Comments on: Searching For Room To Breathe In Jordan http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/ A Jordanian Blog Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:51:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Nas http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109745 Nas Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:50:04 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109745 <b>Dana:</b> your right, the hussein gardens are an obvious testament of the urgent need, especially since a lot of the visitors are not west ammanis and actually have to do some travelling across town to get there! as for backyards. they are never enough. i mean we really dont have many and even if we did, public parks and recreation centers are really communal and have a lot more advantages than the solitude of a small garden right next to where you usually park your car. <b>AMP:</b> i think the answer to your solution was mentioned by zeina in her piece. she argued that the cost of removing a few playground utlities is less of a big deal than having nothing there for years. it might not be ideal however i think the principle or the general concept is what's important. we can play around with the details to get a genuine solution. in other words, imagine a scenario where a large corporation like say, aramex, decide to buy the land and develop it as part of their social responsibility program - also known as free advertising - where upon the government offers them a tax-free incentive under the condition they turn it into a public space. there's room to play with these ideas is my point. <b>Awartany:</b> thanks for the update! :-D <b>Ahmad:</b> all good and valid ideas! ;-) <b>Onzlo:</b> they have these sort of campaigns every year under various banners. they should be big scale like you suggested. the problem is not so much in the planting but the sustaining. i remember 2 years ago visiting an area that i myself helped plant trees in when i was in high school and couldn't find a single tree that survived. no water, no upkeep. so its not just a matter of planting, its a matter of putting one's hands in the dirt to get them dirty for the long term and that may require a reasonable degree of PPP. Dana: your right, the hussein gardens are an obvious testament of the urgent need, especially since a lot of the visitors are not west ammanis and actually have to do some travelling across town to get there! as for backyards. they are never enough. i mean we really dont have many and even if we did, public parks and recreation centers are really communal and have a lot more advantages than the solitude of a small garden right next to where you usually park your car.

AMP: i think the answer to your solution was mentioned by zeina in her piece. she argued that the cost of removing a few playground utlities is less of a big deal than having nothing there for years. it might not be ideal however i think the principle or the general concept is what’s important. we can play around with the details to get a genuine solution. in other words, imagine a scenario where a large corporation like say, aramex, decide to buy the land and develop it as part of their social responsibility program - also known as free advertising - where upon the government offers them a tax-free incentive under the condition they turn it into a public space. there’s room to play with these ideas is my point.

Awartany: thanks for the update! :-D

Ahmad: all good and valid ideas! ;-)

Onzlo: they have these sort of campaigns every year under various banners. they should be big scale like you suggested. the problem is not so much in the planting but the sustaining. i remember 2 years ago visiting an area that i myself helped plant trees in when i was in high school and couldn’t find a single tree that survived. no water, no upkeep. so its not just a matter of planting, its a matter of putting one’s hands in the dirt to get them dirty for the long term and that may require a reasonable degree of PPP.

]]> By: Onzlo http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109739 Onzlo Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:46:44 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109739 I wonder if there are any afforestation campaigns running in Jordan nowadays. If the ministries of agriculture, environment, education and the army co-operate we could easily have every school/university student and every member of the army plant 1 tree a year on arbor day, that would mean millions of trees in 10 years for minimal effort (actually more like a nice day out). I wonder if there are any afforestation campaigns running in Jordan nowadays.
If the ministries of agriculture, environment, education and the army co-operate we could easily have every school/university student and every member of the army plant 1 tree a year on arbor day, that would mean millions of trees in 10 years for minimal effort (actually more like a nice day out).

]]> By: Ahmad Al-Sholi http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109723 Ahmad Al-Sholi Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:57:29 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109723 I think Al-Hussien Park is jammed due to the fact that no other parks are there. After having some more of that size, and many other from smaller sizes that fit between residential blocks, Traffic will be controlled and more efficient designs will be introduced. Just like the Malls in Amman, Mecca Mall 3 years ago was a 1 hour tour minimum to get a specific thing. If Gam and Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, Water, Social Affairs have on their agendas to greenrise the country, transform mentalities more towards environmental thinking and environmental joy, big numbers + smart ideas are needed. 1.Clear some blocks in condensed areas like Zarqa, Eastern Amman, Irbid, and Refugee camps for a green block to be a park and a recreational center. 2.Develop Public transportation: Respectful Driving, Stations, Clean Buses, On Time Schedule, Clear City Maps and many people will drop the car idea. I would love to take the public transportation given a good quality service, why need a car in the first place but for an occasional drive? 3.Deserted lands within urban development should just be planted without contracts or anything, if the owner wants to build the trees get transformed somewhere else. I think Al-Hussien Park is jammed due to the fact that no other parks are there. After having some more of that size, and many other from smaller sizes that fit between residential blocks, Traffic will be controlled and more efficient designs will be introduced. Just like the Malls in Amman, Mecca Mall 3 years ago was a 1 hour tour minimum to get a specific thing.

