The Public Spaces Listserve is an open forum for people of all backgrounds to discuss the pressing (and sometimes not-so-pressing) issues concerning public spaces. Below are some highlights from recent discussions.

On L.A.'s new Disney Concert Hall

Sydney was not saved by the Opera nor was Paris by the Tour Eiffel. Buildings, no matter how deep their foundations, can't possible support the weight that is too often placed on them to be "breakthrough."

The Disney monstrosity will not "turn L.A. around" or "rejuvenate the city's missing core." And it shouldn't be expected to. It is one building. A civic hall that will, by definition, sit empty most of the time. It's the longhair version of a new stadium, with all the commensurate ability to create "community" and "economic revitalization," which is to say, none. What's really sad is that nearly all of these attempts at iconic status are not meant to serve the communities in which they exist, but mainly to draw attention and tourists. I am reminded of the plethora of concrete dinosaurs and other roadside attractions that once stood along the highways of the American west... except at least the intent was honest, not gilded in architectural, contextual doublespeak.

Finally, perhaps it is fitting that Disney money built the L.A. hall. Disney's desire to create an alternate reality has finally manifested itself in architecture. One day soon we won't have to go to Orlando, as it will have come to us. Ugh.

- Ron Dylewski

In an odd way this building is very representative of L.A.: Sprawling in all directions without much rhyme or reason. Looks great in pictures but up close, in real life, it's cold and austere.

For a building that so many are touting as the savior of downtown L.A., the bringer of life back to the downtown, it does a poor job of addressing the pedestrian on the street. A group dynamics 101 student could tell you that nobody's going to want to walk anywhere near this austere, windowless, unfriendly building especially at night. Correct me if I'm wrong on this but I think they even put elevators directly from the underground parking garage into the lobby so none of the patrons ever end up on the street. How anybody could reconcile that with an intent to bring life back to the streets is beyond me.

Will our civic leaders ever learn that there is no silver bullet? What they need to be doing is the little things; coming up with creative ways to foster growth. How 'bout a low interest loan fund for residential developers and small businesses, with an eye toward businesses that create foot traffic i.e. retail, restaurants and bars/nightclubs.

- Arthur B. Carmichael III Knoxville, TN

On London's public spaces

Just back from 4 days in London and can appreciate: 1. The need for reducing city center traffic (it's still intense); 2. How a city like London, with its terrific public transportation system, can move forward with approaches like congestion pricing for automobiles; and 3. Jan Gehl's observations (he is consulting for the city) that London's city center could use more public open spaces that are less cut off by traffic. There are great public spaces, to be sure, including the waterfront promenade, Covent Garden, the improved Trafalgar Square and many private neighborhood parks and squares, but the circles in the downtown are snarled with traffic and there is a need for more frequent, dispersed urban public spaces.

- Charles C. Bohl Miami, FL

The inner portion of London is also home to dozens of small parks or residential squares, both public and private. I sometimes feel that the American icon of New York's Central Park - one large, centrally located park space - has also been a distraction to the necessary task of providing smaller parks and usable public spaces close to urban residential neighborhoods. London seems to achieve this goal in a way that many cities in the US do not. There are US models such as the original part of Savannah that accomplish this goal, but none on such a scale as London. Of course, many of the residential squares in London are private and do not permit entry, but they still offer their visual amenity and there seem to be public squares nearby. London's squares are undoubtedly successful - that is, popular - because of the surrounding density of land use and consequent pedestrian activity, as well as the support of an excellent system of public transit.

- Reed Dillingham Berkeley, CA

On walking to school

I recommend to all that you look at championing walking buses. We had the honour of project managing a pilot program at two schools involving 54 children and parents. Importantly, 92% of these children and parents were driving to and from school before joining the bus... Our evaluation showed that parents and children valued the social connections the bus gave them and the safety it provided. In addition the parents valued the free time they gained. Parents shared the responsibility of being 'bus driver.'

Our bus was developed as a joint project between the Schools and P and C, police who delivered the road safety training, local council who carried the insurance for drivers and walkers on the bus and made modifications to deliver 'safe' routes to school.

- Penelope Coombes Surry Hills, Australia

On starting up a public market

One important place to begin is strong partners, whether it is the neighborhood the market is located in, the health department, the local farmers' associations, the local politicians or the market site folks. Building those partnerships from the very beginning makes the long haul easier (kind of - it's a lot of egos/politics too.) It will also look very appealing to funders, if you are looking to grantwrite to help sustain the market - in the current funding situation - you must have strong partners with a solid program/budget to promote.

- Jessica Ward-Denison St. Paul, MN