LIFE
BUILDing ON HISTORY Urban Design Group Seeks Public Support For Livable, Safer And Sustainable Cities By LORI HOUSTON
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n studying history and exploring the founding of ancient civilizations — whether it be that of the Egyptians, Aztecs, Incas, Mesopotamians, or Chinese — we find many similarities. All of these ancient civilizations were founded in areas close to a significant body of water, most often a river, that provided them with not only a means of transportation, but also a source of irrigation for farming. Soon shelters would be built and as more people began to settle, more amenities and market places would eventually be added, building up the villages to towns and eventually cities. A key aspect in the building up of these urban areas, though, was functionality. Historically, the main goal was to live in a community where you had everything you needed within walking distance. You could live, work, shop, and find entertainment and education all within a short distance. Though these models are ancient, they are still the basis of many modern cities today, and are indeed embedded into the Rio Grande Valley in our downtown areas, from Roma to Brownsville. However, all across the Rio Grande Valley, downtown areas are at risk of becoming a thing of the past. Businesses and corporations, more interested in turning a profit than in preserving historic buildings, often find it easier to demolish seemingly wornout buildings than to restore them with modern amenities. However, these historic buildings have
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character that define a place and give the people of the city a sense of belonging. “Urban cultures go back to ancient town planning concepts that embrace efficient and holistic community models,” said Pedro Ayala, urban designer and founder of BUILD, on why building urban culture is beneficial. “It’s the most logical, economic, responsible, ethical and sustainable way to build our communities.” It is for this reason that Ayala organized and founded the Building Urban Cultures Education Initiative on Aug. 29, 2016, a day after the announcement of the Historic McAllen Civic Center demolition. The Building Urban Culture Education Initiative is a grassroots effort to build awareness and education in social, economic,
MARCH/APRIL 2017