Keep It Weird Urbanism

Why live in Burlington, Vt., when one can live in Asheville, N.C.? Both are small cities situated in the mountains, surrounded by plenty of natural beauty yet surprisingly cosmopolitan, where one can go for a tiring hike just as easily as eating a great meal. Yet Burlington's average high temperature in January is 27 degrees and Asheville's is 47. That about clinches the argument for me, though I suppose there are plenty of people who like to ski. (I'm not one of them.)

There are a surprising number of cities like Burlington and Asheville, where in addition to the natural splendor and high-quality food, there are also strong downtowns, a busy public realm, politics that are very liberal and a little hippie, and a huge pride in patronizing everything local, from food to art to businesses and so on. These are the cities where you often see bumper stickers pledging to "Keep [Insert City Name] Weird." Locals are vigilantly on guard to make sure homogenizing forces aren't on the march -- no J. Crew, Panera or waves of bank branches. Other examples that quickly come to mind are Boulder, Colo., and as more urban examples, Austin, San Francisco, and my neighborhood, Jamaica Plain, where the outdoor activities aren't quite so close within reach but all of the other characteristics are in abundance.

I find these cities are often thought of as niche markets -- great places to visit but not to live, saddled with a reputation for outdated '60s idealism, where it's a bit confusing to the outside world about how it all sticks together and works. But now that the general consensus of neighborhood development focuses on streets, public spaces, local businesses, and equal access, weren't these places about 20 years ahead of their time? Keeping it weird probably now means, "Keep It Distinct," which is the goal of practically every meaningful American city in the early 21st century. Weird is no longer on the countercultural fringe, but rather now a synonym for creating place, which means it's a blueprint to follow and an aspiration to pursue.


Above are photos of Asheville's art museum and a public bike-repair station that I took on my recent visit there.