We thank Dr. Martin Kammerer and Dr. Travis Longcore for their comments on an earlier draft of th... more We thank Dr. Martin Kammerer and Dr. Travis Longcore for their comments on an earlier draft of this paper, and Dr. John Wilson for his guidance. We also are grateful to Laurie Kaye, Christina Li, and Brian Selogie for their research contributions, to Christine Lam for her species modeling work, and to Chona Sister and Zaria Tatalovich for their assistance with census data.
A growing number of farmers are excluding animal inputs from crop production, an approach commonl... more A growing number of farmers are excluding animal inputs from crop production, an approach commonly referred to as veganic or stockfree organic agriculture. This research-based article discusses the soil health and fertility strategies reported by a sample of U.S. veganic farmers. These approaches may be relevant beyond the veganic community to farmers seeking innovative methods for produce safety and nutrient cycling. Agricultural outreach professionals (AOPs), including Extension personnel, play a critical role in supporting veganic practices by serving as cross-pollinators between farmers and research institutions. Thus, the article endeavors to expand AOP familiarity with veganic practices and benefits.
This report has been prepared for the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) and ... more This report has been prepared for the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC). Its purpose is to examine the potential beneficial and detrimental human-wildlife interactions that would arise from habitat restoration in the upper Los Angeles River watershed. With the acquisition and restoration of land for parks and wildlife reserves within Los Angeles comes the potential for a range of human-wildlife interactions, especially as wildlife re-enter the city. The increased presence of urban wildlife presents a complex mosaic of opportunities and constraints for both residents and wildlife alike. The challenge is to balance competing interests, educate residents about potential benefits and manage detrimental impacts in an ethical and ecologically sensitive fashion. Although there is a well established literature on human-wildlife interactions, originating largely from the disciplines of conservation biology, ecology, wildlife management, and the broader environmental studies and conservation literatures, little has been written about such interactions in the context of urban parks, a central focus of the conservancies' efforts in the upper Los Angeles River watershed. The introduction of this report (Chapter 1) contextualizes the SMMC and MRCA's interest in urban park creation and restoration within the increasing interest in the ecology of cities and the growing understanding of cities as places for wildlife. Indeed, there is growing recognition that urban landscapes are complex ecological sites, not barren wastelands. It offers an overview of the issues that can arise between humans and wildlife when urban park spaces are restored to create wildlife habitat. The body of the report is divided into two sections. Section I concerns interactions between humans and wildlife generally, discussing the positive and negative impacts of interactions on wildlife (Chapter 2) and on humans (Chapter 3). Chapter 4 identifies best practices to minimize the negative aspects of these interactions. Chapter 2 chronicles the impacts on wildlife of various positive and negative interactions between park users and urban wildlife. Community groups, government services and departments, and non-profit organizations variously contribute to the creation of new habitat and the improvement of degraded habitat for wildlife. Food and other garbage discarded by recreationists may increase the reproductive rates, litter sizes, and body sizes of scavenging animals. Unfortunately, many park user interactions with wildlife fall on the negative side of the spectrum. Exploitation, disturbance, habitat modification and pollution are all common anthropogenic effects, causing results including but not limited to behavioral changes, reduced reproductive success, and habitat destruction. Next, Chapter 3 addresses wildlife interactions with residents and park users. The benefits of animals in the city are rarely acknowledged. People may benefit from interaction with wildlife in numerous ways including increased residential property values, mental well being, stress relief, improved communication skills, affirmation of personal, spiritual, and aesthetic values, and economic benefits deriving from tourism and even increased agricultural productivity. The numerous negative impacts that wildlife have upon people include animal attacks on recreationists and on pets, the spread of disease, nuisance activities such as animals foraging through trash, harm to private property through nesting, erosion, garden damage, structural damage, vehicle collision, and unsightly and annoying instances of defecation on paved surfaces and automobiles. Many of these problems can be expensive-especially in the case of structural damage to vehicles and buildings. Section I ends with Chapter 4, which discusses potential remedies for human-wildlife conflicts. A variety of possible solutions exist, including neighborhood outreach and education efforts, stringent parkspace ordinances, wildlife-friendly infrastructure, and zoning strategies. There is