Monday, August 02, 2004
Cities Growing -- But Why?
Big news: Cities are growing. Well, some cities are. Though they are not growing as fast as their suburbs. But since they were shrinking a few decades ago, it is news that they are growing today.
Of course, the New Urbanists want to take credit for it. "Young professionals and empty nesters," says this article, are moving to "high-density, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly developments." Of course, even more young professionals and empty nesters aren't moving to high-density, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly developments. (Virtually every demographic class is growing faster in the suburbs than in the cities.)
What really happened in the 1970s that caused cities to decline and what happened in the 1990s to cause some of them to grow again? Lots of things, and New Urbanism really isn't one of them. Urban crime, race, and forced busing were among the issues driving people away in the 1970s; all receded in the 1990s. Certainly, some young people are attracted to high-density, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly developments, but the market for such developments can be quickly saturated by the supply.
One thing this story points out is that "The downtowns that have experienced revivals have been those that were not made unattractive places to live by so-called 'urban renewal.'" Smart growth -- the idea that people should live in high-density, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly developments whether they want to or not -- has become a new form of "suburban renewal."
Of course, the New Urbanists want to take credit for it. "Young professionals and empty nesters," says this article, are moving to "high-density, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly developments." Of course, even more young professionals and empty nesters aren't moving to high-density, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly developments. (Virtually every demographic class is growing faster in the suburbs than in the cities.)
What really happened in the 1970s that caused cities to decline and what happened in the 1990s to cause some of them to grow again? Lots of things, and New Urbanism really isn't one of them. Urban crime, race, and forced busing were among the issues driving people away in the 1970s; all receded in the 1990s. Certainly, some young people are attracted to high-density, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly developments, but the market for such developments can be quickly saturated by the supply.
One thing this story points out is that "The downtowns that have experienced revivals have been those that were not made unattractive places to live by so-called 'urban renewal.'" Smart growth -- the idea that people should live in high-density, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly developments whether they want to or not -- has become a new form of "suburban renewal."
Comments:
"The downtowns that have experienced revivals have been those that were not made unattractive places to live by so-called 'urban renewal.'"
EXACTLY what the New Urbanists are advocating, Dr. O'Toole. In your criticism of "urban renewal" and "redevelopment," the New Urbanists wholeheartedly concur with you.
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EXACTLY what the New Urbanists are advocating, Dr. O'Toole. In your criticism of "urban renewal" and "redevelopment," the New Urbanists wholeheartedly concur with you.
