Although transit-oriented development is a U.S. born
concept, many of its principles have been and continue to be widely used in
European city planning. In Copenhagen, the concept of a transit-oriented development
is being taken to a whole new level with the creation of Ørestad, a transit-oriented city. Ørestad is a developing city
located in the Copenhagen region on the island of Amager. What sets this
developing city apart from many others is that this city is using the “new
town” concept seen in other parts of the world to build a completely planned
community from start to finish.
The Ørestad
Development Corporation, largely owned by the City of Copenhagen, was founded
in 1993 to oversee the planning and development of this city. The development
will take over 20 years to build, cost the city over €175 million, and house over 20,000 people when
completed. What makes this development similar to transit-oriented developments
in the United States is the reliance on transit. Given its remote location, a
Copenhagen Metro line will be the main public transit line connecting the new
city to the City of Copenhagen. The M1 line will connect Ørestad to both Copenhagen city
center (7 minute train ride) and neighboring city of Malmo (29 minute train
ride), as well as to the Copenhagen airport (6 minute train ride).
The purpose of the city is to supply around 80,000 jobs
along with its 20,000 residents, providing a new full-service, self-sustaining
village and employment center for the Copenhagen region. The development begun
in 2004 with only 100 resident, and has already reached 7,500 today as
construction continues. The town will host the largest shopping mall in
Denmark, the largest hotel in Scandinavia, and will even have its own
university.
Ørestad
is part of a larger effort by Copenhagen to dictate future growth in the area
around what they call their “five finger plan.” The plan outlines an area of
development that looks like a hand around the City of Copenhagen, where five
Metro lines will extend out from the city center. Copenhagen will direct
development along these five transit lines with the creation of more TOD-like
developments in the future; however, what is still uncertain is how they will
do so. Ørestad is just an experiment for
Copenhagen to test the waters on the best way to direct future development
within the “five fingers” they have laid out. It is still uncertain whether
this “new town” approach of complete planning will be a successful model for
the city to continue.
Sources:
Richard D. Knowles, Transit Oriented Development in Copenhagen,
Denmark: from the Finger Plan to Ørestad, Journal of Transport Geography,
Volume 22, May 2012, Pages 251-261, ISSN 0966-6923,
10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2012.01.009. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966692312000130)
Pedersen, 2008:
http://www.building-supply.dk/article/view.html?id=20856
It will be interesting to see how these TODs work out in terms of use of transit in that area along with supporting commercial and residential activities. I am especially curious about the nature of jobs created in these newly developed areas.
ReplyDeleteI live in Hillsboro not too far from Orenco Stations, one of the transit oriented developed communities in the Hillsboro. The area is surrounded by commercial activities and multiple employers, day care centers and variety of other activities. Expensive rent or buy a house however a good active location!Although at this point depending completely on transit as a transportation option is not widely seen. Max station has connection towards Portland and Hillsboro downtown, however around the town a facility like light rail can definitely help to improve the connectivity and reduce the dependence on the cars. I think it is even more important considering Intel one of the biggest employers in this area planning to expand. Interesting article!