Panarchy is an alternative to/expansion of the Succession Model that I learned in junior high. Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems relates Panarchy to urban systems.

Systems/Cities will “undergo periodical disturbance in order to maintain overall dynamic stability. Typically, the system accumulates biomass slowly over a long period of time and then when the system is disturbed, biomass drops quickly, releasing nutrients for recycling”.

Panarchy has 4 phases:

1. Exploitation: the birth phase. Pioneer and opportunist species proliferate building biomass and greater connectedness.
2. Conservation: climax phase, biological capital is stored and connectedness reaches its peak.
3. Release: the disturbance phase. Usually short, releasing carbon and nutrients.
4. Renewal: reorganization where it renews itself or flips to another state which may be more or less productive.

It seems like Cleveland is in phase 3. According to Newman and Jennings, the positive part of disruption is the opportunity to release “nutrients” that can be used as the system renews. The urban ecosystem needs feedback loops to benefit from the discharge.

I see Cleveland mostly “eroding” instead of “feedback-ing”. Houses are being demolished instead of reclaimed or de-constructed. Erosion of mined metals is occurring as scrappers sell materials that are probably bound for Dubai.

One feedback loop of a positive note:
This Monday starts the deconstruction of Stanard School in the St. Clair Superior Neighborhood. This deconstruction project is headed by Ward 13 Councilman Joe Cimperman, The Department of Building and Housing, and the St. Clair Superior Development Corporation with technical support from the Ohio EPA.

Most of the usable wood has been reclaimed and the bricks will be re-used by community and market gardens among others. The New Agrarian Center has been documenting the process with video. The goals: keep construction waste out of landfills, make the deconstruction pay for itself through sales of some of the materials, provide materials for community groups in need. I hope this is one of many projects like this.