Keynote speaker at the recently-concluded Arizona statewide historic preservation conference was James Howard Kunstler. In Kunstler’s view, public spaces should be inspired centers of civic life and the physical manifestation of the common good. Instead, he argues, what we have in America is a nation of places not worth caring about. Reengineering our cities will involve more radical change than we are prepared for, Kunstler believes, but our hand will be forced by earth crises stemming from our national lifestyle. “Life in the mid-21st century,” Kunstler says, “is going to be about living locally.” [In light of recent events, including the rapid increase in gas prices, Kunstler updated this February 2004 lecture for his presentation at this month’s conference.]
Downtown Voices Coalition 