The cities that often top the "most livable" lists like San Francisco, Portland, Boston and D.C. also happen to have the lowest percentage of households with children. Does that mean that kids make places un-livable?
The Conservative Planner pins the problem (naturally) on "progressive planning efforts aimed at strengthening formerly dilapidated urban neighborhoods.":
"What is keeping families from coming back to these cities?
Affordability is probably the biggest contributor to this, given that most re-claimed neighborhoods have been gentrified to a degree which few middle class families can entertain the thought of buying a residence despite advantages in terms of walkability and access. Forget having a yard or a place for the dog to drop."
A jobs/housing imbalance is also to blame, says The Conservative Planner.
Thanks to David Sanderson
FULL STORY: No Kids On the Block
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Placer County
Mayors' Institute on City Design
City of Sunnyvale
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), the Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP)
Knoxville-Knox County Planning
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
City of Portland, ME
Baton Rouge Area Foundation