Stuttgart 21 - Whose Vision Is It?

Stuttgart, a wealthy German city, encounters a suprising citizen protest against seeminly a well-crafted urban development project under its far-sighted transportation vision plan, Stuttgart 21. According to NYT, "a wing of the train station in Stuttgart being torn down on Aug. 25. Protests have focused not only on the station, but on saving hundreds of trees." . . . "thousands of people have poured into the streets in a sustained series of protests that have grown stronger in the face of a political leadership that refuses to stop the demolition. Estimates of the crowds ranged from the low thousands to as many as 60,000. This contest of wills may seem familiar to Americans, but it represents a profound change in German politics and governing that has been gathering steam for decades, political experts here say. While Germany is no stranger to street demonstrations, they have typically been organized by leftists to protest issues like nuclear power and the placement of United States missiles. What has impressed analysts and shaken local officials in Stuttgart is the size and duration of the protests and the cross section of the traditionally conservative population that is taking part, with retirees and middle-age professionals standing alongside college students to demand a voice in government."

Stuttgart case seems to show the sophistication of people's sense of place and their reaction - interesting implication to urban planning and design.