Private investors are increasingly putting their money into infrastructure assets like bridges and windmills.
Target returns on these infrastructure investments are in the 12%-18% range, which may seem low for some investors, but they're winning more interest as government bond returns fall close to zero during the recession.
"Infrastructure has long been the domain of institutional players but has now emerged as a mainstream alternative for wealthy investors burnt in the credit crunch by a related asset class, real estate.
A vote of confidence in the sector came recently from no less an investor than Warren Buffett, who bought out rail group Burlington Northern for around $26-billion (U.S.)."
FULL STORY: Rich, and bored with bonds? Buy into a bridge
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
New Park Opens in the Santa Clarita Valley
The City of Santa Clarita just celebrated the grand opening of its 38th park, the 10.5-acre Skyline Ranch Park.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
How Urban Form Impacts Housing Affordability
The way we design cities affects housing costs differently than you might think.
City of Costa Mesa
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Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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