The replacement of retail establishments with restaurants in America’s urban centers has a demographic slant.
The shift from shopping to eating cannot be explained solely in terms of the triumph of online over brick-and-mortar retailing, Aaron Betsky writes. Instead, the transformation of urban commercial space is linked to broader changes in the nation’s upper-middle class culture. Wealthy Americans are eating more, period, and cooking at home less. Moreover, we’ve come to expect more options in terms of special diets and ethnic cuisines.
The rise of the downtown eatery is also connected to residential sprawl. “As sprawl itself spreads, downtown areas become magnets for social activities, rather than for work, living, or shopping, and the bar or restaurant is the anchor of many such interactions,” Betsky writes.
But access to what Betsky calls “food jungles” is limited to those with the means to travel from suburb to city for dinner, and to pay for the meal. The urban poor remain stranded in food deserts, with no real change in their menu in sight.
FULL STORY: You Are Where You Eat: Let Them Eat Downtown
No Late-Night Tacos in My Backyard
Neighborhood veto power can conflict with citywide goals to provide a 24-7 urban experience, as a case study from Boston shows.
The New and Familiar
New restaurants are striving to look like (and to be) community institutions, reflecting old-style pubs, meeting halls and marketplaces.
Commercial Vacancies Hit Tax Rolls Hard
As commercial vacancies increase, cities are feeling the pain of lower tax revenues.
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.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City
If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)