📅 Today's Story: A new report reveals that repurposing land under urban highways could generate over $5 billion annually in property taxes, highlighting untapped development opportunities in U.S. cities.
🤝 Today's Sponsor: Shape the future of cities with Georgetown University's Master's in Urban & Regional Planning — join a live webinar on March 16 to learn more.
Revitalizing Urban Landscapes: Potential in Highway Landvia Planetizen |
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📰 What Happened: Urban planner Patrick Kennedy's report, the Atlas of Inner-City Highway Impacts, explores the potential of land occupied by highways in U.S. cities. By analyzing land within a three-mile radius of 142 downtown areas, Kennedy estimates 66,000 acres of highway land could be redeveloped, potentially generating over $5 billion annually in property taxes.
🔍 A Closer Look: The report identifies Newark, Houston, and Los Angeles as cities with significant highway land. Kennedy assesses development potential based on recent downtown projects, suggesting 55% of highway land could be used for private development. Smaller cities like Youngstown and Flint could see property tax revenues increase by 70% and 50%, respectively, through redevelopment.
🧠 Why It Matters: Repurposing highway land offers substantial economic and urban revitalization benefits. Transforming these areas into mixed-use developments and public spaces can enhance property values, boost tax revenues, and promote sustainable urban growth. This approach challenges the traditional infrastructure paradigm, advocating for more efficient land use in city planning.
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Attend Georgetown's urban and regional planning webinar on Mar. 16.
The Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning at Georgetown University
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Based in Washington, D.C., the program connects theory to practice, immersing students in the real challenges facing cities today.
You’ll learn from experienced scholars and practitioners while building the analytical and design skills needed to deliver durable solutions for diverse communities.
Join us for a live webinar on Monday, March 16 at noon ET to learn more about the program and the application process.
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