Speed Levitch: The New York City "Grid Plan"

[mjamesharding]

@noncontradiction: I don't know what you mean by "the same level" and "the picture". Also, who are the people you are referring to and what do you mean when you use the metaphor, "down"?

[MrGziss]

this is by far one of my fav topics in this movie. i have 3 copies of this film.

[jcmik]

Is it weird that I 'disliked' this video but still added it to my favorites?

[Esqudo]

@AustinMazenSafadi Because this form of organization is thwarting evolution.

[hockeybum90n5]

lol how could you not like the group plan?

[CrazyMaryNYC]

very sexual slacks!

[1650million]

He´s pretty awesome

[ethanwl2]

This is brilliant. Fuck the grid plan.

[YuriArtibise]

His thoughts on the grid plan seem much more apropos to the winding suburban streets and cul-de-sacs that purposely avoid the grid in an effort to disguise their homogeneity. To me the grid it is like the alphabet, a standardization that allows an otherwise heterogeneous crowd to communicate with each other.

[aerodub]

@YuriArtibise : I like this thinking too. It is the interpretation that makes us individuals (or not...).

and--glad to hear he's still giving tours!! Did one a couple years ago, no longer in NYC :(

[mjamesharding]

@YuriArtibise: I don't know that the grid plan facilitates communication and relationships between diverse groups. If you look at NYC, the grid plan actually assists inclusivity by using boulevards and streets to divide neighborhoods from each other--large rivers of concrete and asphalt that keep people in their own insular enclaves (or gentrified neighborhoods). I think that the suburbs avoid the grid plan mainly because suburbs were planned around the automobile and not people.

[noncontradiction]

@mjamesharding So the only way to bring people down to the same level is to exclude them from the picture?

[TheSludgeMan]

He is so remarkably articulate and expressive, his monologues are the equivalent of an epic jazz solo.

[jdb7070]

don't know why I was remembering this guy today, but he was in my head, and I still love him so, Speed Levitch. excellent documentary of course, "the cruise".

[escapethisall]

interestingly, we seem to love the non gridlike parts of the city the most. times square is very unsquare in contrast to most of manhattan.

[thisisangelo]

@escapethisall Yeah but Ewwww, Who living in New York actually likes Times Square?

[avisualfeel]

Yes, let's do away with the grid plan & while we're at it let's get rid of all the cars too. Bike it or hike it & re-design it!

[Wolliom]

I don't understand a lot of what he says, but his voice is so unique and beautiful.

[speedssister]

The cruise can be a reality. Take a tour with Speed at Speed Levitch Online.com

[zhulia]

but he's just so beautiful and sincere

if sincerity was all that mattered, he would be king.

i still want to feel with him sometime.

[trunks2861]

I am surprised about his views on the Grid. I think that as one who seeks to expose and experience the City's true beauty, he would embrace it. I disagree with him.

[Gettinghitonattheban]

In a sense he's talking about the end of spontaneity and play for "seriousness" and "absolutism."

[Angel503z]

Right on!

What people or "everyone" does not understand is that the "grid plan" must always change!  And the mare fact that "everyone" doesn't really include everyone is mainly the reason why!

[mmorrell1]

The bleakness of our city street across America is overwhelming. Something's got to be done. Screw the grid.

[MorganChiropractic]

what if C-A-T spelled dog?

[pocketocrisps]

you have to at least admire levitch's ability to articulate.

[JayMalone]

you guys don't understand. he wasn't talking about the efficiencies of different city plannings. he was using the grid plan as a metaphor.

[dualnature69]

@JayMalone well not really as a metophor, but more as a work of art, hes saying the grid plan, like anything else that we go though and use should be an expression of who we are, and not what the former generation was, but thats what i took from it it is what u want it to be

[TigerRocket]

The 1807 plan was based on maximizing real estate profits and the democratic ideals of shared space. There was no consideration for the physical growth of pedestrian and transportation dynamics. Diagonals were strenuously opposed by the adherents of the grid. The original proposal also called for realigning Broadway as well. If it werent for the odd trajectories of Broadway and St. Nicholas Ave., and a hub like Columbus Circle, the grid plan would be constantly choked in standing traffic.

[regalkidney]

If the alternative to a grid plan is, say, crazy-ass circular winding streets like Boston, I say give me the grid plan. I assure you, non-grid does not mean better for pedestrians.

[TigerRocket]

The grid plan is fine as long as it includes circles and diagonal routes within it. As I stated in my previous comment a pure grid plan would result in constant grid lock.

Again, there was no consideration for the physical growth of pedestrian AND transportation dynamics in the original concept. You simply cannot have a pure grid system, a growing population AND expanding traffic on a small finite island like Manhattan, and avoid congestion. It can not be done. You MUST have breaks in the grid.

[TigerRocket]

btw, nowhere in my comments did I imply a total non grid system. That would be as ludicrous as a pure grid system.

[semiheresemi]

Were you asleep when flying above American suburbia? Practically all new suburb "towns" are designed in every way except a grid plan.

[yerk3]

The grid is square because the buildings are square. The buildings are square because square buildings are practical and easier to make than irregularly shaped buildings. The grid plan is the most efficient arrangement for this shape of building, while wasting as little space as possible. If the buildings were arranged all katty-whompus, there would be a lot of unused space, that would probably be paved over or covered in pesticide lawns.

