Awarding the Best Ideas for Successful Cities

The Knight Foundation asked: "What’s your best idea to make cities more successful?" When it came time to pick the best ideas, design and planning ideas for places like Wichita, Biloxi, and Akron emerged.

1 minute read

June 13, 2017, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Ohio

By Henryk Sadura / Shutterstock

Audrey Wachs reports on the winners of the 2017 Knight Cities Challenge—the third occasion the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has awarded $5 million to projects that enhance public spaces.

"This year, 19 of the 26 cities are represented in 33 winning proposals the Knight Foundation selected from 144 finalists, which were in turn picked from more than 4,500 applications," according to Wachs. Planetizen picked up news of last year's competition as well, which focused on the potential for such projects to be duplicated in other cities.

Wachs also takes a tour of the winners, with representatives from locations both far-flung and underrepresented in the national planning and design discussion. Links to each of the projects are included.

Sal Pizarro picked up the news about the two proposals from San Jose, California awarded in the 2017 awards.

The Knight Foundation focuses its place-based investment in the 26 cities where the Knight brothers once published newspapers, "particularly mindful of the relationship our founders had with Akron, where they started out, and Miami, where they based their business and foundation," according to the Knight Foundation website.

Monday, June 12, 2017 in The Architect's Newspaper

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska downtown with mountains in background at golden hour.

Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan

Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.

March 28 - Anchorage Daily News

Young man in wheelchair crossing zebra crosswalk.

How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities

Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.

March 28 - Governing

Aerial view of mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter with snow at dusk.

Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.

March 28 - CBS News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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.