Public Radio International (PRI) surveys the keys to an ambitious plan to restore the industrial "temples" of South Bend, Indiana.
Jason Margolis reports from South Bend, Indiana, about the ongoing adaptive reuse of the massive and dormant Studebaker factory at the center of the city's industrial past.
South Bend was once a thriving center of industry, a beacon for early 20th-century European immigrants. But the city, with a population of 101,000, has suffered a 60-year decline. Six years ago, Newsweek listed South Bend as one of the top 10 dying cities in America.
Today, civic leaders are looking to leave their history of manufacturing behind by literally rebuilding it.
The article allows ample space to share the words of South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, considered a rising star in the Democratic Party. Under Buttigieg's leadership, South Bend community leaders "are looking to transform the old Studebaker plant into a center of high-tech innovation." The innovation district is called the "Renaissance District."
The city's plan to attract tenants to the old Studebaker plant relies on a huge amount of excess fiber optic cable installed in the city and under the old Studebaker factory, part of a network connecting New York and Chicago. There's also Notre Dame University, which has also taken a role in community and economic development in the city.
FULL STORY: After a half-century, a Rust Belt town looks to restore its 'temples'
A Presidential Campaign Built on Rust Belt Revitalization
South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg is hoping to ride a track record of urban revitalization success to the Oval Office.
The First Mayor to Become President?
Pete Buttigieg, in his eighth and final year as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, a formerly shrinking Rust Belt city, is on a roll in his bid to capture the Democratic nomination to challenge President Trump next year. The Indy Star looks at his record.
How Legacy Cities Can Support Equitable Development
A new report outlines seven strategies for balancing economic development and equity specifically aimed at smaller, post-industrial cities.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research