Round 1: Predictions for 2009
What city do you predict will be hit the hardest by the economic crisis?
The cities that were the fastest growing, like Phoenix and Las Vegas, and those most dependent on manufacturing.
Will there be a comeback in Detroit (beyond the auto industry, but in the city itself)? If yes, how? If no, what will happen to the city then?
Detroit can come back if the city finds a way to shrink sensibly and can make what remains less auto-dependent. Detroit, like many cities, must find ways to concentrate and amplify its strengths.
If 2008 was the year of “green” and “sustainability,” 2009 will be the year of .....?
Real estate vacancies. Expect retail and commercial vacancies to have greater negative impact on communities than housing vacancies.
What is the story in your city that no one is covering that you think will make the news this year?
Suburban development will be hard to fund and risky to undertake. With commercial and residential vacancies on the rise, many suburbs will be hard hit, fueling momentum toward central cities.
Diana Lind is editor in chief of Next American City.
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Matt in Dayton on Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 11:42am
Central city development has been hard to fund and risky to undertake for quite some time now. Why would such conditions for suburban development “fuel momentum” toward the central cities? Why wouldn’t it just slow development, generally?
Dan in Hollywood, CA on Fri, Jan 02, 2009 at 6:21pm
I foresee a return to people’s city of origin in 2009. A diaspora back to core principals of family and familiarity. Many leave their place of origin and look for work in cities such as Los Angeles, NY, Chicago. As we know a cities can be expensive and in a time of poor economic conditions I can see a return to small and medium sized cities that have seen the biggest decreases in population over this economic boom.
Some of those cities to look at for a re-birth: New Orleans, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Toledo, St. Paul, Milwaukee, Boulder, Savannah, Minneapolis.
Look for the new administrations investment in infrastructure, steel, auto, and green industries to drive these re-births.