Financing Redevelopment; City Support for Private Projects
Financing redevelopment for private projects is sometimes in the best interest of small city and town yearning for new infill and redevelopment investments. The city’s vision of being an interesting, pleasant and prosperous place to live includes new and re-purposed uses and activities to its downtown and neighborhoods. Especially in built-out towns, infill and redevelopment […]
Urban Infrastructure Systems; A Holistic andTechnologically Advanced Approach
Urban Infrastructure Systems in character towns recognize that modern infrastructure critical to a successful community can also be a visual asset. They can be, and should be, beautiful, holistic, mutually reinforcing and technologically advanced. The physical and programmatic infrastructure ensures the health, safety, education and welfare of the town’s citizens. Economic development, business retention and […]
![sanitary-city](https://www.theamericancity.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/sanitary-city.jpeg)
The Sanitary City; Environmental Services in Urban America from Colonial Times to the Present.
The Sanitary City by Martin V. Melosi, Ph.D. [2010], appreciates the history of water and sewerage systems as a major part of the remedy to tame yellow fever and cholera, the measles, the plague and other communicable diseases that attacked city populations and killed thousands of people. The number of deaths was astounding. The success […]
![infrastructure](https://www.theamericancity.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/infrastructure.png)
The 10 Best Cities for Public Transportation.
Public transportation as presented in 10 Best Cities for Public Transportation demonstrates that “some cities world’s densest cities run like clockwork, while others are plagued by traffic, flight delays, and utility outages.” By using data on ridership, safety, and government spending, U.S. News has compiled a list of the 10 best cities in the country […]
![city-building-hot-flat-crowded](https://www.charactertowns.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/city-building-hot-flat-crowded.jpeg)
City Building in a Hot, Flat and Crowded Post-American World
City Building in a Hot, Flat and Crowded Post-America World is an essay based on a review of three books. The essay draws heavily upon three books respectively by: Fukuyama [2004] who addresses city building; Zakaria [2009] who ponders a post-American world; and Freidman [2008] who has built on his flat world book to add […]
A Strategy for Creating Character Towns
A Strategy for Creating Character Towns is vision-driven. Character towns are the result of much love and careful nurturing of the town’s heritage, cultural assets, natural resources and historic amenities. The vision to see the values of the town and the strategy to protect and enhance them is the process that leads to a continuous […]
![best-beer](https://www.theamericancity.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/best-beer.jpeg)
The 7 Best Cities for Beer
7 Best cities for beer offers an indicator of a character town. The number of local craft breweries is at an all-time high in the United States. Zoning ordinances are being revised to enable craft breweries as permitted or special uses. From coast to coast, privately-owned breweries are producing delicious brews for ever palate. FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail
Character Towns: small cities and towns economic development
Concept Small cities and towns economic development depends on character towns that attract residents, businesses and visitors. Therefore, character towns are small cities and towns defined by their authentic, unique and substantive qualities. In addition, they are friendly and inviting physical setting with active businesses and strong neighborhoods. Also, respect is important and useful when […]
![ten-great-spaces](https://www.theamericancity.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ten-great-spaces.jpeg)
Ten Great Places to Live
10 Great Places to Live describes not only offers specific towns to consider as a future home, but also describes what makes a city a great place to live. The Kiplinger organization provides a valuable service by presenting both the places and the criteria for great places to live. For small cities and towns planning […]
Great Neighborhoods, A Model for Creating Strong, Successful and Sustainable Places for People to Live
Great Neighborhoods are the essential building blocks for successful communities. They also fulfill the primary purpose of city government…to enhance lives and protect families in their homes and neighborhoods. This article describes a model for building and maintaining great places for people to live and raise their families. Since a neighborhood is more than a subdivision or […]