Richard Florida calls for the use of the term "New Urban Luddites" to describe the embedded interests that obstruct the growth of cities. The consequences of New Urban Luddite politics, according to Florida, are too severe for such an innocuous term.
Richard Florida sets the stakes for this discussion of land use politics thusly: "NIMBYism has grown substantially over time, and it now erupts in opposition to all manner of new development. This behavior isn’t just selfish; it’s destructive. By limiting density and clustering, NIMBYs hold back the urban innovation that powers growth."
Those stakes are why Florida prefers to call NIMBYs by a new term: the New Urban Luddites. According to Florida, "New Urban Luddism is codified in the enormous and complex thicket of zoning laws and other land use regulations that restrict the supply of housing in many cities," but simply rescinding land use regulations isn't the solution to the challenges posed by New Urban Luddites. "What our cities need is not just deregulation, but a reformed land use system that, together with broad changes in the tax system, increased investment in transit, and a shift from single-family homes to rental housing, can help create the kinds of density, clustering, and talent mixing that the urbanized knowledge economy requires."
FULL STORY: Meet the 'New Urban Luddites'
NYC's Link5G Towers Face Neighborhood Opposition
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Montana Land Use Reform Overhauls Public Participation Rules
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Seattle Legalizes Co-Living
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Central Florida’s SunRail Plans Major Expansion
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Las Vegas Golf Course to Become Over 1,000 Units of Affordable Housing
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BART to Raise Fares in January
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Montreal Bike Share Breaks Ridership Record With 13 Million Rides
The Bixi system introduced a winter pilot project last year, leading to a rise in winter cycling.
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.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division
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