When a small branch of a local ice cream business opened within the laundromat up the street, it was evidence that today’s land use regulations are becoming more in sync with changing urban reality.
Recently, I have been focusing on the potential artifacts of urban life in cities as they grow more dense. Last week, I asked about the fate of the front lawn.
Today, in the spirit of the ice cream laundry, I’m switching from what we may lose to what we may gain: the looming fusion businesses of tomorrow.
For instance, what is the fate of technology of convenience such as individual washers and dryers? In what central places can we share, combine and “fuse” their use?
My neighborhood is not alone. Consider Copenhagen’s celebrated Laundromat Cafe, which has fused more than ice cream with laundry, and inspired a trend. Note also some American spin-and-dine examples, such as San Francisco’s Brain Wash.
In order to enable fusion businesses, land use regulations may need more flexibility. In this case, conventional zoning often segregated food service uses from more “industrial” uses such as laundries. In addition. smaller start-ups may have been prohibited within existing uses, with walk-up service limited in scope.
Reform efforts can and should reinvent such conventional impediments to the more efficient, compact city life, and allow the flexibility of innovation and redefined urban traditions. As currently proposed Seattle efforts illustrate, reforms aimed at more livable places can be evolutionary rather than revolutionary, and can enable more employment closer to home.
Beyond regulatory reform, in today’s sustainable city, it’s good to foster shared consumption lifestyles and functional, multi-purpose venues, whether fad, fancy or emerging reality.
Want to track shared consumption examples and the fusion dynamic? I highly recommend shareable.net for a one-stop check on the latest on bike-sharing, car-sharing and prognostication on the next sustainable recombination of the way we live.
Image composed by the author.
urbanists at work
fusion businesses and the #cities of tomorrow | @crwolfelaw http://t.co/oI0aVLY
RT @gosner: fusion businesses and the #cities of tomorrow | @crwolfelaw http://is.gd/tLQAsm #in
@gosner: fusion businesses and the #cities of tomorrow | @crwolfelaw http://t.co/am8rVUj ice cream laundromat
Fusion Businesses And The Cities Of Tomorrow http://zite.to/q0Gs7z via @zite
Fusion Businesses and the Cities of Tomorrow | myurbanist: In order to enable fusion businesses, land use regula… http://bit.ly/mTpADq
Good to take a page from Japanese-style “negative” zoning. Rather than regulating for what uses are ALLOWED, you regulate what uses are NOT allowed. (e.g.- no abbatoirs in residential areas.)
That allows for the fusion of more uses without having to come up with new use categories.
In today’s sustainable city, good to foster shared consumption lifestyles & functional, multi-purpose venues http://t.co/AMY2i02 #buzzcarFR
RT @rmchase: In today’s sustainable city, shared consumption lifestyles & functional, multi-purpose venues http://bit.ly/pynRwP
Thx @gosner @ayserrano @boydcohen for RTs: fusion businesses and the #cities of tomorrow | #smartgrowth #urbanplanning http://bit.ly/nJR8C8
Fusion Businesses And The Cities Of Tomorrow http://zite.to/q0Gs7z
RT @crwolfelaw: fusion businesses and the cities of tomorrow http://t.co/fZSqWy5
Fusion businesses, not so big a trend in East London but they sound great: http://t.co/MF0KFOU
myurbanist revisited: fusion businesses and the cities of tomorrow http://t.co/uZ0vqzb #urbanism #cities #sustainability
myurbanist revisited: fusion businesses and the cities of tomorrow http://t.co/uZ0vqzb #urbanism #cities #sustainability
gone to brainwash a ton over the years!! RT @crwolfelaw
fusion businesses and the cities of tomorrow #urbanism, #cities http://t.co/vdgUIrv
fusion businesses and the cities of tomorrow http://t.co/dm9Hr6b
Reminds me of #architecture school. | fusion businesses and the cities of tomorrow http://t.co/QYp24Uc via @crwolfelaw #cities
myurbanist revisited: fusion businesses and the cities of tomorrow http://t.co/ClU9XOIg #urbanism #cities #sustainability
myurbanist revisited: fusion businesses and the cities of tomorrow http://t.co/ClU9XOIg #urbanism #cities #sustainability
myurbanist revisited: fusion businesses and the cities of tomorrow http://t.co/ClU9XOIg #urbanism #cities #sustainability
Is there a trend towards more shared consumption in #cities and what is the role of #localgov in supporting it?http://t.co/r0uNq22v