Reinventing A Rust Belt City
In the 1980s, Bilbao, Spain, had a lot in common with some U.S. 'Rust Belt' cities - declining population, dying industries, and a depressed downtown. This is the story of Bilbao's remarkable turnaround.
"Today, thanks to a massive investment in path-breaking architecture and visionary planning, this urban invalid in northern Spain has come back to life with a bang. Tourists who flock here from around the globe to see Frank Gehry's shimmering, titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum also find a reborn city, its waterfront in the throes of renewal, its bustling downtown streets lined with swank shops, its ancient center being restored. Industries are cleaner, jobs are plentiful and the population is no longer hemorrhaging.The spectacular turnaround of Bilbao, the capital of Bizkaia (Biscay) in Spain's Basque region, is a story of moxie, muscle and money."
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