Common Edge surveyed mayors and urban designers for ideas about what the next decade holds in store for cities. There were plenty of challenges in facing the world before the pandemic.

Before the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic had shut down cities in the United States, Common Edge surveyed mayors and urban designers for predictions on the next decade of life in cities. The context into which COVID-19 emerged sowed the seeds for the coming economic and public health shock of the pandemic.
All 44 mayors and 45 design leaders surveyed by Common Edge participated in the Mayors’ Institute on City Design last year. "Answers ranged from the practical to the alarmist, from the aspirational to the fantastical," according to the article, which groups responses into a few interrelated themes, such as those listed below:
- "The Existential Threats of the Last Decade Will Shift From the Theoretical to the Urgent" – In this case, the theme focused on climate change and affordability, but also focused on questions of privacy in an era of big data and the impact of autonomous vehicles.
- "Residents Will Demand That We Do Things Differently" –The rate of change in cities will require responsive and flexible government, according to the answers provided here.
- "What’s Old Will Become New Again" – Urban residents will continue to seek authentic experiences, with an orientation to the public realm.
- "Cities Will Lead With Landscape as the Era of Single-Objective Infrastructure Ends" – Resilience will require a new, more efficient approach to infrastructure, according to this theme.
- "Cities Will Become the Primary Stewards of Social Infrastructure" – This theme predicts that climate change would require cities to lead in maintaining the "connections and glue that bind communities together," but COVID-19 might have moved up the timeline for this prediction.
FULL STORY: How Mayors and Design Leaders View the Coming Decade

Eugene Ends Parking Minimums
In a move that complies with a state law aimed at reducing transportation emissions, Eugene amended its parking rules to eliminate minimum requirements and set maximum parking lot sizes.

How Paris, Texas Became a ‘Unicorn’ for Rural Transit
A robust coalition of advocates in the town of 25,000 brought together the funding and resources to launch a popular bus service that some residents see as a mobility lifeline—and a social club.

San Diegans at Odds Over ‘Granny Towers’
A provision in the city’s ADU ordinance allows developers to build an essentially unlimited number of units on single-family lots.

San Francisco Approves Zoning Reforms to Avoid ‘Builder’s Remedy’
The county board of supervisors voted to approve zoning changes that bring it closer to compliance with state housing mandates.

Where Are Millennials Moving to?
As the housing crisis rages on, four U.S. states are seeing high levels of new migration from young and middle-aged workers.

California Cities Cite Historic Preservation to Block Development
Are some cities using historic designations disingenuously?
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Park City Municipal Corporation
National Capital Planning Commission
City of Santa Fe, New Mexico
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.