This is a problem for all North America.
Problem:
so-called 'white flight' to suburbs. The relatively wealthy cluster to distant suburbs, driving up property values and funding quality schools and other institutions. Also, they keep 'high quality' spending in this areas and tend to be culturally active and community involved.
creating a donut city with a downward spiral...neglect, closing businesses, and a run down look, crime or the appearance of crime. A vicious circle where there is less and less reason to invest and more and more risk. A rent controlled appartment building with crack smoking tenants (or appearance thereof)? No thanks says mr committed non-slimeball investor/landlord.
Attempted Solutions:
Zero Tolerance: the Giulani idea. Don't tolerate any crimes, crack down on things that degrade the cities image. Create the feel of a safe city. Police everywhere. High schools with cops and metal detectors.
Pros: kinda works given New York.
Cons: look at their budget. They have an AWFUL lot of people in jail because of various zero tolerance type measures. Those people are expensive, and they get out and continue to be even more of a problem.
Abandonment: A la Flint MI.
Pros: Cut your losses.
Cons: No one likes permablight.
New Concept Public Housing: Funky stuff with gazebos, greenspace, terraces, all that nice community stuff. Pools, parks. Infrastructure.
Cons: $$$
Gay People: Seems to have worked in most places. Gay people bring boutiques and small businesses downtown. And restaurants etc.
Pros: works
Cons: not enough gays. some people don't like to raise kids in areas with known bathhouses/bars.
So how would you fix a Broken City?
My Idea: Totally level downtown and replace it with a giant central park, just bicycles, footpaths, the Spotted Owl, all that ****. No one is allowed to live downtown.
Problem:
so-called 'white flight' to suburbs. The relatively wealthy cluster to distant suburbs, driving up property values and funding quality schools and other institutions. Also, they keep 'high quality' spending in this areas and tend to be culturally active and community involved.
creating a donut city with a downward spiral...neglect, closing businesses, and a run down look, crime or the appearance of crime. A vicious circle where there is less and less reason to invest and more and more risk. A rent controlled appartment building with crack smoking tenants (or appearance thereof)? No thanks says mr committed non-slimeball investor/landlord.
Attempted Solutions:
Zero Tolerance: the Giulani idea. Don't tolerate any crimes, crack down on things that degrade the cities image. Create the feel of a safe city. Police everywhere. High schools with cops and metal detectors.
Pros: kinda works given New York.
Cons: look at their budget. They have an AWFUL lot of people in jail because of various zero tolerance type measures. Those people are expensive, and they get out and continue to be even more of a problem.
Abandonment: A la Flint MI.
Pros: Cut your losses.
Cons: No one likes permablight.
New Concept Public Housing: Funky stuff with gazebos, greenspace, terraces, all that nice community stuff. Pools, parks. Infrastructure.
Cons: $$$
Gay People: Seems to have worked in most places. Gay people bring boutiques and small businesses downtown. And restaurants etc.
Pros: works
Cons: not enough gays. some people don't like to raise kids in areas with known bathhouses/bars.
So how would you fix a Broken City?
My Idea: Totally level downtown and replace it with a giant central park, just bicycles, footpaths, the Spotted Owl, all that ****. No one is allowed to live downtown.
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