A recent report by Joel Kotkin and the Greater Houston Partnership offers an alternative to Richard Florida's Creative Class model for the future of cities -- using the Sunbelt metropolis as a case study.
"In the first decade of the 21st century, several critical analyses have emerged about the future of American cities. This paper attempts to lay out a new notion: that of "Opportunity Urbanism." This concept stresses a region's ability to create jobs, offer affordable housing, and present entrepreneurial openings to a growing and highly diverse population as the surest signs of urban vibrancy. It embraces the fundamental principle that one of the primary historic roles of cities has been to nurture and grow a middle class-to be an engine of upward social mobility."
Editor's note: the link is to a pdf version of the report with graphics and tables. (2.5MB)
Thanks to Tory Gattis
FULL STORY: Opportunity Urbanism - An Emerging Paradigm for the 21st Century
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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.
Placer County
Mayors' Institute on City Design
City of Sunnyvale
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), the Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP)
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
City of Portland, ME
Baton Rouge Area Foundation