The Ethnic Economy As A Revitalization Strategy

Immigrant communities often create thriving economies of small businesses that can revitalize declining cities -- if modernist planners will let them.

1 minute read

May 14, 2005, 8:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"The fact that the inner city has a structure that is particularly favourable to small businesses becomes apparent if we study the distribution of businesses in the range 1-4 employees located at street level in Stockholm. To start with, there are four times as many small businesses in the inner city if we compare with size of population. We can also see clear cluster formations in the inner city along important shopping streets and around squares, while we see an even distribution of lone wolves in the outer city. The inner city is, however, gentrified and it is getting increasingly expensive and difficult to live and operate there. The potential for vitality that exists in the population structure of the suburbs does not come into its own, because the settlement pattern puts obstacles in its path. But even the city districts in the suburbs vary in their structure, both as regards their internal organisation and links with the outside world."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Wednesday, May 11, 2005 in Axess Magazine

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 18, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Woman and young girl looking at subway map, woman pointing.

Can We Please Give Communities the Design They Deserve?

Often an afterthought, graphic design impacts everything from how we navigate a city to how we feel about it. One designer argues: the people deserve better.

June 9, 2025 - John Pobojewski

Map of EV charging ports in rural U.S. communities.

The EV “Charging Divide” Plaguing Rural America

With “the deck stacked” against rural areas, will the great electric American road trip ever be a reality?

June 20 - The Daily Yonder

Google street view of Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn with pedestrians crossing a crosswalk and cyclist in the bike lane.

Judge Halts Brooklyn Bike Lane Removal

Lawyers must prove the city was not acting “arbitrarily, capriciously, and illegally” in ordering the hasty removal.

June 20 - StreetsBlog NYC

Close-up of cracked and damaged two-lane roadway with double yellow stripes on a bright sunny day.

Engineers Gave America's Roads an Almost Failing Grade — Why Aren't We Fixing Them?

With over a trillion dollars spent on roads that are still falling apart, advocates propose a new “fix it first” framework.

June 19 - Transportation for America