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

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

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.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

Trump Approves Futuristic Automated Texas-Mexico Cargo Corridor
The project could remove tens of thousands of commercial trucks from roadways.

Austin's First Single Stair Apartment Building is Officially Underway
Eliminating the requirement for two staircases in multi-story residential buildings lets developers use smaller lots and more flexible designs to create denser housing.

Atlanta Bus System Redesign Will Nearly Triple Access
MARTA's Next Gen Bus Network will retool over 100 bus routes, expand frequent service.
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