Michigan’s most depressed auto town is full of vacant buildings. One local official has made their redevelopment his personal crusade.
It’s too late to stop climate change. What we can do is plan for it.Shrink Rap
It’s easier to think about downsizing an imaginary post-industrial city than a real one.
Governing, November 2007
Can utilities make money on energy efficiency?WiFi Town
Cities are building out wireless networks. What will they do with all that WiFi?
Governing, May 2007
Plus: my interviews with Chris Puccio, CIO of Boulder, Colorado and Esme Vos of muniwireless.com
The Retail Chase
Cities will do almost anything to land the store of their dreams.
Governing, April 2007
Plus: my interviews with three retail experts.
Over-the-Rhine, One More Time
Cincinnati’s most troubled and beautiful neighborhood makes a comeback.
Preservation, March/April 2007
The Insurance Disaster
How Hurricane Katrina ended up hitting Delaware, Connecticut and lots of other states.
Governing, February 2007
Toll Roads For Sale (and everything else)
State and local governments are unloading toll roads, parking garages, lotteries and other assets. Are they getting a sweet deal or is it a sellout?
Governing, January 2007
Plus: My interviews with the Treasurer of New Jersey, the CFO of Chicago and the CFO of Harris County, Texas.
How rush hour turned into “rush day.”Smart Decline
Youngstown has lost more than half its population. Those people aren’t coming back. But shrinking doesn’t have to mean dying.
Governing, November 2006
Plus: My photo essay on Youngstown, and interviews with Mayor Jay Williams and urban planner Hunter Morrison.
UPDATE: New York Times Magazine includes “creative shrinkage” in its 2006 Year in Ideas issue. Now where did they read about that?
Profile of Bush’s Homelessness Czar
Philip Mangano may be all that’s left of compassionate conservatism.
Governing, November 2006
Honey, Our House is Historic!
Buildings from the mid-20th century are becoming eligible for landmark status. Local governments are trying to decide which are worth preserving.
Governing, October 2006
Plus: I interview three experts about preserving the ’50s.
* Dwayne Jones, executive director of Preservation Dallas
* Julie Lawless, Ft. Worth planning department
* Ron Wright, Arlington city councilman
Mississippi’s Urbanist Odyssey
The ravaged Gulf Coast has a rare opportunity to recreate itself. But it still has to decide what it wants to look like.
Governing, September 2006
Plus: A Q&A with me on what I found in Mississippi and New Orleans.
The Fuss About Eminent Domain
How a Supreme Court decision on takings unleashed a ferocious backlash.
Governing, July 2006
The Battles of Blair Mountain
One determined West Virginian keeps alive the memory of an epic miners’ struggle.
Preservation, May/June 2006
L.A. Banks on Buses
It's not 'rail lite,' say defenders of the city's new busway, one of a growing number of BRT programs across the nation.
Planning, May 2006
WiFi Free-for-All
Strategies for building municipal wireless networks are evolving fast. But are they prudent in the long run?
Governing, May 2006
Heavyweights on TV
Cable and telecom companies are slugging it out over franchises. Some localities may get hurt.
Governing, April 2006
Coal Converts
When it comes to lining up new energy sources, a number of states see plain old coal as the cleanup hitter.
Governing, April 2006
Faster Than a Speeding Turtle
New high-tech tools can make buses a lot more efficient than they used to be. Will that be enough to satisfy riders?
Governing, February 2006
The Code War
As governments move toward uniform building codes, they are being lobbied by two rival groups that offer competing sets of standards.
Governing, January 2006
A Roof to Start With
Cities are moving homeless people straight from the street into permanent housing — no questions asked. It’s controvesial, but it’s showing results.
Governing, December 2005
Rethinking the Urban Speedway
For decades, highway engineers focused on designing wider, straighter, faster roads. Now, moving traffic quickly is no longer the sole goal.
Governing, October 2005
Advancing Hope
For Gloria Rodriguez and her nonprofit group, Avance, preservation is a critical tool in the fight against poverty.
Preservation, September/October 2005
My Interview on Colorado Public Radio
I was interviewed today on Colorado Matters, regarding my recent Governing article on highway HOT lanes.
Listen to the interview here.
A Bridge Too Many?
Louisville's fight to ease traffic has been long, bitter—and very American.
Preservation, September/October 2004
D.C.’s Waterfront Revival
You need not wander far from the steps of the U.S. Capitol to find a part of Washington, D.C., that even most locals don't know exists.
Planning, April 2004
Reinventing the District
A pro-planning mayor and his planning director set a new course for a troubled city.
Planning, February 2004
America’s Green Mayors
Building a park in Boston these days is no easy task. That's not stopping Mayor Tom Menino.
Rails to Trails, Summer 2002
