A Paragraph to Ponder

From the Financial Times today - Rebirth of the U.S. City by Edward Luce:

"In 2011, for the first time in more than 90 years, America's largest cities registered higher population growth than their combined suburbs."

Also - -

"In 2010, for the first time in U.S. history, the number of poor living in the suburbs exceeded those living in the cities."

And - in the context of the suburbs, retail shopping, and online retailing - -

"According to the International Council of Shopping Centers, at least a tenth of America's remaining 1,000 enclosed mails will shut in the next seven years, mostly because of the internet."

This is interesting - -

"American cities are becoming more and more European in their sensibilities."  Which means higher density living, more public transportation, while embracing the new drivers of urbanism - - technology, tolerance, and talent.

Finally - -

"The suburbs were created to house the new middle class in the 20th century.  But the economy they were built around is vanishing."