Uploaded on 2014-11-07 by itpm2000

[1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14153813707647798.jpg Here is as Urban as Sterling Heights, MI gets. Our municipal area which includes the Police station (far right of building) is connected to our public library (which makes up the left side of the building). Also included in this area is our City Hall (30 ft to right of Police station) and our district court (which is over 100 yards to the left of the library). The area is critical as it provides most of the city services (minus the fire station). The largest park is also across the street (to the right of city hall). It's well lit with two main entrances into and out of the area. Also on the property is a historic farm house which is tribute to the family that founded the area. The sidewalk in the foreground extends from 18 mile road back to 15 mile road and connects with the park trails. So what does all this visible info say about Sterling Heights. First, the layout and features should say that security was necessary to the original city plan. Leaving the Fire department from the area was purposeful as well. The lights are timed (it's a cloudy day about 3pm - they switch on at dusk). The area was also designed for efficiency as the public can access the police station, library, etc. externally while the police can use emergency entrances located within the facility to move quickly from one end of the buildings to the other. The bigger "invisible" takeaway speaks to America in general. The space between the facilities is very American. We have land in abundance unlike the areas where most future cities will be build. Having traveled to Tokyo in 2000 on business, I understand the vastness that American cities have to work with. This explains why there is such ample parking, great distances between the court house (off to the left not pictured because of this distance) and incorporation of a city park with 100+ acres of green space. I don't believe that the last part of this weeks question pertains to our city core in Sterling Heights. First, we can add levels to this existing area to gain more space. Further, so much around can be reclaimed by reducing unnecessary parking space or utilizing vast open areas that exist presently to make the area more efficient (livable is a term for the rest of our "bedroom" community). Steve Ray