ARTICLES
The Original Articles archives of CharacterTowns.org presents papers that discuss practical and conceptual ideas for designing, building and managing character towns and small cities that are interesting, pleasant and prosperous places for residents, businesses and visitors.
Character Towns of Central Florida: Report #1, The Workshop
“Character Towns” of Central Florida: Report #1, The Workshop describes the purpose and processes of the quarterly workshop and its members. Report #1 discusses features of the ten character towns and the format of the Workshop as the ten towns plus others come together to discuss issues of common interest with an emphasis on enticing […]
Chicago Hopes Broadband Plan Could Help Other Cities Address Digital Divide
Chicago Hopes Broadband Plan Could Help Other Cities Address Digital Divide. Officials and donors involved in an ambitious plan to provide free broadband access to students in Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods hope that the public-private partnership can be a model for efforts to address digital equity issues elsewhere in the U.S. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced […]
Chicago Infrastructure Trust
The Chicago Infrastructure Trust was created in April 2012 by executive order of Mayor Emanuel and City Council resolution. The Trust’s purpose is to assist the people of the City of Chicago, the City government and its sister agencies in providing alternative financing and project delivery options for transformative infrastructure projects. Hard Infrastructure and Soft […]
CISCO Establishes “City Infrastructure Financing Acceleration Program”
FINANCING FOR SMART CITIES AND URBAN SERVICES Cisco Systems, Inc. has established the City Infrastructure Financing Acceleration Program (CIFAP) that offers $1 billion in debt and equity capital to cities and operators of urban services for financing innovative smart city technology. They provide CIFAP through Cisco Capital and its financing partners: private equity firm Digital […]
The City’s Urban Open Space System; Leverage to Unify the City
The City’s Urban Open Space System is the town’s main tool for unifying the community. It is the primary source of urban beauty, natural resource protection and heritage preservation. The open space system is the holistic amalgam of parks, plazas, public gardens, school grounds, stormwater areas, rivers and lakes all connected with urban recreation trails. […]
City Building in a Hot, Flat and Crowded Post-American World, by Fukuyama, Zakaria and Friedman
Three Views of Governance in the 21st Century: The three books, written before the Great Recession, resonate today. Messrs. Fukuyama, Zakaria and Friedman, collectively, offer important insights and advise to those concerned with building a just, sustainable and prosperous world. Institutions are being attacked and diminished at a time when they should be improved and […]
City Cottages in Pocket Neighborhoods
Cottages are small single-family homes with living/dining areas, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens plus a large usable porch serving as outside living space. City Cottage residents do best in villages of six to twelve homes focused on a common open space. City cottages are not “tiny houses”, mobile homes or accessory dwelling units. They have many […]
City Fiscal Conditions 2021
The City Fiscal Conditions 2021 provides insight into the impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic and proactive federal policy on city finances. This year’s analysis of survey and fiscal data from 444 cities finds that on balance, cities ended FY 2020 with the first instance of revenue loss since the Great Recession, and budgeted further […]
The City’s Form and Function – 2016
The City’s Form and Function – 2016 is evolving based on global access to the new global economy. The annual essay about the form and function of small cities and towns builds on the two previous efforts. The 2014 essay discussed the importance of balancing the town’s economic, social and physical attributes to produce a […]
City Hall, The Essential Main Street Asset
A Prominent Main Street City Hall. City Hall is the downtown icon. Downtown doesn’t seem like downtown without a visible city hall, especially in a small town. City hall represents stability to citizens as they attend hearings, pay utility bills and meet with elected or appointed officials to discuss civic matters. City halls draw people […]
City Halls and Post Offices, The Essential Main Street Assets
Character towns view City hall as the downtown icon. Downtown doesn’t seem like downtown without a visible city hall, especially in a small town. City hall represents stability to citizens as they attend hearings, pay utility bills and meet with elected or appointed officials to discuss civic matters. City halls draw people together, downtown. Thankfully […]
City Managers, Civic Entrepreneurs.
“ICMA is the world’s leading association of professional city and county managers and other employees who serve local governments. City and county managers are responsible for making sure that basic services such as utilities, sanitation, and road maintenance are provided efficiently to citizens in their community. These highly trained, experienced women and men are committed […]
City of Orlando’s Livability
Why is this Important? A City’s livability can be compared to the quality of life for its residents. This includes the natural environment and tree canopy, entertainment and recreational activities, economic prosperity, walkability, culture and equity. Combining these factors is a way to create pedestrian friendly “villages” that are accessible and communicate a unique sense […]
City of Orlando, Livability
A City’s livability can be compared to the quality of life for its residents. This includes the natural environment and tree canopy, entertainment and recreational activities, economic prosperity, walkability, culture and equity. Combining these factors is a way to create pedestrian friendly “villages” that are accessible and communicate a unique sense of place. Expanding our […]
City Parks: America’s New Infrastructure – Health & Social Benefits
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City Parks: America’s New Infrastructure – Multi-Use
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City Parks: America’s New Infrastructure – Overview
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City Parks: America’s New Infrastructure –Resilience
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City Parks: America’s New Infrastructure – Traffic & Transportation
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City Schools, A Partnership Between the City and the School Board
CHARACTER TOWNS PUT EDUCATION FIRST. CHARACTER TOWNS PUT EDUCATION FIRST. The fact that the schools belong to the county or independent school system does not mean the city should have a “hands off” policy. To the contrary, the city is the entity that can best tailor the county schools to meet the holistic intellectual enrichment […]