As the Metroplex sprawls outward, many suburban communities are realizing that it is important to either revitalize their existing Main Streets or create exciting centers of activity for their residents.
" Increasingly, suburbs of all sizes and ages are scrambling to build, buy or burnish a downtown... But traditional urban centers, when they are maintained, will always have an advantage over newer versions, said urban planning expert Dan Fasenfest, director of Wayne State University's Center for Urban Studies... Existing downtowns attract people for all kinds of reasons, including history, culture and family roots, he said. Even the nicest new suburban developments will lack that kind of connection between residents and their communities, he said."
Thanks to Jayashree Narayana
FULL STORY: Towns looking inward for identity after years of growing outward
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.
Minneapolis Bans Rent-Setting Software
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Oakland to Add 244 New EV Chargers
Oakland plans to launch its new charging network at eight locations by the end of 2025.
Jane Goodall Inspires with Message of Hope, Resilience, and Environmental Action
Speaking in Pasadena, Jane Goodall offered a hopeful and inspirational message, urging global compassion, environmental responsibility, and the power of individual action to shape a better future.
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