Next City provides a case study in the urbanization of suburbs—in this case the result of a large influx of Chinese immigrants.
Oscar Perry Abello examines Montville, Connecticut as an example of communities "grappling with the increasing urbanization of suburbs."
In the case of Montville, the 2001 development of the Mohegan Sun Casino quickly paved the way for an influx of Chinese clientele and employees. The Chinese labor force, according to the article, has been especially influential on the character of the community: "Accustomed to the far more dense and walkable communities in more traditional Chinatowns in the U.S. (as well as in China), these recent and long-term immigrant workers are challenging what life can look like in what might otherwise be considered a suburb."
More specifically, the 20 percent of the casino workforce of Asian descent has "'crowded' into the existing suburban housing stock near the casino — mostly detached single-family homes with large open floor plans." Those residents have adapted those homes to "increase capacity beyond the number of existing bedrooms."
For more on this particular case study, the city is the subject of a new exhibit at the Museum of Chinese in America, located in New York's Chinatown, titled "SubUrbanisms: Casino Urbanization, Chinatowns and the Contested American Landscape." Abello also describes the exhibit, especially its goal of changing perceptions about the immigrant population in the city.
FULL STORY: There’s an Urban Experiment Happening in Suburban Connecticut
The 2010s Didn't Live Up to Potential as the 'Decade of the City'
The renaissance predicted for urban areas in the United States started strong during the 2010s but slowed in the years leading up to a potentially generation defining pandemic.
Immigration and Urban Growth
After growing in the first half of the decade, some cities might be losing population. Is this because of the pace of immigration has slowed?
New Report Contradicts the U.N.: More Like 84 Percent of the World Lives in Urban Areas
"Everything we've heard about global urbanization turns out to be wrong."
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.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
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.
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)