Make No Little Plans: Celebrating Chicago
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.07
"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will themselves not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die."- Daniel Burnham. That is why Chicago was and is so great- They make big plans and they stick to them. In 1909 they wanted to keep the lakefront “forever open, free and clear,” and “not for the rich people solely or principally… but the prosperity of those who must have employment in order to live.” Now Chicago is planning a Centennial "To extend and renew the spirit of Burnham and Bennett’s vision of civic involvement in planning the futures of Chicago and other great cities of the world." Coming from a City that has not managed to implement a big plan since 1909, cut off its waterfront and can't even control its own planning, while watching Chicago continue to launch green initiative after initiative, I am envious. ::Plan of Chicago
