There are many challenges facing cities and suburbs across the country. How they handle such issues may determine if they thrive or fail in the 21st century, writes Mary Newsom.
Newsom discusses the role of suburbs over the next century, recapping what it has been this past decade. She wonders if the country will be able to re-invent the suburb so as to prevent some severe implications in the future:
"Although some first-ring suburbs are thriving, others aren't. Many suburban neighborhoods are seeing rising poverty and crime, dead or dying shopping malls and derelict strip centers and big-box stores. Can we just abandon them to blight?"
Newsom also sees some growing trends that are encouraging for urban areas across the country:
"Gen Y-ers (aka the Millennials) have a clear preference, at least at this stage in their lives, for urban living. Meantime, aging Baby Boomers will be selling the family house and moving to condos or apartments. And as age, illness and infirmity start to take their toll, many boomers will have to give up driving. They're going to want walkable neighborhoods."
FULL STORY: Our Suburbs: Re-imagined, Re-invented?
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Two suburbs of Cleveland provide a case study in how older, inner-ring suburbs can compete with the newer suburbs on the fringes of the region.
Inner Suburbs Face Identity Crisis
Places like Columbia Heights, an older suburb north of Minneapolis, lie at the focal point of conflict over development and gentrification. Can these places support a 21st-century urbanism?
Millennials Leaving Their Mark on Suburbia
How will millennial homebuyers change suburbia, or will they? Realtors observe that millennials relocating from the city look for parts of their urban lifestyle, e.g., walkable neighborhoods, yet they also have traditional suburban tastes.
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Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
How to Make US Trains Faster
Changes to boarding platforms and a switch to electric trains could improve U.S. passenger rail service without the added cost of high-speed rail.
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A focus on small businesses is helping a commercial corridor in Columbia, Missouri thrive.
Invasive Insect Threatens Minnesota’s Ash Forests
The Emerald Ash Borer is a rapidly spreading invasive pest threatening Minnesota’s ash trees, and homeowners are encouraged to plant diverse replacement species, avoid moving ash firewood, and monitor for signs of infestation.
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