We like to call Laurel Park Sarasota’s urban village. But what do we mean by that? Isn’t “urban village” an oxymoron? Not necessarily. At Laurel Park Management, we see “urban” as a condition of density and diversity, basically a place where a variety of people come together to make a variety of things happen. Urban places are often intensely built-up, like New York City, but they don’t have to be. And we see “village” as an approach to local life taken by residents, by those who get to know their neighbors, who stop to say hello when passing you by on the street, who lend a hand during times of need and invest themselves in the future of their community.
Due to its proximity to Main Street, Washington Blvd (301), Towles Court, and Burns Square, and thanks to its many involved residents, we think Laurel Park is indeed a budding urban village. At the heart of such a place is collaboration, exchange, sociality. We think a place grows great when the varied strengths of residents merge and mitigate individual shortcomings. Two heads is better than one, so to speak. And the shift to sustainability will unquestionably require a group effort.
Some say that technological and entrepreneurial developments, from the internet to social media and car-sharing, herald a boom of cooperation and interaction that may well rival the rise of cities in the first place. Don’t believe us? Check out the TEDtalks video above featuring Rachel Botsman. Interesting stuff…
Rachel Botsman’s presentation is perky, hopeful, makes sense, but like other optimistic visions it is based on the assumptions that human beings are guided by reason. Enlightened self interest will create a peaceful, harmonious, prosperous world. What we are reluctant to acknowledge is that human beings are as likely to act out base passions and impulses as they are to act with compassion and reason.
I note the insertion of a safeguard: Public accountability in the form of published “trustworthiness.” A slight crack in the beautiful vision of the human being as rational and enlightened.
Well worth trying and I like the options associated with collaborative consumption, but it will not be the revolutionary movement as described. We won’t be getting rid of the dark side so easily.
John, I agree that we’re not likely to see a revolution anytime soon (although I wonder how bad things have to get, how many systemic failures required, before fundamental changes are demanded). Ms. Botsman gives a motivational speech, and she tries to inspire people through optimism and encouragement…if a few of the darker realities get left out, so be it. But I disagree that we humans are as likely to act out base passions and impulses as we are to act with compassion and reason. The darkness is there in all of us, and it isn’t going anywhere, but I think nearly all of us, nearly all of the time, are guided by compassion and the desire to do what’s right. Compare how many times in your own life you’ve committed acts of kindness and decency versus how many times you’ve been dishonest or manipulative. I’m guessing the ratio in the thousands to one. The capacity and desire for goodness might just be our greatest currency, and while utopia will always be (and probably should always be) a dream, we shouldn’t underestimate the power and potential of trust, compassion, and community.