From the hills above the small town in Maine where he grew up, Mike Lydon could see the winding roads that would take him through New England and across the country as a disciple of New Urbanism.
Along the way, Lydon would work with some of the giants in the movement, co-write two best-sellers on the subject, found his own firm with offices in New York and Miami, and build a portfolio of work that spans the globe. The frenetic pace of his career and leadership in bringing revitalization strategies to cities large and small has made him one of the world’s most sought-after experts in New Urbanism.
According to its founders, New Urbanism is an approach to planning and development based on principles drawn from the ways cities and towns were traditionally built, “featuring walkable blocks and streets, housing and shopping in close proximity, and accessible public spaces.”
Lydon will bring his expertise and insights to share with participants as a featured speaker at this year’s Smart Growth Summit on Tuesday, November 12, at the Shaw Center in downtown Baton Rouge.
“I knew early on that this was the work I wanted to do,” said Lydon, who graduated from Bates College in Maine before pursuing a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan. Lydon joined the firm Duany, Plater-Zyberk & Company led by the famed architect and planner Andres Duany, considered by many to be a founder of New Urbanism and the smart growth movement.
While at the firm, Lydon recalls working on the tail end of the landmark “Louisiana Speaks” effort alongside the Center for Planning Excellence and other partners. During this time, Lydon also co-authored The Smart Growth Manual with Duany and Jeff Speck. In 2009, Lydon and a colleague launched their own firm called Street Plans.
Lydon, who hails from Damariscotta, Maine (population 2,144) is particularly proud of the success he has seen in the small towns where he has worked with community leaders and residents to employ street-level strategies.
“It’s very satisfying to be part of a process that allows community leaders to take ownership and implement a strategy that perhaps they never thought of before . . . one that can improve the livability of their community and have a long-term impact,” Lydon said.
Street Plans works in large cities and small towns to help communities re-imagine their streets and transportation thoroughfares to create new public spaces. Often, this can mean establishing temporary bike lanes or redesigning intersections to provide residents with greater connectivity and safety, and stimulate commerce. The firm builds out test demonstrations then helps communities assess their effectiveness and determine next steps.
After a decade of deploying interventions and adaptation strategies, Lydon and his team have seen a lot of success, as well as some failure when strategies just didn’t work. But overall, “the body of knowledge for revitalizing communities continues to grow and gain acceptance,” he said.
“There used to be a lot more skepticism and suspicion whenever someone proposed changes to the built environment,” Lydon recalled. “People feared changing what had always been familiar. But increasingly, community leaders are learning that these strategies can bring more choice and build more walkable communities. You don’t have to drive everywhere.”
Smaller towns in particular have some natural advantages when it comes to rethinking themselves, and then taking action for lasting change, Lydon said. Less bureaucracy, a strong sense of community, and volunteerism can make it easier for them to transform their town, one street and one intersection at a time.
“This is what we absolutely know now,” Lydon said. “By stringing together some well-planned and well-placed interventions, we can help communities take small, cost-effective steps that can help create long-term sustainability.”
For more information about the CPEX Smart Growth Summit visit summit.cpex.org.