#comment-1243 W. Post Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:50:08 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1750#comment-1243 Great concept !! Great concept !!

]]> By: MOH http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/06/bumper-crop/#comment-1223 MOH Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:40:18 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1750#comment-1223 Nice Re-Submittal :) ... but nice project! Nice Re-Submittal :) … but nice project!

]]> By: CKD http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/06/bumper-crop/#comment-1179 CKD Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:54:54 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1750#comment-1179 Frank, have you ever tried living in the suburbs without a car? Perhaps the whole premise of this competition is flawed because it conveniently ignores the reality and the necessity of the car in the American suburb. I grew up in the suburbs and not having a car sucks. The nearest bus stop was at least a 20 min walk way, and the buses came, at best, once an hour. I am now lucky enough to live near my work and in a neighborhood with a wide variety of services so I don’t need to drive on a daily basis to get what I need. Guess what this is called – a city. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to live in a area with frequent, fast, reliable public transportation and enjoy the luxury of a car-free lifestyle (i.e., people with kids, working-class people). Many move to the suburb because that's the only place where they can afford to live. Do you see fast, reliable trains or buses in Scottsdale, Arizona or suburbs like it? I don't think so, and I doubt that's going to happen in the near future. For the vast majority of Americans, the only realistic way to get from their home to their workplace or retail/business services is to drive. And of course, those businesses will need to provide parking if they want to stay in business. Bumper Crop recognizes the economic necessity of strip malls and parking lots, and rather than trying to impose an unrealistic solution to the "problem" of suburbia, it tries to make the best of existing conditions by using those parking lots for other purposes. Frank, have you ever tried living in the suburbs without a car? Perhaps the whole premise of this competition is flawed because it conveniently ignores the reality and the necessity of the car in the American suburb. I grew up in the suburbs and not having a car sucks. The nearest bus stop was at least a 20 min walk way, and the buses came, at best, once an hour. I am now lucky enough to live near my work and in a neighborhood with a wide variety of services so I don’t need to drive on a daily basis to get what I need. Guess what this is called – a city.

Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to live in a area with frequent, fast, reliable public transportation and enjoy the luxury of a car-free lifestyle (i.e., people with kids, working-class people). Many move to the suburb because that’s the only place where they can afford to live. Do you see fast, reliable trains or buses in Scottsdale, Arizona or suburbs like it? I don’t think so, and I doubt that’s going to happen in the near future. For the vast majority of Americans, the only realistic way to get from their home to their workplace or retail/business services is to drive. And of course, those businesses will need to provide parking if they want to stay in business. Bumper Crop recognizes the economic necessity of strip malls and parking lots, and rather than trying to impose an unrealistic solution to the “problem” of suburbia, it tries to make the best of existing conditions by using those parking lots for other purposes.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/06/bumper-crop/#comment-1170 Sarah Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:40:05 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1750#comment-1170 I'm not sure how quickly this could generates money - it seems like there's a lot of up front design and construction just to start the farm. But what I really like about this idea is how its presented - it focuses on the technical aspects of how it would work, and also addresses the idea of zoning. Even if someone built this as a pilot project, without regard for making money on it, the zoning would likely be one of the most important issues that the project would have to address. (As a civil engineer with some land development and permitting expertise, I speak from experience here.) I’m not sure how quickly this could generates money – it seems like there’s a lot of up front design and construction just to start the farm. But what I really like about this idea is how its presented – it focuses on the technical aspects of how it would work, and also addresses the idea of zoning. Even if someone built this as a pilot project, without regard for making money on it, the zoning would likely be one of the most important issues that the project would have to address. (As a civil engineer with some land development and permitting expertise, I speak from experience here.)

]]> By: Sunnie http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/06/bumper-crop/#comment-1154 Sunnie Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:36:11 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1750#comment-1154 wonderful! wonderful!

]]> By: Dan Whittet http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/06/bumper-crop/#comment-1108 Dan Whittet Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:52:21 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1750#comment-1108 Bravo. Essentially you are moving the car/ transportaion gris to a secondary position and returning the biosphere to its rightful connection with the sun. Sure there will be difficulties, but the concept is a good one and adds all of the benefits of increased plant life, reduced heat island, Photosyntheitic generatyion of cellulose as a potential hydrocarbon. Air quality filter, water treatment, minimal new space required. Hope you get a lot more votes Bravo. Essentially you are moving the car/ transportaion gris to a secondary position and returning the biosphere to its rightful connection with the sun. Sure there will be difficulties, but the concept is a good one and adds all of the benefits of increased plant life, reduced heat island, Photosyntheitic generatyion of cellulose as a potential hydrocarbon. Air quality filter, water treatment, minimal new space required.

Hope you get a lot more votes

]]> By: Lynn http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/06/bumper-crop/#comment-1023 Lynn Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:52:26 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1750#comment-1023 If nothing else, this would help with a lot of excess heat in the cities. Structurally, it deserves more thought. I think that it has a lot more benefit than just a parking lot farm. Grasses help the CO2 problem as well as forage for insects and birds. Lowering ambient temperatures in the summer counts a lot for the planet - especially in places like Phoenix. Covered parking would also be a customer draw. A friendly pleasant atmosphere helps to keep crime down. If nothing else, this would help with a lot of excess heat in the cities. Structurally, it deserves more thought.

I think that it has a lot more benefit than just a parking lot farm. Grasses help the CO2 problem as well as forage for insects and birds. Lowering ambient temperatures in the summer counts a lot for the planet – especially in places like Phoenix. Covered parking would also be a customer draw.

A friendly pleasant atmosphere helps to keep crime down.

]]> By: Nipesh http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/06/bumper-crop/#comment-961 Nipesh Sat, 15 Aug 2009 06:35:24 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1750#comment-961 Great concept....I really liked the idea of using water frm sewer.... Great concept….I really liked the idea of using water frm sewer….

]]> By: N. Sesar http://www.re-burbia.com/2009/08/06/bumper-crop/#comment-872 N. Sesar Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:04:01 +0000 http://www.re-burbia.com/?p=1750#comment-872 Great idea and good presentation of it. Covering flat dark asphalts with green elements works. I recommend using solar cells parallel to this for creating green energy for using in the area. Should work on details more later but it is duable. Nice Job Great idea and good presentation of it. Covering flat dark asphalts with green elements works. I recommend using solar cells parallel to this for creating green energy for using in the area. Should work on details more later but it is duable.
Nice Job

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