Make No Small Plans?

Although Burnham makes a valid point in the beginning of his quote, “At no period in its history has the city looked far enough ahead...”  The city itself has never truly make plans that can be used hundreds of years in the future, however, I believe that it is crucial that we consider a sociological perspective on this as well.  Lefebvre, who we’ve been studying about in SOA 494, theorized that a space only consists due to how it is conceived, perceived, and lived.  However, how a space is conceived, perceived, and lived can all be quite different from one another.  Even if the city planned, say 200 years in advanced, there is no guarantee that their plans will be carried out how they intended, and if they are, the space may not be “lived” in the same way.  For example, in Hyde Park, where the World’s Fair took place, was developed into a space that they believed would branch out and continue to be a fairground for residential, educational, and successful life.  Hyde Park still is quite that, containing one of the last buildings from the World’s Fair (The Museum of Science and Industry), and the University of Chicago.  However, the areas surrounding Hyde Park are poverty stricken or of working class citizens.  I would not call that a very successful execution of a plan.  

I also disagree with Burnham’s second part, “…There can be no responsible fear lest any plans that may be adopted shall prove too broad or comprehensive.”  A plan can certainly be too broad or comprehensive.  Trying to obtain or achieve too much within one plan can cause disastrous or unorganized outcomes.  A plan needs to be concise and achievable, not over-the-top and unreachable.  

What I believe the city would need, again from my sociological perspective, is not necessarily a plan dealing with architecture and space, but a plan regarding social regulation, improvement of social programming, etc.  The plans that are the problem today, that Burnham did not see 100 years ago are dealing more with economic and political issues.  I don’t want to go too far on a tangent, but what the people of Chicago need is a way to put money in their pocket, good schools, and honest politicians who will actually set out to achieve what is needed for the city.  If Burnham could come up with a plan to solve these problems, then maybe we could move on to the organization and architectural dynamics of Chicago.