The post is not an argument, pros and cons of both sides are presented. The author’s vision for cities is radically different than anything spoken about in City Hall past and present.

For SMD, what citizens did Regalado and Sanchez speak for, not Zitmeds? Therefore, your request regarding the reader’s edification is difficult to fulfill because, it is unclear, how you would define enrich for anyone beside yourself.

Although I did quickly find a bits of text and an architectural example that I think help explains the proposed nature of concrete in New Urban architecture. You requested information on Miami 21 but I could only find concrete use discussed for the construction regarding monopoles and I am not familiar with monopoles well enough to site how their form will enrich our lives.

Literary -”These developments appeal to the paradoxical, nostalgic American desire for a simulacrum of tradition (and its associated values), while living in a brand new home built with the latest petrochemical simulations of materials.” taken from pg 59 of THEORIZING A NEW AGENDA FOR ARCHITECTURE, editor, Kate Nesbitt.

Architectural – “A concrete obelisk bears a plaque with the history of the plant.”
From pg 53, THE NEW URBANISM by Peter Katz

Miami 21 is not dead, “At this time, we are unclear as to next steps. It is possible that the administration, or the commissioners, will decide to revisit this issue in the future. However, at this time, nothing has been concluded.” taken from Miami 21.org.

Perhaps, just for your readers’ edification, could the author cite one or two concrete examples of how Miami 21 would have used ‘form based codes’ to enrich our lives? Thank you.

Miami is a concrete jungle and needs more plants and awesomeness.
I don’t get the Truman show image….wasn’t that like 10 years ago?

its a river of grass

Would you talk more about the bandage and the wound? I agree with you and am very interested to carry the analogy further.

What body is wounded, the city, the land, the environment? Is the wounded body something to do with our culture? types of inhabitance? lack of instinctual behavior?

I see New Urbanism like the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz. A thing of weak character that can use ideas and images to make his community believe in magical utopia. Seaside is Oz, Celebartion is Oz, Disney is Oz.

Is disney a wounded body with a bandage? Does America represent a place to come view damaged bodies? That type of thing or place makes a lot of money.

The decisions made way back in the days of swampsales were fueled by greed with no regard for the everglades.
Today Miami is like a young LA. We hustle an urban lifestyle in an suburban setting.
People like what they are used to.

New Urbanism’s shiny promise is like an expensive bandage for an old wound that will likely never quite heal.

If there is one lesson to be learned, it is that to be considered an expert one need only know just a bit more than the others.