To Inform, Provoke, Dispel, and Inspire—Ideas and actions for life in Worthington, Ohio
Ideas, Actions, People, and Commentary in the City of Worthington

Sense of Place and the Power of Uniqueness—Worthington’s Greatest Asset

Written by David Robinson on . Posted in City Council, City Identity, Comprehensive Plan, Historic District, History, MPC/ARB, Parks/Greenspace, Public Health, Sustainability, UMCH, Uncategorized

Community planner and educator Ed McMahon begins his talk with a single image (above) and a simple question:

“Where is this?… Is that Albany, Allentown, is that Providence, Pittsburgh, is that Tampa or Topeka?  Who can tell?”

(click here to go to the video)

I came across this TED Talk recently, and I think it has a lot to say about Worthington. I hope you’ll check it out. It speaks not only to our present—why we want to live here, visitors choose to come here, and businesses decide to locate here—but also to our future.  A number of the most long-term, consequential issues now before us relate to our built environment and, underlying it all, the land itself—how do we value it, steward it, and use it, in the interests of some or the benefit of all?  This talk, with insight and wisdom, speaks to these issues.

This talk has broad persuasive force because McMahon makes his case with economic arguments and numerous examples (home values, tourism, etc.) of the monetary value of differentiation and the power of uniqueness. These financial considerations complement the aesthetic, sociological, and psychological/spiritual viewpoints that infuse his remarks throughout. His presentation, like the topic itself, is holistic.

I particularly hope that if there are any readers of this post who see these issues primarily through the lens of profit-driven development, that you will pause to consider the validity and meaning of these ideas for our community. I hope we can all embrace the principle that the “highest and best use” of land in Worthington can’t be found solely on a spreadsheet.  Rather, the true value of any land-use development is its contribution to the preservation and enhancement of our unique sense of place.

If you are able to watch McMahon’s seventeen minute TED Talk, I would very much like to know what you think about it: davidwrobinsonblog@gmail.com

video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB5tH4rt-x8

  • Ed McMahon, who holds the Charles E. Fraser Chair on Sustainable Development at the Urban Land Institute in Washington, DC, believes that Place is more than just a location on a map. Place is the unique collection of qualities and characteristics–visual, cultural, social, environmental–that provide meaning to a location. Sense of place is what makes one city or town different from another, but it is also what makes our physical surroundings worth caring about.

David Robinson

David Robinson lives in Worthington with his wife, Lorraine, and their three children—two who attend Phoenix Middle School, and one who is a graduate of the Linworth High School Program and Otterbein University. David is President and co-owner of Marcy Adhesives, Inc., a local manufacturing company. David has served on Worthington City Council since January, 2018, and is deeply committed to 1) advancing resident-centered policies, 2) supporting responsible development that enhances our unique historic character, 3) endorsing environmentally sustainable practices for both residents and city operations, 4) promoting the safety and well-being of all residents, and 5) preserving the walkable, tree-filled, distinctive, friendly nature of our neighborhoods.