LOS ANGELES-The national focus on infrastructure is creating a significant opportunity to improve city amenities and competitiveness, according to a recent panel on Landscape Infrastructure held by the Urban Land Institute in Los Angeles. Moderated by Gerdo Aquino of SWA Group landscape architects, the panel included: City of Los Angeles Council Member Ed Reyes; Chris Barton of Hudson Pacific Properties; Jerold Neuman of Sheppard Mullin; and Bill Wenk of Wenk Assoc.

“Landscape infrastructure is a viable concept for cities, planners and developers to consider as a solution to the growing pressures of sustainability and livability in an increasingly urbanized world,” said Aquino. “Corridors of infrastructure that move power, people, water and utilities (single-use) are underutilized, and should take on new programs that can enhance urban life such as open-space parks, natural habitats, and recreation venues while reducing greenhouse gas conditions and improving the sustainability of the city itself.”

Examples include transit corridors which could mix autos, trains, boats, cyclists and pedestrians, habitats for native flora and fauna, passive and active recreation, telecommunication and energy/utility corridors and environmental rehabilitation, according to panelists. In creating this type of infrastructure-improvement, a “hyper-collaborative” process brings a host of constituents together to create a better, more livable city, including public agencies, private companies, private land owners, non-profit organizations, trusts, volunteer groups, neighborhood councils, business improvement districts, and neighboring residents, panelists explained.

Projects in the Los Angeles area that are beginning to create landscape infrastructure include the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan which involves turning the concrete-lined L.A. river back into a green-enhanced, pedestrian-oriented corridor, and the Hollywood Freeway Central Park, which covers sections of below-grade freeway to create new park space similar to Boston’s Big Dig covered freeway.

A common theme and goal for the L.A. projects is increasing the opportunity for connectivity, observed the panel. This connectivity will occur in many different forms; perhaps most importantly the two projects would allow urban communities long separated to come together once again. The projects also create connections between public agencies and private companies leading to public private partnerships, sometimes in the form of for-profit concessions, cost-effective maintenance and operations of the open space, or development of adjacent facilities in transit, housing, retail and offices.

Landscape infrastructure offers economic benefits as well. As cities and neighborhoods work to distinguish themselves so that investment, residents and business stay in their community and don’t take flight, many are turning to amenitized “third places” as a selling point. Popularized by urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg, “third place” is the socially-oriented space that people seek out after their first place, which is home, and their second place, work. According to the panel, new developments and revitalized communities are more successful with a sense of “third place”—created out of thin air from infrastructure corridor opportunities—where people can meet a friend, go for a morning run, grab a coffee and step on the light rail to head to work.

To read more articles on GlobeSt.com from ULI Dispatch on L.A. projects, click on the links below.

‘Stupid Rules Begone!’ ULI Speaker Declares

Experts Probe How to Make Green Real

Instant Insights /

ULI: Landscape Infrastructure Can Solve Urban Issues

Related Stories

Recommended For You