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January 6, 2008
5 noteworthy happenings of 2007 for cities
In no particular order…
1. The bridge collapse in Minneapolis. This tragedy illustrates the crisis in urban infrastructure funding around North America, driven by the fact that higher levels of government control funding to maintain and upgrade the major highways and bridges on which city life depends. The bursting of levies in New Orleans following Katrina, or in Reno this week offer further examples. This issue will be with us for a long time (and I hope will be discussed as an election issue).
2. The growing number of mortgage foreclosures in the United States and the related decline in housing values in many cities. The fact that not every city is experiencing a significant decline in home values is also noteworthy. Not only is the world spiky, but America’s economic fortunes are as well.
3. In the Greater Toronto Area more condominiums were purchased last year than single family houses. This is a profound shift for a metro region that has been struggling with sprawl as well as solid economic and population growth. If Toronto — one of North America’s largest metro areas — can make a shift toward more sustainable urban development, there is hope for many other places. This shift is of course related to the steadily rising price of single family homes. But it shows that rather than move to more distant Barrie or Ancaster, some people are choosing a smaller home.
4. Canadian cities’ infrastructure needs gained attention and funding. The Conference Board of Canada published “Mission Possible” articulating the importance of cities to the national economy (65% of new jobs generated in cities, for example). Subsequently, more federal government funding announcements began to happen in cities like Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver.
5. Oil neared a record $100/barrell (and surpassed it early in 2008). Cities run on oil. It’s used to make roads, fuel cars, heat homes and businesses and generate electricity (in some places). Oil also causes a lot of pollution, damaging our local and global environments. Assuming this trend continues into 2008 and beyond, it will begin o impact how people live in cities, and urban policy.
…feel free to add your thoughts on the most lasting developments for cities of 2007:
Topics: catastrophe management, national politics, planning policy, urban history, ecological issues, transportation, sprawl, real estate, economic development |