Joel Kotkin argues that most U.S. cities that were struggling in the '60s and '70s have forged a comeback and should no longer need the sort of redevelopment and federal attention they've been given.
Kotkin explains his usual position that smaller, less dense urban areas and suburbs have been the true engines of growth, and urban cores are facing massive debt problems and far too much political attention. He sees the shift in power in Congress to more suburban-based Republicans as an opportunity to change direction.
Citing Christopher Leinberger, he says that the redevelopment of downtowns, for better or worse, has had its intended effect:
"As they have developed somewhat stronger downtown cores, lowered crime rates and reduced 'white flight,' the stronger urban cores are better positioned now, though perhaps less so than the boosters believe, to succeed on a market-oriented basis."
He concludes, "Cities need to break their reliance on outside help from a country that is, for the most part, not dense or urban."
FULL STORY: The Next Urban Challenge — And Opportunity
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
How California Transit Agencies are Addressing Rider Harassment
Safety and harassment are commonly cited reasons passengers, particularly women and girls, avoid public transit.
Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards
A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.
Federal Rule Raises Cost for Oil and Gas Extraction on Public Lands
An update to federal regulations raises minimum bonding to limit orphaned wells and ensure cleanup costs are covered — but it still may not be enough to mitigate the damages caused by oil and gas drilling.
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Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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ULI Northwest Arkansas
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