|
The other day
I was perusing the “Regional Writers” section
of our local bookstore. I was looking for a book, or
even a chapter in a book, that discussed the future
of the Northern Rockies, especially the future of our
cities, towns and rural landscapes. There were many
publications about our past. Many more were about life
on the ranch, or life in the wilderness. But despite
hundreds of regional titles, I couldn’t find what
I was looking for.
There was a purpose behind this search.
The organization I work with, the Sonoran Institute,
had just published a book entitled “Building from
the Best of the Northern Rockies.” The culmination
of a two-year study, the book presents a set of “Best
Practices” for new urban and rural development
in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.
It graphically illustrates these with
dozens of real, on-the-ground development projects from
the region that reflect these principles. To celebrate
the release of the book, we held a gala event last month
in Bozeman, Mont., with a reception, dinner and some
awards to the people behind these projects.
Folks in Bozeman have come to expect a
little celebrity glitz at fundraising events. Having
a well-known author would have been a great way to entice
people to show up. But I struck out. I may have missed
it, but I couldn’t find a single book that fit
the bill.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Western
literature. And I devour books about our wildlands and
wildlife. But I find it disconcerting that either no
one is thinking about the future of our communities,
or they don’t think that anyone is interested
in the subject.
Then it dawned on me. The next chapter
in the history of the Northern Rockies is being written
|
To
order a complimentary copy of the Sonoran Institute's
"Building from the Best of the Northern Rockies,
call 406-587-7331 or email sbrodie@sonoran.org |
right now, in the form of the blueprints of architects,
the master plans of developers, and the land use regulations
of our towns and counties. You can read the next chapter
in the history of the West, at least the built West,
by walking around your town, its suburbs or the surrounding
rural lands.
Some would say that if this were true,
we are in trouble. Much of what we cherish about this
region – small towns with rich historic character,
wide open spaces with working farms and ranches, clean
air and water, abundant wildlife and intact ecosystems
– seem threatened by rapid, often poorly planned
growth. But while growth is inevitable, these impacts
are not.
In fact, a growing number of architects,
developers, builders and community leaders are creating
new buildings, new neighborhoods, new civic spaces and
new conservation-oriented rural developments that are
enhancing communities and preserving beloved natural
and cultural assets. Their creations rival those historic
structures and landscapes that our regional authors
seem so fixated on.
A goal of the Building from the Best of
the Northern Rockies project is to shift the debate
from “what is wrong with new development”
to “what is right.” “What is right”
was defined by a project advisory team comprised of
some of the region’s best known architects, builders,
developers, landscape architects, conservationists and
smart growth and affordable housing advocates. They
spent a good six months helping us define best practices.
These address issues such as: innovative design, preservation
of natural and historic resources, sustainability, community
engagement, and economic viability.
The book illustrates the application of
these practices with photographs and stories of the
people who are revitalizing community centers, creating
wonderful new neighborhoods, and meeting the development
needs of rural areas while protecting open space.
Projects are not limited to the usual
suspects for progressive community development –
the Missoulas and Sun Valleys of the region. Creative
and successful developments that reflect these best
practices can be found everywhere – from Powell,
Wyo., and from Fort Benton, Mont., to the Rocky Boy’s
Indian Reservation and Sandpoint, Idaho. In downtowns
and in the suburbs, rural areas and big cities, a new
West is being created that honors the architectural
heritage of our past while incorporating environmentally
sensitive designs of the future.
Change is coming to this region. It can
happen by default, or by design. During the course of
this project we found that change by design can be a
stunning asset to a community, not something to bemoan
at the next cocktail party or while sitting in the barber
chair.
Perhaps most encouraging is the common
refrain we heard when interviewing the project principals:“if
you like this project, we have more and better ones
on the drawing boards.” Indeed, it seems as if
we are in the midst of a significant change in the way
that this region grows.
In some respects, we are rediscovering
and honoring the way that we developed in the past –
compact neighborhoods that are walkable with mixed uses
that make them convenient, vibrant downtowns with pleasant
civic spaces that celebrate community character, rural
landscapes where homes are built unobtrusively and don’t
impinge on agricultural lands or areas prone to fire
and flood.
Yes, this region is blessed with an abundance
of outstanding natural and cultural amenities and a
colorful past. This has captured our imagination and
the imagination of our talented local writers. But its
time that we also imagine our future, and take the steps
necessary to make that vision a reality.
Fortunately, the New West has its pioneers,
the same as the Old West. Building from the Best of
the Northern Rockies has identified some of them, and
they should be celebrated. It is our hope that this
book will inspire others to follow their lead.
Dennis Glick is the Director of the
Northern Rockies Office of the Sonoran Institute.
|
