Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in widespread predictions about the death of cities. Data show that the largest U.S. cities experienced a population decline during the first year or so of the pandemic, while urban poverty and income inequality have risen and public transportation usage is dropping. Yet polling shows that people — especially young people — are still moving to cities, and rents in some urban areas continue to spike. Austin, Texas; Boise, Idaho; Nashville, Tenn., and other midsized cities are seeing an explosion of people moving in from bigger, higher-cost locales, such as the San Francisco Bay Area and cities in the Northeast, leading to the rising housing costs in those areas. So while the shift to remote and hybrid work, changing traffic patterns and increased inequality may alter the nature of cities, experts believe that predictions about the demise of the city are exaggerated, as they often have been throughout history.
Amsterdam Ave. in New York City is nearly empty in May 2020 after COVID-19 forced schools and businesses to close. Many experts say cities will thrive again but must evolve to meet changing work habits and lifestyles. (AFP/Getty Images/Timothy A. Clary)
|
|
|
|
 |
Jun. 03, 2022 |
The Future of the City |
 |
Jun. 04, 2021 |
Rebuilding America's Infrastructure |
 |
Aug. 21, 2020 |
Economic Clustering |
 |
Nov. 01, 2019 |
Caregiving Crunch |
 |
Jul. 27, 2012 |
Smart Cities |
 |
Apr. 09, 2010 |
Earthquake Threat |
 |
Apr. 2009 |
Rapid Urbanization |
 |
Jun. 23, 2006 |
Downtown Renaissance  |
 |
May 28, 2004 |
Smart Growth |
 |
Oct. 03, 1997 |
Urban Sprawl in the West |
 |
Mar. 21, 1997 |
Civic Renewal |
 |
Oct. 13, 1995 |
Revitalizing the Cities |
 |
Jun. 09, 1989 |
Not in My Back Yard! |
 |
Apr. 28, 1989 |
Do Enterprise Zones Work? |
 |
Nov. 22, 1985 |
Supercities: Problems of Urban Growth |
 |
Jul. 23, 1982 |
Reagan and the Cities |
 |
Nov. 18, 1977 |
Saving America's Cities |
 |
Oct. 31, 1975 |
Neighborhood Control |
 |
Nov. 21, 1973 |
Future of the City |
 |
Feb. 07, 1973 |
Restrictions on Urban Growth |
 |
May 20, 1970 |
Urbanization of the Earth |
 |
Nov. 06, 1968 |
New Towns |
 |
Oct. 04, 1967 |
Private Enterprise in City Rebuilding |
 |
Feb. 10, 1965 |
Megalopolis: Promise and Problems |
 |
Mar. 04, 1964 |
City Beautiful |
 |
Aug. 21, 1963 |
Urban Renewal Under Fire |
 |
Jan. 21, 1959 |
Metropolitan Areas and the Federal Government |
 |
Jul. 30, 1958 |
Persistence of Slums |
 |
Dec. 09, 1953 |
Outspreading Cities |
 |
Nov. 22, 1952 |
Slum Clearance: 1932–1952 |
 |
Jan. 14, 1937 |
Zoning of Urban and Rural Areas |
| | |
|