This map shows whether the proportion of young people (under 25) increased or decreased in rural counties between 2000 and 2009. Red counties saw a decrease in the percentage of their populations under 25. Green counties saw the proportion of that population get bigger. [Source: Daily Yonder]
The nation’s sprawling suburbs may have been a good place to grow up, but they’re a tough place to grow old. Here’s how towns are beginning to ‘retrofit’ their neighborhoods—and what your community might look like in the future [source]. Interesting on how changing demographics are making retrofitting suburbia almost necessary. However, this could also [...]
In a future where limited natural resources will force us to find better solutions for density and efficiency, what will become of the cul-de-sacs, cookie-cutter tract houses and generic strip malls that have long upheld the diffuse infrastructure of suburbia? How can we redirect these existing spaces to promote sustainability, walkability, and community? It’s a [...]
Dozens of US cities may have entire neighbourhoods bulldozed as part of drastic “shrink to survive” proposals being considered by the Obama administration to tackle economic decline. It is not as ominous as it sounds but is based on a experiment radical nevertheless that focuses on concentrating the dwindling population of dying cities into a [...]
If you jumble together the five most popular American metro areas — Denver, San Diego, Seattle, Orlando and Tampa — you get an image of the American Dream circa 2009. These are places where you can imagine yourself with a stuffed garage — filled with skis, kayaks, soccer equipment, hiking boots and boating equipment. These [...]
Starting with a barren asphalt parking lot, I love this visualization of the walkable design for a shopping district in Glenview, IL [via]. It is all about transforming the character of a place. If only more designs were presented this way, convincing people wouldn’t be so difficult. Another example of how small (and inexpensive) changes [...]
One in every ten people lived in urban areas a century ago. Now, for the first time ever, most people live in cities. By 2050, the United Nations projects, almost three-quarters of the world’s population will call urban areas home. The majority of this growth is centered in struggling, developing countries of the Global South, [...]
Pew offers a list of “Magnet States” and “Sticky States,” those that draw people from elsewhere, and those that keep their native sons. Turns out that D.C. is the least sticky state, and New York is the least magnetic. Nevada is the most magnetic, with almost 90 percent of its residents from elsewhere, and Texas [...]
George W. Bush has found a new dig for his post-Presidential years. Nope, he is not headed back to his Crawford Ranch. He purchased a 2.07 million dollar estate in the Preston Hollow district of Dallas, TX. You can see the home here. It is a palatial home (10141 Daria Place, Dallas TX) with 8,501 [...]
Apologies for not posting lately. Fervent activity on the dissertation front and professional pursuits have kept me busy. Not to mention, the very exciting Presidential race with umpteen polls to sift through have provided much fodder for thoughts on survey methodology and poll aggregation. Among the plethora of polling companies and results, I highly recommend [...]
Colleges could maximize their real estate and financial position if they can bring in boomers as full or part-time residents. This is true not only in metropolitan areas but in broad parts of the country including the rural south, Midwest and places like Pennsylvania. Many boomers do not view retirement as a permanent vacation but [...]
DNA India points us to tiny hamlets within the suburbs of densely populated Mumbai, India. Mumbai was a cluster of seven islands with several villages not more than 70 years ago (my ancestors hail from one of them). I’m glad to see some remnants of those humble roots but these will not last long.
Christopher Hitchens makes an argument for preserving that quirky sense of place and cultural hotspots that make a city what it is. As he mentions, London, Paris, and San Francisco have recognized the need for its Bohemia and it is time for Manhattan to wake up and smell the coffee.
New Urbanists believe in the power of physical design (of cities and neighborhoods) in influencing user behavior. John Thackara and Sunil Abraham talk to Cluster Magazine about the dynamism of cities in fostering democratic perceptions and influencing user behavior [hat tip: Jinal Shah]: Tolerance of everything and openness to everybody are not universally accepted principles. [...]
In America, driving habits probably aren’t as inelastic as they are thought to be. This graphic [source] definitely shows consumers reacting to the oil price hike by cutting down on their driving. This summer given the gas prices is going to be a low-traffic one. We canceled our summer vacation and instead bought a Wii. [...]
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