The benefits of cities are clear, but the appropriate way to quantify density is not. An article in The Atlantic Cities discusses measuring density by people per square mile. The measurement allows architects and city planners to humanize data and incorporate amenities to create a complete picture of a…

A new initiative by the Speedwell Foundation believes so.  According to an article in Atlantic Cities, the project called “Redfields to Greenfields” looks at what could happen if empty commercial sites were converted into parks.  Research is currently being developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology…

In Walking the Walk, data analyzed by CEOs for Cities found that walkability increases home values. An article in Greater Greater Washington discusses new evidence that confirms CEOs for Cities' findings that walkable, transit served communities are in great demand. According to a recent nationwide survey, 47% of Americans would…

The availability of Zipcar, a national car sharing service and CEOs for Cities partner, holds immense benefits for cities. According at an article in Fast Company, Zipcar members are walking 21% more, biking 14% more, and using public transit 11% more than they were before joining. Beyond the…

The winners of Indianapolis' Monument Circle Idea Competition were revealed Wednesday. An article in the Indianapolis Business Journal reported that, "the competition, announced in March, came about after Indianapolis hosted a CEOs for Cities event last October that brought together local stakeholders and national experts to brainstorm ideas for making…

At the US Initiative Livability Challenge in Indianapolis, local stakeholders discussed the importance of quality of place in attracting talent. Following the dialogue on the importance of good deisgn and nature in cities, an article in the New York Times discussed San Francisco's effort to turn "pavement into…

One Big Idea that came out of the US Initiative Livability Challenge came to fruition this week when the Indianapolis Downtown Inc. launched the Monument Circle Idea Competition. The placemaking initiative is seeking constructive assessments “to inform future planning and uses for Monument Circle.” An article in the…

As CEOs for Cities prepares to put a big stake in the ground on placemaking as an economic development driver, we find ourselves increasingly talking about the role of beauty in cities. We tackled the concept in a big way at the Livability Challenge in October where we spent 2.5…

Philips recently released Liveanomics: Urban Liveability and Economic Growth, the second of two Economic Intelligence Reports on urbanism. The report examines the importance of livability and the role of business in a successful urban area. While every city is different, FedEx CEO Fred Smith believes that to have any prosperous…

Miami 21, the comprehensive planning blueprint for the City of Miami in the 21st century as envisioned by former Mayor Manny Diaz, received the American Planning Association's 2011 National Planning Excellence Award for Best Practice. The profession’s highest honor recognized the sustainable and efficient development plan for the…

Brian Payne, President of the Central Indiana Community Foundation and leader of CEOs for Cities' Indianapolis Cluster, was the keynote speaker at the City of Calgary's 2010 Centre City Congress. Speaking to a sold out audience, Brian showcased the nationally renowned Indianapolis Cultural Trail, a "big idea" he says has…

We couldn't have asked for more from the Livability Challenge than to leave our host city with the inspiration and momentum captured by this column in NUVO Newsweekly, Indianapolis' alternative newspaper.

In reflecting upon our ambition for the challenge - to make beauty, in the form of art, good…

Tomorrow afternoon, thought leaders from Cisco, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Adobe Foundation and the Rockwell Group, among others, will participate in a strategic conversation to elevate the role of aesthetics in creating the next generation of great American cities.…

The U.S. Department of Transportation to trying to tackle the goal ending childhood obesity with transportation policy reforms. DOT hosted a conference last week called “Keeping Kids Moving” to examine how equitable transportation policy can prevent childhood obesity.

At the conference, DOT Undersecretary Roy Kienitz talked about how transportation…

The Great Reset, Richard Florida's latest book, takes on the fundamental ways of American life that are no longer sustainable. Namely, he believes (and we agree) that as a country, we went overboard with the push for every American to own a home.

A better balance of rental housing…