no singular, universal remedy for human-wildlife conflict situations; rather, one or several pathways to resolve conflicts must be chosen 9 SECTION I 10 Positive aspects The literature on park user-wildlife interactions suggests that there are a number of positive impacts that park users and managers may have on wildlife. Two groups of positive impacts are identified, the first pertaining to the provision and protection of natural habitat, and the second to increased food supplies. Habitat creation, augmentation, restoration, and conservation Urban environments may actually provide a greater diversity of opportunities for some species than wildland areas. For example, in their study of raptors, Mannan and Boal (2004) report that urban areas may offer increased prey (such as pigeons, rabbits and rats), alternative nesting sites, and greater stability of resources such as nesting materials. Other animals including skunks, raccoons, and coyotes may also prosper from increased habitat diversity found in urban areas. Rosatte et al. (1991) have found that vegetation density in parks can directly affect the population density of mesopredators such as skunks, raccoons, and foxes, which in turn can decrease predation from free ranging cats. Hoffman and Gottschang (1977) and Riley et al. (1998) have asserted that parks and adjoining residential areas offer a host of denning and foraging opportunities. Some rare native species can exist in areas of low-intensity development, including city parks, cemeteries, vegetated areas under large powerlines, and other public rights-of-way protected from development (McKinney 2002). Such incidental opportunities may be supplemented through habitat creation and restoration in urban areas. The increase of native plant species, and even some ornamental species found in gardens, may be accompanied by an increase in insectivorous birds (Sears and Anderson 1991). Allowing ruderal areas to go undisturbed and enter a succession process is another avenue toward restoration, often resulting in an increase in total species diversity, and a reduction in non-native species diversity (McKinney 2002). Other approaches include conserving habitat swaths by fencing off areas for protection, and performing exotic plant weeding and revegetation. One of the most effective (and, in the long run, inexpensive) habitat conservation strategies is to preserve as much remnant native habitat as possible. Urban parks and other developed areas that retain pre
Veganic agriculture, often described as farming that is free of synthetic and animal-based inputs... more Veganic agriculture, often described as farming that is free of synthetic and animal-based inputs, represents an alternative to chemical-based industrial agriculture and the prevailing alternative, organic agriculture, respectively. Despite the promise of veganic methods in diverse realms such as food safety, environmental sustainability, and animal liberation, it has a small literature base. This article draws primarily on interviews conducted in 2018 with 25 veganic farmers from 19 farms in the United States to establish some baseline empirical research on this farming community. Its qualitative perspectives illuminate farmer perceptions of and experiences with veganic growing, including definitions, knowledge acquisition, values, and challenges. Results highlight a lack of agreement about the meaning of veganic agriculture in terms of allowable inputs and scope. Participants have drawn on a wide array of veganic and non-veganic resources to ascend their veganic production learning curves, also relying on experimentation and trial-and-error. Their farming is motivated by a diversity of real and perceived benefits, most notably consistency with veganism, food safety advantages, and plant and soil health benefits. Veganic product sourcing and the dearth of veganic agriculture-specific resources present considerable challenges to farmers. The article briefly discusses possibilities for developing veganic agriculture in the United States, such as through a US-based certification system and farmers' associations, based on considerations of the trajectory of the US organic farming movement and veganic developments in Europe. Finally, the article suggests the importance of expanded research into soil health and fertility in plant-based systems to support practicing and potential veganic farmers.
Abstract The redesign of alleyways located in commercial districts is typically undertaken to eff... more Abstract The redesign of alleyways located in commercial districts is typically undertaken to effect economic development and to develop a sense of community and a sense of place through these spaces. An investigation of a recently renovated alley in the Hollywood neighbourhood of Los Angeles, CA was conducted to assess aspects of the efficacy of this project—namely, how and by what magnitude use of the alley differed from use of an unconverted alley. Behavioural observations carried out in the East Cahuenga Pedestrian Alley and a nearby control alley revealed considerable differences in use. Findings include that nearly 90% of all recorded activity occurred in the redesigned alley and the majority of this was pedestrian- and dining-related, while control alley activity was heavily transportation- and work-oriented. Results substantiate claims that alley landscape redesign revitalises social life in commercial district alleys.
