Aaron Renn recently explored Columbus, Ohio, where he found a city fueled by growth and doing many things right, but lacking the differentiation it merits among the country's urban marketplaces.
"Columbus is basically what I mean by the 'best practices,' city – they are implementing all the best practices in the marketplace, but haven’t yet developed a compelling, unique brand positioning," writes Aaron Renn.
Renn takes the reader through a neighborhood-by-neighborhood presentation of the development events around Columbus—examining neighborhoods like Short North, Grandview Heights, Easton Town Center, and a neighborhood attracting a lot of buzz called Franklinton. Renn also discusses familiar urban themes like bike and car share, river restoration, and downtown green space.
On that last point, and in the article's harshest criticism, Renn revisits the site of the now demolished City Center Mall, which has been converted into a park called the Columbus Commons. Renn uses the park to make a point about the lack of thought devoted to the creation of green space in many cities. Renn says, is an example of "build it and they will come" planning due to a lack of surrounding density in residential and commercial properties.
FULL STORY: Checking In On Columbus
A Showdown Looms as Developers Seek New Building Heights in Columbus
The region surrounding Columbus, Ohio could add a projected one million people by 2050, and developers are looking for new ways to meet growing demand for urban living.
Low-Income Columbus Households Struggle to Find Housing
The Ohio city has a more severe affordable housing crisis than more traditionally expensive cities like New York and San Francisco.
Columbus, Ohio's High-Frequency Transit Future Up for Vote in November
Despite being the nation’s 14th largest city, Columbus, Ohio has no high-capacity transit. That could change this November as city officials put a levy before voters that would provide $6.2 billion by 2050 to fund an ambitious bus rapid transit system.
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Research: Walkability Linked to Improved Public Health
A study reveals that the density of city blocks is a significant factor in communities’ walkability and, subsequently, improved public health outcomes for residents.
Report Outlines Strategies for Resilient Wildfire Recovery in LA
Project Recovery offers a roadmap for rebuilding more sustainable and climate-resilient communities after wildfires and other disasters.
New Executive Order Renews Attack on Public Lands
An order issued late last week pushes for increased mineral extraction on federally owned public lands.
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