Jenny Sullivan writes, "The shift has been especially pronounced in some big cities, such as New York, which saw its share of regional permits increase from 15% in the early 1990s to 48% by 2008. In Chicago, housing permits inside city limits rose from 7% to 27% over the same time period.
Rapid revitalization is sweeping many smaller cities as well. In Portland's downtown neighborhoods and close-in 'burbs, permit activity jumped from 9% to 26% over the last two decades."