This article reviews critical responses to the Los Angeles School of Urbanism that have appeared ... more This article reviews critical responses to the Los Angeles School of Urbanism that have appeared in the urban studies literature since 1986. Common categories of complaint include the accusation that L.A. scholarship lacked sufficient evidence to support its claims and that the language and rhetoric of the School were hyperbolic. Some criticism was also decidedly personal and discipline-specific in tone. Constructive engagement with the L.A. School was evident in the growing corpus of empirical and theoretical comparative urban research. In particular, recent research work of the "New Chicago School" reveals several concordances with the L.A. School.
This paper seeks to move considerations of just sustainability into the realm of urban parks. The... more This paper seeks to move considerations of just sustainability into the realm of urban parks. The Audubon Center at Debs Park, an urban nature centre located within a Los Angeles, CA, park, provides the means to examine one manifestation of just sustainability in urban recreational space; in its espousal of both environmental sustainability and environmental justice-oriented goals, the centre appears
This article explores protection efforts that have arisen in the New York City metropolitan area ... more This article explores protection efforts that have arisen in the New York City metropolitan area around the monk parakeet, a nonnative bird that has achieved a broad distribution outside its native habitat range. In some urban regions in which populations are established, controversy has developed around the parakeets’ use of utility infrastructure and potential impacts on native species and agricultural crops. This case provides an opportunity to explore animal protection rhetoric about nonnative species, an understudied topic, considering the great extent to which species have become established in ecosystems outside their natural ranges and the persistence of public affinity for nonnative plants and wildlife. This article identifies four major frames through which advocates have delivered the birds to public and legal audiences and considers how they have mobilized and handled notions of “nonnative-ness” in their advocacy work.
Reliable audit tools are needed to examine the potential of built environment features for physic... more Reliable audit tools are needed to examine the potential of built environment features for physical activity. An audit tool for alley environments was developed with land use, substrate, and use, condition, and safety items. Two audit teams independently audited 29 Los Angeles alleys, and interteam reliability was calculated with Cohen's and prevalence-adjusted, bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) statistics; intraclass correlation coefficients; and percent observed agreement. Forty-two of 47 dichotomous items analyzed for reliability had PABAK values > or = 0.61 ("substantial agreement"). Sixteen of 23 ordinal and continuous response items analyzed had ICCs > or = 0.61, and an additional 6 with lower ICC values had observed agreement > or = 79%. Items concerning the presence or absence of use-related alley features demonstrated the lowest reliability. The instrument has acceptable reliability for most of its items and appears to be a promising tool for use by other r...
While urban alleyways have long been associated with blight and crime, recent urban greening effo... more While urban alleyways have long been associated with blight and crime, recent urban greening efforts have reconceptualized alleys as sites for alternative transportation networks, stormwater treatment, habitat restoration, and neighborhood social life. However, little is known about how alley-adjacent residents perceive greening projects in these rather ambiguous spaces, though greening projects have the potential to both benefit and inconvenience residents
1 " A Little Bird Told Me...": Approaching Animals Through Qualitative Methods ... more 1 " A Little Bird Told Me...": Approaching Animals Through Qualitative Methods Mona Seymour and Jennifer Wolch EPISTEMOLOGICAL AND ONTOLOGICAL CHALLENGES IN ANIMAL GEOGRAPHIC RESEARCH Contemporary human geography has wit-nessed a revived ...
Alleys are enigmatic, neglected features of the urban fabric. In this paper we explore the distri... more Alleys are enigmatic, neglected features of the urban fabric. In this paper we explore the distribution, physical features, activity patterns, and resident perceptions of alleys in one major US city, Los Angeles, California. We do so through an integrated mixed-methods strategy involving participatory research with community-based organizations, spatial analysis, physical audits and behavioral observation of alleys, and focus groups. Results
Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, 2009
... development, and Martha Lentz, a former executive director of the Orlando Humane Society. ...... more ... development, and Martha Lentz, a former executive director of the Orlando Humane Society. ... View all notes. About one‐third of the county's labor force was tourist workers in 2000 (Orlando Citybook 200328. 2003. “Orlando Citybook”. Orlando: Orlando Sentinel Communications. ...
