Interesting things are happening to American cities. Even though I don't tend to appreciate the kind of mega-trend science, where people make careers out of announcing the arrival of a new era, the changes identified by Christopher Leinberger in US real estate patterns are highly relevant. Sprawl in the US has reached a level that is hardly sustainable if oil prices go up again (as they are likely to, when the recession eases). The problem is not only the dependence on automobiles but also the rising costs of heating and global warming.
Another story I read recently was about Flint, Michigan, popularized by Michael Moore in his documentaries. The city has been hard hit by deindustrialization and population decline over the last few decades and it is hard to believe it will soon regain its economic vitality. City officials, in an attempt to manage its decline have come up with an idea, not completely new: shrink it! Even though at first sight it might seem a bit brutal, it could turn out to be a great idea. Follow the link above to read the story.
