There's more to vibrant than access to fresh-made baguettes and signage with tastefully chosen typefaces.

Your vibrant urban neighborhood is now passé.
Researchers at the University of California released a groundbreaking study titled, "On New Thresholds of Significance for the Vibrant State of Neighborhoods in Urban Environments." The big discovery buried in the jargon: the existence of neighborhoods that can be described as a step above vibrant, or "hella vibrant."
The study's breakthrough came after researchers identified a previously overlooked signifier of vibrancy. "Previous attempts at measuring vibrancy identified factors like access to transit, walkability, mixed-use buildings, proximity to vegan restaurants, a live music scene, and a sprinkling of diversity," explains the study's lead author, Nedry Newman. "We realized that just measuring the corporate music scene wasn't enough; you also have to measure the Indie music scene."
In hindsight it seems silly that researchers hadn't thought to measure the contribution of Indie music venues in previous studies. "Probably too much time pouring over datasets in front of my computer rather than actually experiencing the city," admits Newman.
Critics of the study questioned whether the study was designed as a response to a growing backlash against the use of the term vibrant as a catchall phrase devoid of all meaning. "Vibrancy is a marketing term for greedy developers who think you can just press a button and revitalize a neighborhood," said Longfellow Merriweather, director of communications for the Center for Neighborhood Integrity. "When will academics study how to protect all these neighborhoods with hella character?"
Newman, however, rejects the idea that vibrant only has public relations value: "You know vibrant when you see it. But you have to see hella vibrant to believe it."
Adding to the evidence in support of the existence of hella vibrant neighborhoods were additional findings from widespread academic inquiry into new levels of vibrant. Researchers at MIT released a study the next day identifying several "wicked vibrant" urban areas in and around Boston, and University of Toronto researchers released a study titled "Vibrant, Eh?".
[A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the study's lead author as Nerdry Newman. We apologize for the error.]
FULL STORY: April Fool's Day

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.

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.

Mexico City Anti-Gentrification Plan Aims to Half Housing Deficit
The plan comes in response to protests that targeted ‘digital nomads’ who locals blame for driving up housing costs.

Chicago Has Quietly Built Hundreds of Neighborhood Traffic Circles
Thanks largely to one alderperson’s efforts, the city has made mini-roundabouts a key piece of its road safety strategy.
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.
City of Fort Worth
planning NEXT
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie