Five smart city recommendations for Portland\u2019s revamping housing market are:
\n1. Rooftop gardens
\n2. Solar panels
\n3. Energy consumption monitors\/infographs
\n4. Low-income housing in all new developments
\n5. Glass design and colorful, energy efficient lighting<\/p>\n
While all of the aforementioned recommendations would have a significant impact on the sustainability and appeal of Portland, I am choosing to focus on the implementation of rooftop gardens for their ability to contribute to the communal, sustainable, and aesthetic spheres of Portland. As we observed on our tours of Portland, there is a depressing shortage of greenery, and while many of the parks could be revamped with easy landscaping fixes, I believe that rooftop gardens would be the most efficient and productive solutions. These gardens would provide each apartment or condominium complex with greenery, fresh produce, an outdoor area for kids and pets, and panoramic views of a beautiful port city lacking such vantage points.<\/p>\n
Many apartments and condos already have private decks and outdoor spaces, but the addition of rooftop terraces would provide residents with a communal space that seems to be lacking throughout much of the city. One of Greenfield\u2019s criticism of smart cities is that overspecification \u201csegregates work…from residential clusters and both of these from a designated cultural complex\u201d[1]. In such complexes, however, there would be no divide between residential and cultural complexes. An ideal terrace space would have a space for kids, dogs, and small vegetable gardens. Strategically placed terraces would also be optimal locations for solar panels, which would be ideal for residential sustainability.<\/p>\n
In the minutes from Portland City Council\u2019s Meeting last week, a set of guidelines proposed a little over two years ago delineates a series of requirements for features of residential construction. These guidelines say that \u201crooftop terraces are encouraged to take advantage of views,\u201d[2] and continue to suggest that \u201cfrom afar, a variable skyline of roof edges, vertical shafts, and signage create interest.\u201d[3] Many of these guidelines focus on the visible appeal of Portland, a city mostly void of a skyline. High rise or multi-story buildings have the capability of adding to these sky lines, especially if they incorporate modern, glass architecture or elements of historic Portland architectural motifs, as the guidelines also suggest. Rooftop gardens add color to the skyline, and stringing lights on trees or having multicolored lighting can greatly improve the ambiance and aesthetic not only on the terrace but of the whole skyline as well.<\/p>\n
[1] Adam Greenfield, Against the Smart City <\/em>(Amazon Kindle Cloud Reader)<\/p>\n [2] Portland Regular City Council Meeting, September 15, 2014, page 190, http:\/\/portlandmaine.gov\/AgendaCenter\/ViewFile\/Agenda\/09152014-605<\/a><\/p>\n [3] Portland Regular City Council Meeting, September 15, 2014, page 188, http:\/\/portlandmaine.gov\/AgendaCenter\/ViewFile\/Agenda\/09152014-605<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Five smart city recommendations for Portland\u2019s revamping housing market are: 1. Rooftop gardens 2. Solar panels 3. Energy consumption monitors\/infographs 4. Low-income housing in all new developments 5. Glass design and colorful, energy efficient lighting While all of the aforementioned recommendations would have a significant impact on the sustainability and appeal of Portland, I am … Continue reading Housing Development and Rooftop Terraces<\/span>