Alleys are enigmatic, neglected features of the urban fabric. In this paper we explore the distri... more Alleys are enigmatic, neglected features of the urban fabric. In this paper we explore the distribution, physical features, activity patterns, and resident perceptions of alleys in one major US city, Los Angeles, California. We do so through an integrated mixed-methods strategy involving participatory research with community-based organizations, spatial analysis, physical audits and behavioral observation of alleys, and focus groups. Results show that most alleys in Los Angeles are underutilized and walkable, quiet, and clean, although they can be, and are often perceived as, dirty and unsafe. Alley density is greatest in park-poor, low-income Latino and African-American neighborhoods. Alleys represent unrealized community assets that could be transformed by urban planners and managers into`green infrastructure' to simultaneously offer multiple ecological, economic, and social benefitsö including urban walkability and mobility, play space and green cover, biodiversity conservation, and urban runoff infiltrationöand thereby to contribute to a more sustainable urbanism.
Revitalization of urban alleys, underway in cities and towns in North America, Europe, and other ... more Revitalization of urban alleys, underway in cities and towns in North America, Europe, and other regions, can be seen as a manifestation of a broader movement among city agencies, planners, and community groups to expand green urban infrastructure and promote sustainability. This article analyzes alley greening programs in seven cities in the United States using the lens of sustainability planning. Study results indicate that most alley greening programs are narrowly oriented toward stormwater management. An in-depth exploration of the alley greening program in the city of Los Angeles illustrates how a more robust commitment to sustainability -through the adoption of goals related to environmental protection, economic development, and social equity -might be actualized in the context of alley greening efforts. The article also considers the role of collaboration in developing integrative sustainability programs around alleys.
We thank Dr. Martin Kammerer and Dr. Travis Longcore for their comments on an earlier draft of th... more We thank Dr. Martin Kammerer and Dr. Travis Longcore for their comments on an earlier draft of this paper, and Dr. John Wilson for his guidance. We also are grateful to Laurie Kaye, Christina Li, and Brian Selogie for their research contributions, to Christine Lam for her species modeling work, and to Chona Sister and Zaria Tatalovich for their assistance with census data.
A growing number of farmers are excluding animal inputs from crop production, an approach commonl... more A growing number of farmers are excluding animal inputs from crop production, an approach commonly referred to as veganic or stockfree organic agriculture. This research-based article discusses the soil health and fertility strategies reported by a sample of U.S. veganic farmers. These approaches may be relevant beyond the veganic community to farmers seeking innovative methods for produce safety and nutrient cycling. Agricultural outreach professionals (AOPs), including Extension personnel, play a critical role in supporting veganic practices by serving as cross-pollinators between farmers and research institutions. Thus, the article endeavors to expand AOP familiarity with veganic practices and benefits.
