EPA Report: Cities Growing, Suburbs Slowing

Urban redevelopment has experienced significant growth over the past five years, while residential permits are on the wane.

1 minute read

April 10, 2010, 11:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


Jenny Sullivan writes, "The shift has been especially pronounced in some big cities, such as New York, which saw its share of regional permits increase from 15% in the early 1990s to 48% by 2008. In Chicago, housing permits inside city limits rose from 7% to 27% over the same time period.

Rapid revitalization is sweeping many smaller cities as well. In Portland's downtown neighborhoods and close-in 'burbs, permit activity jumped from 9% to 26% over the last two decades."

Thursday, April 8, 2010 in Builder Magazine

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