America prides itself on being a classless society. But what if a certain class is responsible for giving cities their vitality and economic clout?
Richard Florida and Kevin Stolarick, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, think what they call the Creative Class is the key engine of growth for cities. Its members, who make their livings designing things and solving problems, include engineers, musicians, scientists, actors, software developers, and writers.If you have a lot of this class, you'll prosper. If you don't, your town and region risks sinking into slow decline. Florida and Stolarick rank Washington, Raleigh-Durham, Seattle, San Francisco, and Austin as the top five Creative Class towns. Stolarick thinks creativity is now more closely related to urban growth than is education.If Florida and Stolarick are on to something, local planners have their work cut out for them. To keep their towns and cities growing and healthy they have to attract people who, by definition, tend to do surprising, unplanned things.
Thanks to Jeff A. Taylor
FULL STORY: Why the creative come here
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
Four cities have enacted restrictions on algorithmic software that can inflate rent costs.
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.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland