As part of a UK Urban Summit special New York-based urban critic and lecturer Roberta Brandes Gratz says the UK can learn lessons from regeneration in US cities.
"For too long, the US priority has been building new at the expense of old, giving tax incentives to the new, then wondering why so many American cities now have demolished more buildings than remain standing. Levelling the playing field - only partially now true - and giving old buildings a fighting chance was critical to assisting the growing urban renaissance visible in traditional American cities. This experience provides an important lesson for English urban policies. Local people rather than visitors must be the priority for any city centre revitalisation policy. If things evolve by and for local people, or if the policies are geared to them, a real place generates itself."
Thanks to Jon Barker
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