There are likely many more planning-related lessons from failing cities that could have been added, but these are ones that initially came to mind. Any additions, suggestions, or corrections are welcome.
Do NOT chase the latest fad project without doing your homework. Cities across the country are littered with closed downtown malls, underutilized sports arenas and stadiums, stacks of unused rental/free scooters, as well as a myriad of other “fad” ideas that were meant to help revitalize the city. Don’t go there just for the sake of keeping up with other cities. Do your homework first and if it is not right for your community do not waste time and resources pursuing it.
“Don’t go there [chasing fad ideas] just for the sake of keeping up with other cities.”
Source: panethos.wordpress.com
Remove blight as quickly as you can. Nothing will make a city look depressed faster than blight.
Seek support and funds to remove harmful freeways. A scaring freeway that tears through your once-thriving neighborhoods is another form of blight.
“A scaring freeway that tears through your once-thriving neighborhoods is another form of blight.”
Source: panethos.wordpress.com
Seek projects that fill voids in the community and that promote health – grocers, pharmacies, community gardens, parks, and athletic/fitness facilities are five examples.
Do not approve projects just for the sake of getting new development. Unfortunately, there are predatory land uses out there and they do little to help your citizens. Similarly, there are industrial uses that can be very polluting. Be thoughtful and mindful of the potential consequences from proposed projects.
“Be thoughtful and mindful of the potential consequences from proposed projects.”
Source: panethos.wordpress.com
Work closely with non-profits and NGOs (non-government organizations) to help achieve and attain goals. They offer skillsets and talent that your city may not be able to afford on its own.
Consider revamping your Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance in ways that would encourage new investment, facilitate adaptive reuse of existing structures, and create desirable redevelopment. Few things harm a city’s collective identity more than the loss of historic structures to neglect and/or redevelopment.
Accelerate the approval process with imaginative ideas. While NOT a failing city, South Bend, Indiana’s recent step of pre-approved housing templates is a great way of accelerating the process without cutting the quality of design.
Clearing sites and turning them into parking craters in your core city is bad karma. An overabundance of surface parking lots is not good for the health of your downtown and can contribute towards harming the cohesiveness there.
Eliminate minutia from your code(s). This does not mean rescinding your code or making the city less safe/healthy, but there are aspects of every code that are contradictory, overwritten, over-detailed, and over-regulatory which can be removed or re-written.
“…there are aspects of every code that are contradictory, overwritten, over-detailed, and over-regulatory which can be removed or re-written.”
Source: panethos.wordpress.com
Get the city’s financial house in order. A city on the precipice of insolvency hardly has the consistent funds to help turn it around.
If the city isn’t working or has become dysfunctional, stop electing the same people!
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Panethos 