The cleanliness of Tokyo, the diversity of New York and the social services of Stockholm: Billionaire Mark Lohr has set out his vision for a “new city in America” of 5 million people and a world-renowned architect to design it. has been appointed.
Now all it needs is a place to build it and $400 billion in funding.
The former Walmart executive unveiled plans last week for Telusa, a sustainable city he hopes to create from scratch in the American desert. The ambitious 150,000-acre proposal promises eco-friendly architecture, sustainable energy production and a drought-resistant water system. The so-called “15-minute city design” will allow residents to access their jobs, schools and amenities within a quarter of an hour’s drive from their homes.
Although planners are still scouting locations, possible targets are Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Texas and the Appalachian region, according to the project’s official website.
The announcement was accompanied by a series of digital representations by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the architecture firm hired to bring Lore’s utopian dream to life. The images show residential buildings covered in greenery and residents are thought to be enjoying the open spaces. With fossil fuel-powered vehicles banned in the city, autonomous vehicles are represented with scooters and scooters traveling through sunlit streets.
Another photo shows a proposed skyscraper, called the Equitism Tower, described as “a beacon for the city.” The building has a large water tank, aeroponic farms and a photovoltaic power-generating roof that allows him to “produce and distribute everything.”
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The first phase of construction, which will house 50,000 people on 1,500 acres, is estimated to cost $25 billion. The entire project is expected to exceed $400 billion and the city will reach a $5 million target over 40 years.
Funding will come from “a variety of sources,” including private investors, philanthropists, federal and state grants and economic development grants, project organizers said. Planners expect to approach state authorities “very soon” with a goal of hosting the first residents by 2030.
A new urban model
Apart from innovative urban design, the plan also promises transparent governance and what it calls “a new model for society”. Taking its name from the ancient Greek word “telos” (a term used by the philosopher Aristotle to describe an inherent or higher purpose), the city allowed residents to “participate in the decision-making and budgeting process.” Gives. Meanwhile, a community endowment will provide residents with shared ownership of the land.
In a promotional video, Lore described his proposal as “the most open, most beautiful and most inclusive city in the world”.