Here is a nice anecdote about a formerly abandoned building gaining new life through a private investor. Moreover, the redevelopment has helped other businesses in the community and raised the property values of neighboring buildings. It's not all that academic and it's hardly peer reviewed, but sometimes it's nice to hear a story about things working out well for an old neighborhood in desperate need or repair.

I miss Kzoo Urban

I've been away for too long and I'm missing the interaction that we came to enjoy in the Kzoo Urban economics course and I don't know If I've ever had this reaction about the end of a course before. Much Love from our absent student.

-Brian Flahie

Learning from slums

The world's slums are overcrowded, unhealthy - and increasingly seen as resourceful communities that can offer lessons to modern cities.

The article uses the example of Dharavi in Mumbai which was filmed in the Oscar winning movie "Slum Dog Millionaire". What do u think of this article?

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/03/01/learning_from_slums/?page=1ston.com/bost

Attracting College Grads

CEOs for Cities, a national network of urban leaders dedicated to creating next generation cities that hold the answers to many of the challenges our economy faces today, has begun the Talent Divided competition. CEOs for cities is offering a $1 million prize to the city which most increases their number residents holding a college degree by September 2013.

Houston, one of few cities said to have an attractive job market at this point in time, is working hard to win the competition.

http://www.futurehouston.com/cfhf.cfm?a=cms,c,348

Creating a Resilient City

Interesting article on how to build a resilient city. Includes 7 key element to create a resilient city at the bottom of the article. Which elements do you think are truly needed to create a resilient city?

http://dirt.asla.org/2009/07/13/how-to-design-resilient-cities/

Up-and-Coming Tech Cities

We've been talking a lot about tech cites lately. Forbes Magazine looks at the top ten up-and-coming tech cities. Some interesting choices on the list. What do you think? What are the chances of this happening?

http://www.forbes.com/2008/03/10/columbus-milwaukee-houston-ent-tech-cx_wp_0310smallbizoutlooktechcity.html

Detroit Documentary

Interesting 3 part documentary about Detroit staring Johnny Knoxville (yeah, yeah, I know...) Tries to show positives about Detroit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joMysMDHdb4 (Part 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvKevvGnGt4&feature=related (Part 2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCxC5ozQ7hQ&feature=related (Part 3)

Here's an interesting article about NYC and resilience. Be sure to click on the links to for more information.
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/new-york-new-york-americas-resilient-city/

Employment Rate for Detroit in the Past Decade

The graph above is brought to us by an article in The Economist. The article itself discussed different economist’s options about Detroit and debates Detroit’s potential for economic growth. I am interested in knowing what everyone thinks about the graph.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2011/02/urban_economics