“While these changes seem to have occurred suddenly and spontaneously, many of the organizations, partnerships, and projects behind the current boom in greater downtown Detroit were the result of a strategic, shared vision led by the Hudson Webber Foundation, which coalesced key members of Detroit’s philanthropic, nonprofit, and corporate sectors around what would come to be called the 15×15 Initiative.”
Model D Media: “How a unified vision helped transform Detroit’s greater downtown”
“56 percent of millennials and 46 percent of baby boomers prefer to live in more walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods.”
Strong Towns: “Americans want walkable neighborhoods”
“But downtown ambitions of any sort are a positive sign, and second- and third-floor apartments and condos over restaurants and stores with lights on at night suggest that the downtown has crossed a decisive threshold and will survive.”
The Atlantic: “Eleven Signs a City Will Succeed”
“We aren’t against skyscrapers, development, luxury housing, or cars. We are for places. But in practice, that means that we do oppose projects that destroy or prevent the creation of quality spaces, and we challenge sweeping reforms that do not acknowledge or accommodate local contexts. There is no one human scale, but by engaging in a placemaking process, we can find the scale that works for every community.”
Project for Public Spaces: “Placemaking and the Human Scale City”
“[Historic Districts] are a tangible link to the past and a way to bring meaning to history and to people’s lives. They preserve the original character of buildings and streets, while welcoming growth and innovation within those spaces. They are a living, active record of communities and their residents.”
National Trust for Historic Preservation: “10 Benefits of Establishing a Local Historic District”
“Vibrant neighborhoods are dense and compact, feature a diversity of land uses (i.e. office, retail, entertainment, and industrial spaces), are a short distance from transit, and have dense street intersections, among other characteristics.”
Citylab: “The Connection Between Vibrant Neighborhoods and Economic Growth”
“Is it the warmth of the materials―the heart pine, marble, or old brick―or the resonance of other people, other activities? Maybe older buildings are just more interesting…. America’s downtown revivals suggest that people like old buildings. Whether the feeling is patriotic, homey, warm, or reassuring, older architecture tends to fit the bill.”
National Trust for Historic Preservation: “Six Practical Reasons to Save Old Buildings”
“U.S. 62, which is Main Street in Hamburg, N.Y., was rebuilt to slow traffic and aid pedestrians. The changes have inspired business investment and civic activity.”
New York Times: “Widen Main St.? Community Had Other Ideas, and Thrived”
“Creating significant residential opportunities downtown and the pioneering response of the people who took up the challenge of downtown living had an almost magical effect on the atmosphere downtown and encouraged more and more local entrepreneurs to take part.”
The Atlantic: “Asheville Just ‘Happened’ to Develop a Nice Downtown—or Did It?”
“Building inclusive, healthy, functional, and productive cities is perhaps the greatest challenge facing humanity today, and there are no easy solutions. A key part of the puzzle, though, lies right at the heart of the world’s urban areas: its public spaces.”
Project for Public Spaces: “Ten Strategies for Transforming Cities and Public Spaces through Placemaking”