An unflinching op-ed begs a rethinking of narratives that cheer the "Triumph of the City." In the contemporary city, the argument goes, only the rich are better off from urbanization.
A CityMetric post by Deepa Naik and Trenton Oldfield makes a provocative argument:
"Alarmingly, everything everyone one thinks they know about urbanization and cities is mistaken, absolutely and entirely. Contrary to the heavily promoted narrative, people arenot cheerfully and enthusiastically moving to cities. Most of the world’s population have been forced to, or left with no other alternative but to attempt to make a life in a city."
Naik and Oldfield also note that urbanization processes in history, such as Britain of the 18th and 19th centuries and the Post-World War II United States, were forced through various methods.
Another bleak pronouncement: "Despite the assurances of the Urban Industry, westernised cities are not 'good for you'. And doses of wealth, health and wisdom will not trickle down to their inhabitants."
Certainly, there is no small amount of exuberance over the perceived contemporary renaissance of urban living—but this article argues that that common narrative is misguided. In London, for example, residents "are leaving in droves."
The article goes on to elaborate on more of the implications of the current trends in urbanization—especially its impacts on at-risk and low-income populations all over the world. The article is an example of frank, tough talk at its most provocative.
FULL STORY: Everything you thought you knew about cities is wrong
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.