This report has been prepared for the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) and ... more This report has been prepared for the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC). Its purpose is to examine the potential beneficial and detrimental human-wildlife interactions that would arise from habitat restoration in the upper Los Angeles River watershed. With the acquisition and restoration of land for parks and wildlife reserves within Los Angeles comes the potential for a range of human-wildlife interactions, especially as wildlife re-enter the city. The increased presence of urban wildlife presents a complex mosaic of opportunities and constraints for both residents and wildlife alike. The challenge is to balance competing interests, educate residents about potential benefits and manage detrimental impacts in an ethical and ecologically sensitive fashion. Although there is a well established literature on human-wildlife interactions, originating largely from the disciplines of conservation biology, ecology, wildlife management, and the broader environmental studies and conservation literatures, little has been written about such interactions in the context of urban parks, a central focus of the conservancies' efforts in the upper Los Angeles River watershed. The introduction of this report (Chapter 1) contextualizes the SMMC and MRCA's interest in urban park creation and restoration within the increasing interest in the ecology of cities and the growing understanding of cities as places for wildlife. Indeed, there is growing recognition that urban landscapes are complex ecological sites, not barren wastelands. It offers an overview of the issues that can arise between humans and wildlife when urban park spaces are restored to create wildlife habitat. The body of the report is divided into two sections. Section I concerns interactions between humans and wildlife generally, discussing the positive and negative impacts of interactions on wildlife (Chapter 2) and on humans (Chapter 3). Chapter 4 identifies best practices to minimize the negative aspects of these interactions. Chapter 2 chronicles the impacts on wildlife of various positive and negative interactions between park users and urban wildlife. Community groups, government services and departments, and non-profit organizations variously contribute to the creation of new habitat and the improvement of degraded habitat for wildlife. Food and other garbage discarded by recreationists may increase the reproductive rates, litter sizes, and body sizes of scavenging animals. Unfortunately, many park user interactions with wildlife fall on the negative side of the spectrum. Exploitation, disturbance, habitat modification and pollution are all common anthropogenic effects, causing results including but not limited to behavioral changes, reduced reproductive success, and habitat destruction. Next, Chapter 3 addresses wildlife interactions with residents and park users. The benefits of animals in the city are rarely acknowledged. People may benefit from interaction with wildlife in numerous ways including increased residential property values, mental well being, stress relief, improved communication skills, affirmation of personal, spiritual, and aesthetic values, and economic benefits deriving from tourism and even increased agricultural productivity. The numerous negative impacts that wildlife have upon people include animal attacks on recreationists and on pets, the spread of disease, nuisance activities such as animals foraging through trash, harm to private property through nesting, erosion, garden damage, structural damage, vehicle collision, and unsightly and annoying instances of defecation on paved surfaces and automobiles. Many of these problems can be expensive-especially in the case of structural damage to vehicles and buildings. Section I ends with Chapter 4, which discusses potential remedies for human-wildlife conflicts. A variety of possible solutions exist, including neighborhood outreach and education efforts, stringent parkspace ordinances, wildlife-friendly infrastructure, and zoning strategies. There is no singular, universal remedy for human-wildlife conflict situations; rather, one or several pathways to resolve conflicts must be chosen 9 SECTION I 10 Positive aspects The literature on park user-wildlife interactions suggests that there are a number of positive impacts that park users and managers may have on wildlife. Two groups of positive impacts are identified, the first pertaining to the provision and protection of natural habitat, and the second to increased food supplies. Habitat creation, augmentation, restoration, and conservation Urban environments may actually provide a greater diversity of opportunities for some species than wildland areas. For example, in their study of raptors, Mannan and Boal (2004) report that urban areas may offer increased prey (such as pigeons, rabbits and rats), alternative nesting sites, and greater stability of resources such as nesting materials. Other animals including skunks, raccoons, and coyotes may also prosper from increased habitat diversity found in urban areas. Rosatte et al. (1991) have found that vegetation density in parks can directly affect the population density of mesopredators such as skunks, raccoons, and foxes, which in turn can decrease predation from free ranging cats. Hoffman and Gottschang (1977) and Riley et al. (1998) have asserted that parks and adjoining residential areas offer a host of denning and foraging opportunities. Some rare native species can exist in areas of low-intensity development, including city parks, cemeteries, vegetated areas under large powerlines, and other public rights-of-way protected from development (McKinney 2002). Such incidental opportunities may be supplemented through habitat creation and restoration in urban areas. The increase of native plant species, and even some ornamental species found in gardens, may be accompanied by an increase in insectivorous birds (Sears and Anderson 1991). Allowing ruderal areas to go undisturbed and enter a succession process is another avenue toward restoration, often resulting in an increase in total species diversity, and a reduction in non-native species diversity (McKinney 2002). Other approaches include conserving habitat swaths by fencing off areas for protection, and performing exotic plant weeding and revegetation. One of the most effective (and, in the long run, inexpensive) habitat conservation strategies is to preserve as much remnant native habitat as possible. Urban parks and other developed areas that retain pre
