As cash strapped communities look to maximize their return on investment, a potent argument can be made for leveraging significant investments already made in a city's legacy assets to drive economic development.
Mark Alan Hughes and Elise Harrington, with the University of Pennsylvania's School of Design, look to Philadelphia's recent experiences in leveraging the city's vacant parcels and existing building stock, and find examples of how cities around the world might turn their liabilities into drivers of economic development.
"Unlocking value from legacy assets is an emerging organizing strategy for metros across the country and around the globe," the authors say. "The inventory of physical assets from the accumulation of fixed and durable capital is one source of legacy. But legacy assets also come in the form of workforce demographics, jurisdictional competence, and leadership culture. These assets can harbor hidden value that, once unlocked, can accelerate a metropolitan agenda in unexpected ways."
FULL STORY: Cities make use of legacy assets

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.

Poorest NYC Neighborhoods Pay Price for Delivery Boom
The rise of ‘last-mile’ e-commerce warehouses — and their attendant truck traffic and air pollution — is disproportionately impacting the most historically disadvantaged parts of the city.

Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.

California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.
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