The Importance of Gateway Experiences to Punk Rock & Urbanism

Dan Reed cautions against an elitist aversion to sterile and inauthentic "town centers" – for all their supposed faults, they offer a stepping stone for the uninitiated masses to get interested in "true" urbanism.

1 minute read

March 16, 2012, 7:00 AM PDT

By Ryan Lue


Private, commercial, new urbanist developments (read: outdoor shopping malls) often provoke the ire of diehard urbanists. In much the same way that hardcore punk rockers are apt to turn up their noses at Green Day as a mass-appeal, commercialized perversion of real-deal punk, many advocates of rich, organic urban life wouldn't be caught dead within miles of a "town center."

But, as Reed contends, there's merit in mass appeal. To the uninitiated, what distinguishes the forgery from the real McCoy is hard to spot, except that the former is a little less intimidating, more familiar, easier to handle. Such was precisely his experience as a teenager, when Green Day shoehorned him into a fascination with punk rock, just as a friend's birthday party at D.C.'s Washingtonian Center shoehorned him into a fascination with public space.

So perhaps over-planned, manufactured spaces should not be dismissed out of hand. After all, everyone has to start somewhere.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012 in Greater Greater Washington

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today