Veganic agriculture, often described as farming that is free of synthetic and animal-based inputs... more Veganic agriculture, often described as farming that is free of synthetic and animal-based inputs, represents an alternative to chemical-based industrial agriculture and the prevailing alternative, organic agriculture, respectively. Despite the promise of veganic methods in diverse realms such as food safety, environmental sustainability, and animal liberation, it has a small literature base. This article draws primarily on interviews conducted in 2018 with 25 veganic farmers from 19 farms in the United States to establish some baseline empirical research on this farming community. Its qualitative perspectives illuminate farmer perceptions of and experiences with veganic growing, including definitions, knowledge acquisition, values, and challenges. Results highlight a lack of agreement about the meaning of veganic agriculture in terms of allowable inputs and scope. Participants have drawn on a wide array of veganic and non-veganic resources to ascend their veganic production learning curves, also relying on experimentation and trial-and-error. Their farming is motivated by a diversity of real and perceived benefits, most notably consistency with veganism, food safety advantages, and plant and soil health benefits. Veganic product sourcing and the dearth of veganic agriculture-specific resources present considerable challenges to farmers. The article briefly discusses possibilities for developing veganic agriculture in the United States, such as through a US-based certification system and farmers' associations, based on considerations of the trajectory of the US organic farming movement and veganic developments in Europe. Finally, the article suggests the importance of expanded research into soil health and fertility in plant-based systems to support practicing and potential veganic farmers.
Abstract The redesign of alleyways located in commercial districts is typically undertaken to eff... more Abstract The redesign of alleyways located in commercial districts is typically undertaken to effect economic development and to develop a sense of community and a sense of place through these spaces. An investigation of a recently renovated alley in the Hollywood neighbourhood of Los Angeles, CA was conducted to assess aspects of the efficacy of this project—namely, how and by what magnitude use of the alley differed from use of an unconverted alley. Behavioural observations carried out in the East Cahuenga Pedestrian Alley and a nearby control alley revealed considerable differences in use. Findings include that nearly 90% of all recorded activity occurred in the redesigned alley and the majority of this was pedestrian- and dining-related, while control alley activity was heavily transportation- and work-oriented. Results substantiate claims that alley landscape redesign revitalises social life in commercial district alleys.
This article reviews critical responses to the Los Angeles School of Urbanism that have appeared ... more This article reviews critical responses to the Los Angeles School of Urbanism that have appeared in the urban studies literature since 1986. Common categories of complaint include the accusation that L.A. scholarship lacked sufficient evidence to support its claims and that the language and rhetoric of the School were hyperbolic. Some criticism was also decidedly personal and discipline-specific in tone. Constructive engagement with the L.A. School was evident in the growing corpus of empirical and theoretical comparative urban research. In particular, recent research work of the "New Chicago School" reveals several concordances with the L.A. School.
This paper seeks to move considerations of just sustainability into the realm of urban parks. The... more This paper seeks to move considerations of just sustainability into the realm of urban parks. The Audubon Center at Debs Park, an urban nature centre located within a Los Angeles, CA, park, provides the means to examine one manifestation of just sustainability in urban recreational space; in its espousal of both environmental sustainability and environmental justice-oriented goals, the centre appears
This article explores protection efforts that have arisen in the New York City metropolitan area ... more This article explores protection efforts that have arisen in the New York City metropolitan area around the monk parakeet, a nonnative bird that has achieved a broad distribution outside its native habitat range. In some urban regions in which populations are established, controversy has developed around the parakeets’ use of utility infrastructure and potential impacts on native species and agricultural crops. This case provides an opportunity to explore animal protection rhetoric about nonnative species, an understudied topic, considering the great extent to which species have become established in ecosystems outside their natural ranges and the persistence of public affinity for nonnative plants and wildlife. This article identifies four major frames through which advocates have delivered the birds to public and legal audiences and considers how they have mobilized and handled notions of “nonnative-ness” in their advocacy work.
