Community Identity

For Community Attachment, It's Love and Then Money

A new study shows that three qualities - social offerings, openness, and beauty - strengthen residents' level of community attachment more than other urban variables, and that passion for place may be a leading indicator of local economic growth.
30 November 2010 - 12:00pm
New Urban Network

Portland: A Rose By Any Other Name

Tue, 08/11/2009 - 22:37

Every real estate developer and urban planner knows that Portland, Oregon rocks.

It is probably our best civic example in the United States of defining a comprehensive growth strategy for its citizens and staying true to the vision.  The result is an authentic, creative, smart, home grown, artsy, sustainable, eco-friendly, colorful, self sufficient, vibrant, athletic, outdoorsy, walking, biking, multi-generational and experimental lifestyle downtown community where buildings, transit, waterfront festivals, park blocks, fountains, theaters, bookstores, galleries, music, crafts, food, wine, beer, coffee and people all blend together perfectly.  It really works here. But one thing was never done properly and needs to be changed to capture this spirit – the name of the city. 

Mr. City Rankings Answers Your Questions

Bert Sperling, who has earned recognition for his lists of "Best Places," responds to questions posed by the readers of the Freakonomics blog.
6 October 2008 - 11:00am
Freakonomics (Opinion) on The New York Times
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