Most cities don't get the chance to start from scratch. But Quincy, Mass. plans to raze most of its 50-acre center and build it anew with the aid of a private developer's upfront funding - a plan that may rewrite the rules of urban development.
If all goes as planned, Quincy, MA will soon begin to bulldoze its city center, and a private firm (Street-Works Development of White Plains) will begin a 10-year process of building it back up.
In this unusual public-private partnership, Street-Works will pay for all the public improvements upfront (including $289 million in new infrastructure like sewers, utilities and roadways), start building ("$1.3 billion of new private housing, retail, offices, entertainment, hotels and parking" is planned), and then lease out the space. Eventually the City will take over the infrastructure bill by selling bonds and begin to earn some income from the property.
"We couldn't afford to do this on our own, this quickly," said Mayor Thomas P. Koch. This funding mechanism may offer an opportunity for other cities that want to revitalize in a down economy.
"In the 21st century, innovative mayors will have to redefine development rules, and it's commendable that this mayor is willing to take the risk," said Thomas Murphy, a senior fellow at the Urban Land Institute and a former mayor of Pittsburgh. "If Quincy succeeds, it's a game changer."
It's not without risk; a similar project in nearby Boston resulted in an empty block when the developer pulled out. But officials and the developer are convinced that opportunity abounds in Quincy - a waterfront city just a few subway stops from downtown Boston and located along a major interstate - where jobs and the economy are expected to rebound quickly.
FULL STORY: Rebuilding Downtown From the Ground Up

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie