'Fastest Dying Cities' Meet for a Lively Talk

[Rockntractor]

I think that if decaying urban centers really want to reinvent themselves, they need to pay attention to what the average working couple with kids wants and then pay attention to what the average retired couple wants. Reinventing yourself to cater to the needs of single young adults isn't a long term answer. More "art", high-end shopping, and expensive dining isn't a sustainable solution.

You need a lot of green space, safe transportation, reasonably priced retail and dining, entertainment that isn't exclusively "ironic", and foundational kinds of businesses that ordinary people frequent every week.

I could live anywhere if I had to but I don't understand why you would want to live in a city. This is one of the reasons I like the Internet. I can buy anything I want without fighting traffic and when I want social interaction there is my new hobby the forums. When I get tired of you guys at the end of the day I just post sleeping pig and shut off the computer and you all go away!

[PoliCon]

I think that if decaying urban centers really want to reinvent themselves, they need to pay attention to what the average working couple with kids wants and then pay attention to what the average retired couple wants. Reinventing yourself to cater to the needs of single young adults isn't a long term answer. More "art", high-end shopping, and expensive dining isn't a sustainable solution.

You need a lot of green space, safe transportation, reasonably priced retail and dining, entertainment that isn't exclusively "ironic", and foundational kinds of businesses that ordinary people frequent every week.

those things can and will come - if the city is smart enough to CUT TAXES!! Sadly all these cities do is continue to raise taxes.

[Gingersnap]

I could live anywhere if I had to but I don't understand why you would want to live in a city. This is one of the reasons I like the Internet. I can buy anything I want without fighting traffic and when I want social interaction there is my new hobby the forums. When I get tired of you guys at the end of the day I just post sleeping pig and shut off the computer and you all go away!

I'm completely uninterested in urban living myself. I've done that. Heck, I did it in San Francisco of all places, among others. I prefer a quiet, well maintained, low crime area that is handy to state or national parks. If I really, really feel the need to attend a jazz club or a Kundalini yoga class, I'll suck it up and drive to Denver.

When people (real people) talk about "livable cities" they mean places that are welcoming, safe, have plenty of kid-related facilities, good schools, reasonably priced stores, family-friendly recreation, and clean, crime-free transportation.

They don't mean ample casino action, street hookers, drugs, gangs, ethnically volatile schools, thrift stores, 7/11 stores, or filthy buses filled with crazy drunk people.