Cities on Tap – Placemaking with Craft Beer

I told you that at some point, this blog would discuss craft beer. Well, that time has come. I came up with the term “Brew Urbanism” to describe my collective thoughts and attitudes towards craft beer as a way to evaluate or highlight the livability of a particular city or neighborhood. Really, though, beer could be replaced with a number of things in this concept – coffee shops, yoga studios – places that create a happy environment, supported by a vibrant and passionate culture. Beer, quite simply is an economic development tool.

Over the last couple years, the craft beer industry has exploded, spreading throughout the country like, well, a spilled beer (forgive me). To illustrate, some stats from the Craft Brewer’s Association:

• In 2011, there were a total of 2,027 breweries operating in the U.S. By June of 2013, there were 2,538.
• Craft brewers currently provide more than 108,000 jobs in the U.S.

A lot has been written about whether or not we are nearing a craft beer bubble. For example, DC Brau, the first production brewery in DC since prohibition opened in 2011. Today, there are 8 breweries operating in DC, with several more being planned. How many breweries in the U.S. can we sustain? How many can a city like DC support? If my recent outings are any indication, there’s still plenty of room for more.

My favorite aspect of craft beer, and the one that drives my passion for it, is the community that surrounds it. The craft beer industry is creative, collaborative, inclusive and social in ways that I have not seen from other industries. It is also uniquely local, and loyal. Most breweries understand the role that they play in building a local community or neighborhood, and work hard to become positive forces in their cities. Cities, too, rally around the beer scene. Here in DC, DCBeer.com provides regular updates on local beer options, information about new breweries, new ideas and new spaces to enjoy beer in the city. 

With craft beer, you often have a business that creates jobs, brings people to an area, contributes to the character of a neighborhood and (in the best cases) provides a community gathering space. These qualities alone, provided the brewery makes quality beer (easier said than done), are enough to understand why beer has grown so popular, and is being embraced by cities throughout the U.S. 

Some cities are doing better than others. Several, such as Asheville, NC, Grand Rapids, MI are integrating beer-friendliness into their branding, leveraging beer’s economic potential to lure tourists. Other cities, perhaps including DC are struggling to find the right mix of zoning and incentives to create a truly ‘Brew Urbanist’ culture.

Kate (dear girlfriend) and I regularly incorporate beer into our travel. We find that when exploring a new city, diving into the local beer scene helps us get a sense of the culture of a place, and sets us in the direction of the types of people and experiences we hope to encounter. So, as a way to wrap up this post, and to tee up future discussion of Brew Urbanism, here are the top 5 cities I’ve experienced via craft beer.

1. Portland, ME

The walkable streets of my favorite beer-city, Portland, ME. Photo by author.

2. Chicago, IL

3. Madison, WI

4. Asheville, NC

In Asheville, they truly understand how to make a welcoming taproom. Photo by author.

5. Washington, DC

 

 

An open letter to HGTV’s House Hunters…

Dear HGTV,

First time writer, long-time watcher. My darling girlfriend and I love House Hunters. Since we started cohabitating 2+ years ago, your fine network has replaced ESPN as the default channel at our apartment. Over the last several years, I’ve watched many, many episodes of House Hunters. Too many, probably. And, while the show is very enjoyable, I am an unapologetic urbanist, and I think you can do better.

Let me caveat the approaching criticism by acknowledging a few things. First, I absolutely, 100% understand that this show was created as entertainment, and in many ways is not representative of a true house search. Often, the home buyers featured have already purchased the home they end up choosing. Stories are created to heighten the contrast between individuals and create interest, and the housing options shown to the customer are whittled down to create a array of easily distinguished and diverse options. Also, a housing search is ultimately about giving people what they want (or at least, what they say they want).

This isn’t so bad, is it?

Still, House Hunters is an incredibly popular show – with a huge audience of people who will potentially purchase their own homes at some point. Too often I notice a tendency to lead the customer on a journey that results in choosing the least-sustainable choice. Many of the same practices that (in my opinion) were painfully highlighted during the Great Recession are still readily evident on your show. What I’m suggesting here, is that House Hunters promotes urban sprawl.

Drive Till the House is Big Enough

Forget ‘drive till you qualify’. Many episodes of House Hunters center on a couple that is looking for a house in an urban setting, close to jobs and transit, only to end up selecting a house in the suburbs because of the space it offers. Perhaps the show is just set up this way – but most purchasers seem comfortable with the, shall we say, ‘cozier’ urban dwellings – until the realtor introduces the larger house in the suburbs. Suddenly, the space becomes something that the purchaser can’t live without. Often, this space comes at a price point above the stated budget…

What is a Budget, Anyway?

I’ll admit, I’ve never bought a house. I like to think that when we do, the ‘budget’ we set for ourselves will be a reflection of what we can actually afford – and what we, as homeowners will be comfortable paying for. Many times on House Hunters, the purchaser is convinced that a house outside of their stated budget is the one for them, and often this is the result of the realtor giving them ‘more bang for their buck’. Now customers are paying more than they wanted to for a house that is farther away than they wanted to be (but, granite countertops!)

Talk About the True Costs

What’s lost in all this is a real discussion about the trade-offs that come from moving to the suburbs, particularly in larger metropolitan areas. Chicago’s Center for Neighborhood Technology has done some great research on this idea. The added costs of commuting to and from a house in the suburbs are rarely factored in. And, its not just a financial cost, there’s a very real social and mental cost associated with spending a chunk of your day sitting in a vehicle.

The hidden cost of a house in the suburbs.

What I’m suggesting here is that House Hunters, with its huge audience of young couples, singles and empty nesters looking to purchase homes, can do much, much more to promote a sustainable lifestyle. You can still give people what they want, but make sure they understand the trade-offs. Transportation, energy efficiency, water management should be mentioned along with stainless steel appliances, walk-in closets and finished basements.

You don’t really NEED this closet, until someone tells you you can have it.

Choosing a home should be about more than just ‘more space’. It should be about the quality of life that can be offered, and becoming part of a community. Bigger isn’t always better. In many cases, its the exact opposite.

In the meantime, we will keep watching and hoping, applauding the home buyers that choose a walkable, urban or even urban-lite lifestyle. My girlfriend and I realize we will never be on your show – we agree too much on the type of housing we want, and where we want to be to be interesting enough.