by ronb | Sep 16, 2026 | Cities, Solutions
Railroad Park in Birmingham is featured in our Parks and Recreation episode highlighting exemplary parks and trails with fascinating backstories. It’s a 19-acre expanse of green with a manmade lake, streams and mounds that tie together the north and south sides...
by ronb | Sep 2, 2026 | Cities, Solutions
Cities today are looking to arts and entertainment, drinking and dining, and special events as a way to draw crowds back into urban centers. As with so many issues facing cities, the challenges and prescriptions are nothing new. When Ed Rendell became mayor of...
by ronb | Aug 19, 2026 | Cities, Solutions
At a time when cities are looking to remake their downtowns, many are redefining their city centers as distinct neighborhoods instead of just employment and entertainment centers. While cities have been losing families for years, a trend accelerated by the...
by ronb | May 3, 2023 | Cities, Solutions
Urban freeway removal is one of the most consequential and quietly exciting movements reshaping North American cities today. As many urban freeways pass the 50-year mark and reach the end of their useful lives, cities across the country are choosing to replace rather...
by ronb | Feb 22, 2023 | Solutions
One of the most elusive goals in cities today is how to create affordable housing for working and middle class residents. It’s something we hear about in cities from expensive San Francisco to relatively affordable Pittsburgh, and is increasingly an issue in...