If Gam and Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, Water, Social Affairs have on their agendas to greenrise the country, transform mentalities more towards environmental thinking and environmental joy, big numbers + smart ideas are needed.

1.Clear some blocks in condensed areas like Zarqa, Eastern Amman, Irbid, and Refugee camps for a green block to be a park and a recreational center.
2.Develop Public transportation: Respectful Driving, Stations, Clean Buses, On Time Schedule, Clear City Maps and many people will drop the car idea. I would love to take the public transportation given a good quality service, why need a car in the first place but for an occasional drive?
3.Deserted lands within urban development should just be planted without contracts or anything, if the owner wants to build the trees get transformed somewhere else.

]]> By: Awartany http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109722 Awartany Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:39:59 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109722 I love Jordan... :) I love Jordan… :)

]]> By: AMP http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109720 AMP Tue, 11 Dec 2007 07:31:03 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109720 Incentives are good, but there is also the issue of who has effective ownership of the property. Imagine this scenario: A family in urban Amman has some extra land that they don't want to build on at a particular point in time. In exchange for allowing the Amaneh to build a children's park on the available land, the family pays 5% less of their annual household income in taxes. But Amman's population continues to grow and property values continue to climb. The family is approached multiple times about selling their land to build houses. The offers from prospective buyers far exceed the tax rebate the family is getting in exchange for housing the playground on their land, and the prices of basic commodities are rising. After appealing to the government for greater benefits and being refused, the family decides to sell. What happens to the playground then? This seems like a likely scenario, and the only solution would be to sign a contract that gives the government occupancy rights for a defined period of time. But if this happens, and families start wanting to sell, there would be a lot of pressure on the government to void the contracts-- especially if these families claim that they are suffering economic hardship and they need the land revenues. Incentives are good, but there is also the issue of who has effective ownership of the property. Imagine this scenario: A family in urban Amman has some extra land that they don’t want to build on at a particular point in time. In exchange for allowing the Amaneh to build a children’s park on the available land, the family pays 5% less of their annual household income in taxes. But Amman’s population continues to grow and property values continue to climb. The family is approached multiple times about selling their land to build houses. The offers from prospective buyers far exceed the tax rebate the family is getting in exchange for housing the playground on their land, and the prices of basic commodities are rising. After appealing to the government for greater benefits and being refused, the family decides to sell. What happens to the playground then?

This seems like a likely scenario, and the only solution would be to sign a contract that gives the government occupancy rights for a defined period of time. But if this happens, and families start wanting to sell, there would be a lot of pressure on the government to void the contracts– especially if these families claim that they are suffering economic hardship and they need the land revenues.

]]> By: Dave http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109718 Dave Tue, 11 Dec 2007 04:51:24 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109718 I love the idea of incentives for developing unused land into public spaces. I've been griping about the lack of public spaces since I moved here. And like Dana mentioned, King Hussein Park just isn't sufficient. I love the idea of incentives for developing unused land into public spaces. I’ve been griping about the lack of public spaces since I moved here. And like Dana mentioned, King Hussein Park just isn’t sufficient.

]]> By: Dana-T.O http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109712 Dana-T.O Tue, 11 Dec 2007 03:05:36 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2007/12/11/searching-for-room-to-breathe-in-jordan/#comment-109712 Did you ever try going to Hussein Parks on Thursday night in the summer? It takes an hour of being stuck in trafic within the park to get out of the place after you make the mistake of entering there at the first place. On the other hand, think of how most houses in Amman, regrdless of their sizes, have their own retreat. A little garden,a big back yard, or even a balconey. People has substitude their needs for public parks.No? Did you ever try going to Hussein Parks on Thursday night in the summer?
It takes an hour of being stuck in trafic within the park to get out of the place after you make the mistake of entering there at the first place.
On the other hand, think of how most houses in Amman, regrdless of their sizes, have their own retreat. A little garden,a big back yard, or even a balconey. People has substitude their needs for public parks.No?

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