City life is being sold as a convenient version of the suburbs, with similar amenities minus the time-consuming commute.

Candace Jackson writes that more wealthy people are moving back into cities from the suburbs and developers are marketing an urban lifestyle to them that reflects the suburban life they are leaving behind. Much larger units, rooftop gardens and swimming pools, and parking garages are elements of new developments that are reminiscent of suburbia, says Jackson:
At the Quay Tower, which overlooks Brooklyn Bridge Park [in New York City], there are just five condos on each floor, two of which have private elevator access. Inside, the larger units have something you see a lot of on HGTV suburban house renovation shows: large mudrooms off the back door with locker-like cubbies and sturdy ceramic-tile floors.
In addition, the areas around these buildings are catering to suburban sensibilities, with big-box retail, malls, and upscale food courts. "Of course, these new buildings are designed for a very narrow slice of the population — those who can afford to spend multiple millions of dollars on a home — but it’s a slice of the population whose purchasing decisions affect all city dwellers," notes Jackson.
Jackson notes that the demographic changes happening in cities involve not just class but, for some cities, race as well. "The return of affluent whites to cities has made for a something of a reversal of the white-flight phenomenon of the early and mid-20th century, when middle class and wealthy whites left cities en masse for the homogeneous suburbs."
FULL STORY: The Suburbs Are Coming to a City Near You

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Santa Barbara Could Build Housing on County Land
County supervisors moved forward a proposal to build workforce housing on two county-owned parcels.

San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project
The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.

A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard
After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.
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