Joel Kotkin makes the case for the coming decline of dense, coastal metropolises and the rise of second- and third-tier suburban cities of the Sunbelt.
Citing affordable housing, strong employment growth, and a high quality of life, Joel Kotkin argues that cities in middle America are poised to overtake the star cities of east and west coasts -- a trend that he warns planners are largely ignoring. While one-fifth of Americans lived in the 30 most dense counties in 1920, only one ninth do today.
"The movement to the exurbs and beyond tells us something important about how most Americans
prefer to live. Contrary to the constant trumpeting of "a return to the city" and the madcap downtown condo explosion (which affects only a tiny proportion of U.S. families, though a big chunk of the chattering classes), most Americans-about four out of five-still want to own a single-family home."
FULL STORY: The New Economic Map Of American [PDF]

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.

Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.

San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population
In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.

Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan
City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.

Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?
The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.
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