Harris Steinberg, director of PennPraxis, outlines one important lesson from the Central Delaware Waterfront Planning Process, which his organization is charged with leading. He describes the importance of open space as a catalyst for development.
"Cities around the world understand that public investment in parks, streets and boulevards should be guided by smart planning and land-use regulations. They understand the relationship between first-rate public design and quality of life."
"What's more, from New York's 19th-century Central Park to Chicago's recent Millennium Park, we can see how targeted public investment in open space and infrastructure attracts private investment - more than paying for itself in the long run."
"If Philadelphia is going to compete with New York, Chicago, Boston, Seattle and San Francisco for jobs, people, tax revenues and economic innovation, we must build public/private partnerships to invest in high-quality public spaces and infrastructure."
"The Delaware riverfront is one of the key places where that needs to happen..."
Thanks to Andrew Goodman
FULL STORY: On the riverfront

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

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.

San Antonio Remains Affordable as City Grows
The city’s active efforts to keep housing costs down through housing reforms and coordinated efforts among city agencies and developers have kept it one of the most affordable in the nation despite its rapid population growth.

What Forest Service Cuts Mean for Cities
U.S. Forest Service employees work on projects that have impacts far beyond remote, rural wilderness areas.

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.
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