[TheObnubilators]

sure- i don't know -why -i don't care- if -i don't know- what if -i wish -so why-because it's for the best -yes -this is going to work- real- that is all i'm after

[TheObnubilators]

hey the grid plan isn't even all that bad.

[doctorlogik]

i agree with speed on the grid plan but cities have become machines (particularly NY) and machines tend towards functionality (as do subsequently the people inhabiting them).

There have been exercises in nonlogical machine making i'm sure, but in the end they are probably defined by their absence of function and subsequent redundancy (save for being objects of passing amusement).

I put it down to neoliberalism (but thats just me).

[9claudius]

Ever heard of Thomas Campanella and his circular plan for The City Of The Sun. The city becomes a template for the citizens' growth into fully realized and cosmically connected star children.

[multuminparvo]

"I mean what does THAT person think about the grid plan?" Genius.

[pepepakor]

What does he exactly say at 1:58-2:01? "By being so completely ......? at the Grid Plan" Can't understand what he says right there..

[fluxapocolypse]

we're forced to walk in these right angles - i mean, doesn't she find it infuriating? by being so completely allegiant to the grid plan, i think most noteworthy is this idiom: " i can't even imagine changing the grid plan"

[pepepakor]

Thanks a lot! :)

[lightofdamon]

I always thought he said "allegianed" (not a real word though) I think, a version or play on allegiance

"By being so allegianed to the grid plan"

(being attached to the idea and pledging allegiance to something is kind of the same thing)

[hedjunta]

It's nice to be reminded of these things that are happening under our feet. Being new to NYC- I recently wandered down Gay St in the West Village... what an astounding 50 yards of fresh air.. I felt alive again just to round that bend.

[ApolloSpade]

when's Stroker and Hoop gettin renewed?? its obviously gonna come bacc.. "Die Stroker & Jermaine!!"

[seastar001]

Beautiful.

[violetclementine]

and you, my friend, are missing the point.

[MRig13]

The funny thing is that a grid plan in a city fosters the sort of cacophony and liveliness he likes. At least, that's what Jane Jacobs said, and for what it's worth I believe her.

Of course I'm missing the point because he's not talking about urban planning, but I keep wanting to shout, "your metaphor is wrong! Your metaphor is wrong!"

[YodaMan19]

you only hate the "grid plan" when your life doesn't turn out the way you want it to, with this guy it is reasonable to assume that he got pissed off at society because he couldn't get laid

[Mangopork]

...Or he has sex with hot philosophy graduates and authors.

[YodaMan19]

i didn't know there were hot philosophy graduates or hot authors

[Mangopork]

plenty.

[cautionMike]

word!

[5293278363]

This is one of my two favorite rants from the movie, this and "To all the people who add flavor to my life, why don't you come up to the Brooklyn Bridge and talk about it? Why don't you talk to me about it?..." I've seen 'The Cruise' more times than I care to admit. Thanks for posting.

Cheers

[Weezerpwns]

lol, very interesting..."self orchestrated purgatories" thats sweet. I think it's a pretty far fetched conclusion that was formulated at the end...yet interesting

[leedsninja]

This guy is the more nerdy version of Neo....

[actober2007]

this guy is the biggest bob dylan wannabee

[looskuh]

This video is awesome. We're doing a presentation on the grid plan, and are showing this in class. Hopefully it'll blow some peoples minds. Tnx for posting this!

[pauldrumsfunk]

one of the best movies i've ever seen...levitch is inspiring and then some. cheer for the post

[Delphi333]

Hey thanks for posting this!!! I saw the Cruise about 3 years ago and loved it - have you seen Live From Shiva's Dance Floor? It's great! :)

[zutronius]

Thanks Speed!

[FADEproductions]

Who IS this guy???

[devoinregress]

Oh man I have been looking for this video in digital format everywhere. I saw this before I came to NYC and it really changed how I look at the city. Can The Cruse be released on DVD or in full on the net somewhere please!?!?

[Lebowsk1]

Speed rules yo.

[ItalianHonor]

anyone happen to know this email im related to him and id like get in toch with him.

[speedssister]

I'm his sister, what's your relation?

[CatherineBeck]

"Speed's Sister" -- did you get my email concerning Tim and the magazine I write for, etc.?

Cathie

[speedssister]

I don't believe I did. Can you resend?

[CatherineBeck]

I write for a (actually "the") literary poetry magazine in the U.S. I'd like to speak to Tim -- do you think that possible?

Cathie (you can google "Cathie Beck")

[EdimondoGrano]

I need to find this man in the belly of all belly's New York to share a table an a peppermint pattie. We would have quite the sit down, I assume too much, oh well, what a well I've falling for-eign again.

[Krexel]

Speed for president 2008!

[pathinthesaswoods]

Yeah, how to reach Speed? his voicemail number stopped working a Lonnng time ago!  and speed, i met you in mpls six years ago and i want to see you Again! are you still doing walking tours?

[multuminparvo]

...anyway thanks for the post, this movie is hard to find. :)

[multuminparvo]

speaks* ;)

[multuminparvo]

As he speeks, I nod in agreement and understanding... while those around me screw up their faces in confusion... Thank goodness for other minds that reel and swell, and take sharp right hand turns!!!

[12oman]

god i love this guy

[torgosassistant]

"Take a right turn, and a right turn, and a right turn, then there's a red light, a yellow light, a green light...its so symmetrical!" ahahaha i love it!

[torgosassistant]

oh man, Timothy Levitch, you make my world a lot happier.

Tim's a genius.

[ItalianHonor]

does anyone have this guys email?