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Brainstorm: Can Cities Shrink Gracefully? Should They? How?

29 June 2009 - 10:00am
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As the recession digs in, cities across the country are left with large swaths of abandoned or vacant places. Can these cities shrink gracefully? Do they even need to? Vote on ideas submitted by the Planetizen community, or suggest your own.

There's been a lot of talk recently about bulldozing vacant properties in struggling cities. Some say it's a good way to downsize, but others argue it may be too soon to give up on these areas.

Is there a good way for cities to deal with their abandoned spaces? Do they have to shrink or bulldoze themselves to do it?

We want to know what you, the Planetizen community, thinks cities should react.

Let us know your ideas, and vote on the ideas submitted by the community. Participate in the brainstorm by submitting or voting at http://planetizen.uservoice.com/pages/21833-can-cities-shrink-gracefully-should-they-how-.

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By monitoring these sorts of time-based changes, planners and policymakers could potentially take on a better understanding of how places change and what patterns might be causing urban problems.
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