Reliable audit tools are needed to examine the potential of built environment features for physic... more Reliable audit tools are needed to examine the potential of built environment features for physical activity. An audit tool for alley environments was developed with land use, substrate, and use, condition, and safety items. Two audit teams independently audited 29 Los Angeles alleys, and interteam reliability was calculated with Cohen's and prevalence-adjusted, bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) statistics; intraclass correlation coefficients; and percent observed agreement. Forty-two of 47 dichotomous items analyzed for reliability had PABAK values > or = 0.61 ("substantial agreement"). Sixteen of 23 ordinal and continuous response items analyzed had ICCs > or = 0.61, and an additional 6 with lower ICC values had observed agreement > or = 79%. Items concerning the presence or absence of use-related alley features demonstrated the lowest reliability. The instrument has acceptable reliability for most of its items and appears to be a promising tool for use by other r...
While urban alleyways have long been associated with blight and crime, recent urban greening effo... more While urban alleyways have long been associated with blight and crime, recent urban greening efforts have reconceptualized alleys as sites for alternative transportation networks, stormwater treatment, habitat restoration, and neighborhood social life. However, little is known about how alley-adjacent residents perceive greening projects in these rather ambiguous spaces, though greening projects have the potential to both benefit and inconvenience residents
1 " A Little Bird Told Me...": Approaching Animals Through Qualitative Methods ... more 1 " A Little Bird Told Me...": Approaching Animals Through Qualitative Methods Mona Seymour and Jennifer Wolch EPISTEMOLOGICAL AND ONTOLOGICAL CHALLENGES IN ANIMAL GEOGRAPHIC RESEARCH Contemporary human geography has wit-nessed a revived ...
Alleys are enigmatic, neglected features of the urban fabric. In this paper we explore the distri... more Alleys are enigmatic, neglected features of the urban fabric. In this paper we explore the distribution, physical features, activity patterns, and resident perceptions of alleys in one major US city, Los Angeles, California. We do so through an integrated mixed-methods strategy involving participatory research with community-based organizations, spatial analysis, physical audits and behavioral observation of alleys, and focus groups. Results
Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, 2009
... development, and Martha Lentz, a former executive director of the Orlando Humane Society. ...... more ... development, and Martha Lentz, a former executive director of the Orlando Humane Society. ... View all notes. About one‐third of the county's labor force was tourist workers in 2000 (Orlando Citybook 200328. 2003. “Orlando Citybook”. Orlando: Orlando Sentinel Communications. ...
Alleys are enigmatic, neglected features of the urban fabric. In this paper we explore the distri... more Alleys are enigmatic, neglected features of the urban fabric. In this paper we explore the distribution, physical features, activity patterns, and resident perceptions of alleys in one major US city, Los Angeles, California. We do so through an integrated mixed-methods strategy involving participatory research with community-based organizations, spatial analysis, physical audits and behavioral observation of alleys, and focus groups. Results show that most alleys in Los Angeles are underutilized and walkable, quiet, and clean, although they can be, and are often perceived as, dirty and unsafe. Alley density is greatest in park-poor, low-income Latino and African-American neighborhoods. Alleys represent unrealized community assets that could be transformed by urban planners and managers into`green infrastructure' to simultaneously offer multiple ecological, economic, and social benefitsö including urban walkability and mobility, play space and green cover, biodiversity conservation, and urban runoff infiltrationöand thereby to contribute to a more sustainable urbanism.
Revitalization of urban alleys, underway in cities and towns in North America, Europe, and other ... more Revitalization of urban alleys, underway in cities and towns in North America, Europe, and other regions, can be seen as a manifestation of a broader movement among city agencies, planners, and community groups to expand green urban infrastructure and promote sustainability. This article analyzes alley greening programs in seven cities in the United States using the lens of sustainability planning. Study results indicate that most alley greening programs are narrowly oriented toward stormwater management. An in-depth exploration of the alley greening program in the city of Los Angeles illustrates how a more robust commitment to sustainability -through the adoption of goals related to environmental protection, economic development, and social equity -might be actualized in the context of alley greening efforts. The article also considers the role of collaboration in developing integrative sustainability programs around alleys.
Uploads
Papers by Mona Seymour