on the Edge...part one

As designers, the site development process typically begins when a developer approaches a professional to "fit" a use to a site. This practice has far reaching implications that normally have adverse effects on the local ecological community but are often hidden or discarded through greenwashing tactics. To illustrate this point, we can simply return to our big-box friend, Lowe's Home Improvement. (Just one note before we begin; it may seem that I am "picking-on" Lowe's, but in all fairness, this development model is employed by multiple hyper-capitalist corporations and developers throughout the country and the local example of this practice is more than likely occurring in your community or in a community near your home.)

Let's think about the factors which should be explored when selecting a site for development, in this case, an emotionless warehouse that is surrounded by large swaths of impervious parking lots. In the case of Lowe's, hyper-capitalism can be identified as the driving force behind the selection of this particular site. The unwritten mantra of the real estate industry is "location, location, location" and as we can see in the aerial photo below, this site is situated at a fairly significant intersection. (Also take note as to the vegetative cover on the site prior to development, and then take a look at the previous post on Greenwashing to see how drastically that site has been changed.)

So, great location with a maximum amount of visibility once all of those pesky trees have been bulldozed. The size is right for a billion square-foot architectural abomination and parking lots designed to handle the crowds on the busiest shopping day of the year. So, as a designer, what should have been the next factor we look at to determine suitability? How about the soils? Does the natural ecological function and matrix of the site support commercial uses?

When we analyze the area using the Web Soil Survey from the USDA, we find that an overwhelming 90.8% of the site is unsuitable for commercial development! Take a moment and absorb that number again; 90.8%. So, why was this site selected for development? Simply put, the proponents of the project relied on the hyper-capitalist notion of economic development and prosperity for the area. In reality, this particular site had the appropriate size for the development of a warehouse and parking, and the underlying ecological factors played little or no role in site selection.

What becomes alarming in this case, and subsequently in hundreds or thousands of development cases similar to this around our nation, is that even the designers fall in line with the developer's greenwashed ideals. I have spoken about the need for Landscape Architects to whole-heartedly embrace the principles of sustainable development and become champions of the cause; and this example is counter-productive to that effort. When potential clients seek the assistance of Landscape Architects, they do so because they require the knowledge, experience and conviction that an expert can bring to the table with regards to their particular project. It is in our capacity as experts with specialized training in problem-solving which encompasses the social, economic and environmental factors related to site development that qualifies our profession to become leaders in the sustainable development movement.

In part two, we will explore further some of the ecological implications of the development of this site. These implications are not specific to this local example, but can be found throughout the country on a multitude of development projects.

“The nation that destroys its soil, destroys itself.” - Franklin Delano Roosevelt